Reducing Underlying Risk Factors Safer Building Programme

1. Reducing Underlying Risk FactorsSafer Building Programme Presenter: Lloyd Wheatley Safer Building Training at the H.Lavity Stoutt Community College CDM Conference, Barbados, Dec 13th ,2006

2. Background • The Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity building Programme ( CHAMP) is a project of the Caribbean Disaster Response Agency (CDERA) in collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS) and supported by funding provided by Caribbean International Development Agency (CIDA). • CHAMP seeks to enhance regional capacity to reduce vulnerability to the effects of natural hazards. One of its programmes is the Safer Building Programme designed for the delivery of instruction in safe construction methods to artisans and builders.

3. Integration of the Safer Building to HLSCC Curriculum • Adapted as a regular offering of HLSCC Division of Workforce Training Division (Responsible for Professional Development at HLSCC). • Course will be offered 3 times per semester Fall (Aug to Dec) and Spring (Jan to May) • Contact Hours of Safer Building I (25hrs) • Contact Hours of Safer Building II (24 hrs) • Total Time merging both Courses (49 hrs) • Typical HLSCC 3 Credit Course (45 hrs) • Open Access HLSCC allowing without High School Certificate to College Credit Courses leading to Certificates of Achievement • Free Tuition at HLSCC for Nationals . • HLSCC to be designated as a Center for City & Guilds (UK).

4. Relevance • The Safer Building programme’s relevance is the introduction of abroad cross section of the construction industry to a set of normative practices emphasising Safe Construction methods. • The course also familiarizes various professions in the industry of the operation of other areas in the industry. Understanding concepts like Building Codes and their application, Compliance with Zoning and Environmental Regulations. • The delivery of the course is very necessary step to the introduction of legislation mandating it for Trade License Approval. After taking course the participants normally share the opinion that it is preparing them for the demands of rapidly growing and advancing Industry in the BVI. So the course itself is facilitating the development of the legislation and the course is not being perceived as a sanction for those who may not be pursuant.

5. Programme Response • Group Date Group Size • Safer Building • Cohort1 February 2006 21 • Cohort2 April 2006 19 • Cohort3 September 2006 18 • Cohort4 November 2006 13 • Total Year(1) 71 • Safer Building II October 2006 19

6. Feedback from the Participants • Pace of Course: 92.3% Just Right 7.7%NC • Objectives Met: 77% Comfortably 7.7% Fairly Comfortably 15.4% NC • Quality of Information 77% Very Good 15.4% Good 7.7% NC • Ease of Comprehension 15.3% Very Easy 46.2% Quite Easy 38.5% Easy • Usefulness of Information 70.3%Extremely 15.3% Very 7.7%Useful 7.7% NC • Preparation of • Training Materials 38.5%Excellent 38.5%VeryGood 7.7%Fair 15.4% NC • Rating of A/V Aids 61.5% Very Good 24.2%Good 15.3% NC • Effectiveness of • Information 70.3%Extremely 24.2% Very 7.7% Effective • How well was the • Course Taught 77% Excellent 15.4% Very Good 7.7% NC • Ability of the Facilitator • to Communicate 84.6% Excellent 7.7% Very Good 7.7% NC • Facilitator’s Ability • To Answer Meaningfully 68.1% Excellent 24.2% Very Good 7.7% NC • Provision of Illustrations 77% Very Often 7.7% Often 7.7% Sometimes 7.7% NC • Facilitator’s Attitude 84.6% Very Respectful 15.4% Quite Respectful • Enough Time for • participation 53.8% Very Adequate 24.2% Quite (Ad) 7.7% (Ad) 15.6% NC • Encouragement of • Student Participation 77% All the Time 7.7% Most Times 15.6%NC • Usefulness of Class Exercises 61.5% Extremely 15.4% Very 7.7% Useful, 15.4% NC • Overall Course Rating 70.3% Excellent 15.4% Very Good 15.4% NC • Recommend Course to Others 77%Yes 24.2% NC

7. Increased Capacity to the National Needs • Adding competencies to skills of the individuals practicing their trade within the Industry. • BVI Construction currently being fueled by an Increase in Large Tourist Development 5 star hotels with ( 200 Room Hotels with Golf Courses, 200 slip MegaYacht Berthing), vs a few years past where development was driven by Public Infrastructural Projects such as (Airports, Marine ports).

8. Course Content Safer Building II • Course Emphasis on Project Management and Estimating • Topics: • Construction Management • Site Investigations • Preparing Project Schedules ( Gant/Pert Charting) • Preparing a Cost Estimate • Building Requirements of the BVI • Preparation of Contracts • Introduction to Mitigation for Natural Hazards

9. Linkage Mechanism with Trade • Target Audience of the Course: Informal Building Sector. • Participants coming from a wide cross section of the Community esp. first time homebuilders. • Main purpose for artisans and contractors taking the course is it soon being a mandatory requirement for the Trade ( Business) License for Construction. • License is to conduct business in the Construction sector. • Safer Building Certification therefore is not a License to practice construction • It is an attempt to standardize the practices of the Construction Industry at its point of application. • With the experiences over the past year and for the upcoming year the programme can now formally gather the support from related agencies and departments such as the Planning Authority, Town and Country Planning, Building Authority, Public Works Department, Insurance Companies and the Banking sector to justify recommendations for amendments to current legislation to reflect its necessity and integration into the legal framework of the territory.

10. Donors and Partners • CDERA ( Caribbean Disaster Response Agency) • CIDA ( Canadian International Development Agency) • OAS ( Organization of American States) • DDM (Department of Disaster Management) • CEP (Consulting Engineering Partnerships)