Unfortunately it is symptomatic with where we are in industry. Clients and PCs are dictating the training and qualifications required to work on site and if you don't comply, then you don't get the work - it's that simple. Some of the requirements are absolutely OTT in my opinion. If these same organisations really cared about health and safety management they would not always give the contract to the lowest tender but those who are likely to do it properly and safely - but that's another story.

In our industry (HV electrical) our bugbear is so many different requirements for the same work. We work for all the national electricity companies and they all have various different safety training, PPE and paperwork requirements. What annoys me is that electricity is electricity. It doesn't matter what company supplied it. It will still kill you! AND.... (while I'm on my hobby horse... ) even if a substation changes companies, with exactly the same equipment, there are different rules for safety! We have too many clients dictating to us how to safeguard our staff. Right down to types of safety glasses. I have often found them specifying equipment of a lesser standard than we issue , but they won't accept mine! AAAaarrrghhh!

True.. honestly! You wouldn't believe some of the hoops we have to jump through. Can't even provide the same RA for the same task on 2 different sites sometimes. (and yes I know RA are site specific before someone pipes up... I mean regarding the same type of site, same hazards, same work tasks with the same equipment)

I'd not heard of Cskills but a little google suggests its from our friends at CITB who run the much discredited CSCS scheme (I initially dessribed this in other terms but decided the mods might smack my wrist) which I guess everyone has now seen it for what it is and is no longer filling the coffers. Maybe this is a reheated CSCS ??

"Perhaps a scrappage of all H&S accreditation schemes would make a bit more sense" HA! There you go using common sense again..... there's no place for that in the minds of undertrained , inexperienced primary contractors!

Hi Lawlee45239, If the PC you are refering to is the one I am thinking of based in Birmingham, I think you will find it is only for projects starting after the 1st October. The requirement has been in the UKCG charter since at least March of this year, probably before then as well, like most things it takes time for the PC's to implement and I think you will find that the rest of the UKCG will be implementing this as well in the near future. We have the same precdicament as you, our problem is shear numbers as we can have up to 350 LOSC's working for us at any one time. I am currently in the process of putting together a business plan to see if it is viable/economical for us to become registered and run the CSkills range of courses in house. Have to agree with other posters though regarding PC's awarding on price as the prime motivator. Regards Clive