Posted By Linda Crossland-Clarke
Dare I say it.. shame on me, but.. Get the easiest one possible. I have never had mine checked, perhaps that's because my handbag is full of a variety of them.

Cringe and wait for the backlash.

Linda

Posted By Ian G Hutchings
Andrew

I have a site visitors card; no ones asked for it yet, but it's there just in case. As I am only a CMIOSH and have many years experience in construction projects and having developed the safety strategy for over £60million projects, obviously the scheme doesn't see me as competent because I don't have an NVQ.

I do think IOSH have gone through some sort of competency mapping process, so that may help. Shame they weren't involved in the first place.

Posted By GeoffB4
And the purpose of this visitors card is?

Or phrased another way, what purpose does a visitors card serve?

Posted By Melanie Fellows
There's nothing at all to stop you applying for the visitors card.

That's the one I got - less hassle, and no-one has ever asked to see it yet anyway.

I did sit the Managers test though (took less than 5 minutes).

Mel

Posted By Chris Bramall
Yes, we have had managers & junior designers who have visitors cards and have had to show them on site.

I've not managed to get onto any of our varied clients sites withot showing my CSCS card. Gold by the way.

Also we have had engineers turned away in the past for not having CSCS cards.

We now have 100% compliance for all staff who may visit sites.

Posted By Andrew Bradbury
I appreciate that the IOSH forum is not a CSCS ‘bashing’ forum and before I go any further, I support the aims and objectives of the CSCS scheme regarding the promotion of health & safety on construction sites..

However in an attempt to close this thread I thought I would up-date everyone who may or may not be interested..

As a senior architectural technician with over 20 years experience with a BSc. (Hons) degree, HNC, ONC in Building Studies and a IOSH Manging Safely certificate I can not obtain the Architectural Technologist CSCS Health & Safety Card because I haven’t got the relevant NVQ and because I am not a member or fellow of Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT).

After a long discussion with the CSCS my existing experience and qualifications arent recognised by the CSCS.

I'm sorry but after 1o years of further and higher education I don’t really want to undertake an NVQ thank you very much..

So would you believe it the only option I’ve got that will allow me onto a construction site (and I’ve had this confirmed to me today) is to apply for CSCS YELLOW Visitors card!!

However if I obtain this CSCS YELLOW Visitors card I could face the threat of being thrown off site by a contractor (who knows his stuff) because I haven’t got the relevant CSCS card reflecting my role and level of responsibility that I may have in connection with that construction project!!

What a farce..

Ah well, nothing else for it then, I’ll have to get a CSCS YELLOW Visitors card and wear a disguise if I want to get onto the next construction site, wont I?

Andrew

P.S. Needless to say I will be writting a letter to the CSCS about this..

Posted By CW
I have the yellow visitors card, it really is all that I need.

We do have problems with our men of trades though. Proving qualifications and competency's of our older generation tradesmen is quite difficult. Difficult in the way that these fellas are knocking on the door of retirement and have long since (if ever they were needed when they did their apprenticeships) lost all proof of qualifications.

So, we have guys with over 40 years under their belts who are not able to obtain the skills card, never mind the manager cards, who are managing our sites.

This is what the cscs site says...

"If you are a manager or supervisor you want to be sure that the people that work for you are competent and fully aware of their health and safety responsibilities. CSCS is the best way to do this. And by having your own appropriate card, your leadership credentials are heightened."

Mmmmm...