Posted By Dave Wilson
Cant get one unless you appeal but you can get one with NEBOSH Con Cert

Posted By Alan Woodage
I was not able to get a CSCS card from a NEBOSH construction cert. Nobody should be able to as it is only a level 3 Qualification and not level 4 required for safety manager. regardless of this CSCS do not recognise any Qualification that is not an NVQ regardless of compatibility. there used to be an exemption from the H&S test if the cert was within 2 years but the last time I approached this I was informed this was no longer the case.
I would agree get a visitors card as you can prove competency via your NEBOSH Qualifications. This monopoly is slowly falling apart and with time this wholly unworkable scheme will be dissolved to nothing.
I am all for a fully qualified workforce in construction but the non recognition of professional qualifications is ludicrous.

Posted By Dave Wilson
Hazel,

We have a number of issues surrounding this and yes getting a regular site visitors card can get around the problem, however is this not defeating the whole object of the exercise?

Just like in any industry there is more than one way to prove competence and the CIC and MCG have rested on the NVQ route and nothing else will be accepted, this cant be right and does cause me endless grief, particularly if there is no NVQ for your specialisation!

Posted By MMM
Its ironic because I was having the same conversation with CITB this afternoon. The situation there is ludicrous.

I asked the CITB if I could apply for the Safety Managers card and was informed that because I had NEBOSH quals and not NVQ I could not apply unless I wanted to appeal.

I then rather harshly asked her the question if I had a PHD in Health & Safety I would still not qualify for the card. I was given the reply that I would still have to go down the NVQ route!

It’s just a licence for people to print money and worst still it is being supported!

Posted By Anne Mallory
As a self employed consultant I appealed and obtained the CSCS card. The scheme presents a problem for me as I do not work 100% of the time on site but advise construction clients. I was told by the CSCS advice line that a Visitor card was not sufficient for this purpose. This was a matter of concern because if CSCS felt a Visitor card was not sufficient then how would it stand with my Professional Indemnity Insurers? I therefore went through the appeal process. I did state previously that it took a long time to put all the information together but I probably went overboard with the detail. I now have a card more to ensure that I am fully covered from an insurance point of view.

Posted By Davelfc
Gerry,

I don't fully agree that it is a closed shop to the MCG, for getting on site. At present it would be very difficult for anyone (Principal Contractor or PC) to stop trades coming on without the card. As it would be damaging to the construction industry. there are not enough trades including those with sound qualifications and demonstrate good levels of competence with the card.

I work for a firm that are not in the elite Group of the MCG, but we are forging ahead and have an action plan to have a fully qualified workforce with CSCS in the years to come, we act as PC and expect our subbies to also demonstrate that they are to moving towards this. Not long ago we had a small % of personnel with the card but have just gone over 50% which came at a large cost, and will get more difficult to get near that 100% aspiration especially with retirement and turn over of staff though this is quite small we are growing and find new staff hard to come by with CSCS so this adds to the starin on budget, as we are putting senior management through level 5 and others through 4,3 & 2.

getting back to the point

I feel it is getting nearer to a point where companies will have to demonstrate they have a good level of CSCS to get passed pre qual wether it be as PC getting on Clients approved lists or subbies getting on PC's approved lists.

Companies such as mine are moving in the same direction as the MCG & HBF etc who are also pushing CSCS.

I feel there should be a system, but feel CSCS is to inflexible and rigid, I am not a great fan in its current form as there are many people out there that can show in some cases better competence but have no NVQ and can't get a card appropriate to the level they opperate and there are people out there who got industry accreditation while the windows where open that possibly have not the competence, so the system may not stand up. I have a card I also have NVQ, but that does not make me any more competent than a lot of people reading this thread, who are very competent and don't fall into CSCS criteria.

In the future if we stop people coming on site, how does the youngster get into the industry as they need a card to start with on site. They need to look at trainee cards for all, I have site managers at the moment who we have not got the budget this year to put them all on NVQ level 4, but are competent and as with all learning all the time, we would be hypicritcal to have them stop others coming on site when they don'thave one and unfortunately this is how the industry stacks up.

sorry folkes for getting on my soap box but it is an emotional subject for me as I am working very hard to make the scheme work in my work place without much help from the scheme.


So as you can see not only safety professionals are struggling I have estimators, Planners, design and build corod, contracts, project, site amangers and foremen etc the list is endless

I will keep a close eye on this thread to see others have the same probelems and opinions

There needs to be another window of opertunity for all these very able and competent people to obatin a card for the scheme to take of properly, there needs to be a way to properly map across peoples quals and axperience. I know they have done this in the past but think we are coming to a key time to make CSCS work, so there needs to be a consultation with the industry and not just closed shop with the MCG and the like. We need to better enable this and maybe IOSH Construction Specialists Group should also get involved HSE/Working Well Together etc .
Dave

Posted By Gary D Malone
There is an Industry Accreditation Route Open For the Level 4 Planning Supervisor Platinum Card

This has identical requirements to that of the Health & Safety Manager This route to IA ended in December 2005.

You would Phone CSCS Dept on 01485-577577 and ask for the Application Form, You must then arrange and pass the CSCS Managers Health & Safety Touch Screen Test £17.50.

Fill out the form and ask your employer to validate the form attach Photo and Enclose Cheque for £ 20.00 you will then get your card 28 Days Later

Posted By p winter
agreed Dave and Industry Accreditation is a farce - you sign mine and I'll sign yours!

Posted By Dave Wilson
Bruce didnt know Andy got 100%

Posted By Hazel Harvey
Will,
The mapping excercise is being worked on now and I expect to make a submission to CIC before Christmas.
Hazel Harvey
Director of Professional Affairs

Posted By Davelfc
Vince, the test is stand alone test, who ever you put in will have to conduct the sections relevant to them for instance an operative or regular visitor will conduct sections 1-15

A manager level will have to condcuct the above and also section 16 the management section.

all you do is book the test £17.50 and sit the test there is a question and answer book last time I looked it was about £9.

All that is the easy bit you then have to demonstrate the relevant competence ie. the NVQ for the relevant level of entry NVQ 2 red blue or green cards, for operative level, level 3 for supervisor level gold card, level 4 for manager level platinum card. level 5 Black card. Beleieve it or not it is very difficult to get the cards for personnel even if they hold diploma's degrees etc as you still have to demonstrate competence i.e can do the job.