Rank: Forum user 
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What excemptions should be given by CSCS for qualifications held?
CSCS works under the umbrella of Construction Skills although is a seperate company. My personal opinion is that SMSTS, SSSTS (both Construction Skills Courses) should be exempt from the touch screen test as they are superior to the level of training and competency offered by CSCS. This training is over and above the level of knowledge required for that particular person card level requirement. All of the courses and the TST are updated 5 yearly.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Brett
What a brilliant idea.
As well as the Certificate a card could be issued which would get rid of all this nonsense of highly qualified Safety Individuals having to get a visitors or even a Trainee card,to get on a site.
Regards Alex
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Rank: Forum user
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Why should there be any exemptions?
Who knows what your level of knowledge and experience is? I am a ‘highly qualified safety individual’ but when I have to re-sit my rail PTS or Quarry safety passport or any other industry specific card scheme – I always learn / re-learn something.
Why would these same people go the route of trainee or visitor? If you are on construction sites regularly then surely you get yourself a ‘Construction health and safety manager (or officer)’ card like the rest of us.
If you are not on sites regularly then you are a visitor.
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Rank: Forum user
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Murphy
I am not saying not to have cards to enter a construction site nor do I believe Alex to be. I am basically talking about mapping qualifications from one scheme to another therefore enabling excemption from the touch screen test only. CSCS operate under the umbrella of Construction Skills. Lets look at the NEBOSH Construction Certificate. Once earned through education, practical application, and examination no further requirements are needed to retain the certificate. It is my opinion that this should be enough to obtain a professional card within the first five years of taking it but not there after. The SMSTS and SSSTS are refreshed 5 yearly ensuring that knowledge and practical application are constantly updated.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Murphy
This is a discussion forum not an attack forum.
Brett's initial post was a discussion post and if read properly does not want anyone with bits of paper going on to construction sites.
The post quite clearly states SMSTS or SSSTS which as you know are Construction Management or Supervisor qualifications.
Again Brett's idea is a good one and should be addressed by Construction Skills as the current qualifications required for the card schemes are farcical.
Regards Alex
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Rank: Forum user
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I totally agree with Murphy, as I indicated on yesterday's CSCS Card discussion.
Yes the scheme has flaws and is open to forgeries but Construction sites in my opinion would be worse and inevitably be an avenue for gangmasters to place unqualified and less competent individuals on site for financial gain, therefore could compromise safety for other site personal.
I have witnessed this on a large scale during the Construction boom 3-4 years ago, I was in the position to evaluate peoples competencies and the carry out site inductions for 50-70 people daily.
This also brings a problem when E.U Nationals have similar safety schemes in their homelands but are not recognised in the U.K due to the level of training or different Safety Regulations.
So without digressing any further and no doubt this subject will appear again, no exemptions to CSCS Card for construction sites regardless of qualifications or experience, also push the bar up in improving the scheme and only let individuals onto site with the relevant cards and not just paper certificates showing test passed, that as we all know these are open to abuse.
I have seen the membership number duplicated many times but a good Principle Contractors induction process would eliminate this but only if the inductor is on the ball.
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Rank: Forum user
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Captain Safety,
Forgive me if I am wrong as I believe you have misread.
Firstly I wholly agree with the CSCS card scheme, and note there are flaws but also there is opportunity for development.
This post is not aimed at getting exemption from the ownership of a CSCS card to be able to attend site. The purpose of the post is exemption from the Touch Screen Test at Supervisory, Managerial, or Health and Safety Practitioners levels where certain qualifications or levels of membership could take it's place where practical.
NVQ, NEBOSH, MSc, BSc etc all once they have been achieved are held for life and therefore do not require any maintenance, updating, or CPD to retain them. The SMSTS and SSSTS are refreshed every 5 years unlike the above mentioned courses. People undertaking the SMSTS are obviously looking at improving their knowledge, and those who undertake the refreshers are looking to update their knowledge in readiness for practical application. I could also refer to why should a Tech IOSH, Grad. IOSH, or CMIOSH also have to take the CSCS H & S touch screen test, when they are surely more than competent through their qualifications and CPD.
regards
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Rank: Forum user
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Guys,
I think you'll find they are already exempt if they have done the SMSTS or SSSTS. Check with CSCS.
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Rank: Forum user
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Jay Jay,
Have already checked with CSCS. There are no exemptions.
Below is an email I recieved from Construction Skills
Good Afternoon Mr Wildin
Thank you for your recent email,
After reading your email I can see where your frustration lies. Unfortunately CSCS and Site Safety Plus are 2 different schemes. Site Safety Plus is purely a health and safety Scheme where as CSCS is occupation based. CSCS do not recognise Site Safety Plus qualifications, this may seem inappropriate as ConstructionSkills administer both the Site Safety Plus scheme and the CSCS scheme, however we cannot alter the scheme rules for CSCS as they are a separate company known as CSCS ltd.
The CSCS health and safety test is a basic health and safety knowledge test whereas the SMSTS qualification is, like you said, an intensive health and safety course, including things such as the CDM regulations. So therefore it is not a pointless course as it will provide you with up date health and safety knowledge.
The conversations became much more heated, as I had to explain to them that the TST is Health & Safety and the NVQ is the occupational competency.
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Rank: Super forum user
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As expected... 2 separate schemes able to bring in 2 separate modes of income!
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Rank: Super forum user
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The smsts and the derivatives are good courses and a far more reliable measure of h7s knowledge than any of the card schemes around
Bob
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