Hello all, Can any colleagues on here tell me if there is a difference in the licence/competency requirements needed to operate this type of plant in the UK and in Italy? In simple terms can a UK licence holder operate this type of plant in Italy? Thanks in advance, DHM

Hi, I recently had an issue with a site worker with Australian qualifications. The difficulty was trying to find out exactly what his qualification was equivalent to in the UK. This might be even more difficult with your language difference.

Any Italian experts out there this afternoon?

This may help:- http://eur-lex.europa.eu...XT/?uri=CELEX:32009L0104

Alfasev, your comment regarding your experience that all construction contractors that do not have CPCS are Cowboys or domestic I personally find insulting. You should not tarnish everyone with the same brush. I have come across many CPCS qualified operators that are clearly not competent even though they have a CPCS card. For clarification.purposes, training and a test for one category of CPCS (eg a dumper) can cost in the region of £1,000. The same training and test delivered by the same company and offered as an in house certificate will cost around £250. There is no legal requirement for CPCS, but there is a requirement for training. It is up to the employer to identify the level of training required. National contractors do not set the industry regulations, however they have their own site rules. The CITB qualifications are not mandatory for the industry, just one option.

In reply to Chrisp and DHM I only stated CPCS as an assumption but stand by having evidence of training whoever the provider as long as it is relevant and sufficient. Something else I didn't say is that I wouldn't worry about trying to find the Italian equivalent of the CDM regs. I made sure we complied with our company procedures and the requirements of the Italian version of the CDM-C. They gave me a list of items that was needed and I provided it. Their concern is that should there be a visit from the local council, they can prove compliance. Another document they were very hot on was the European A1 model which has to be completed by EU nationals working abroad. This relates to paying tax in the home country. Having had projects in France, Germany and Italy the Italians were the only ones to ask for it.

Alfasev, You are clearly missing the point here, as I said it is the same trainer delivering the same training to the same standards, the only difference is the card. Do you think a CPCS centre with an assessor would let a untrained person pass because it is not CPCS test? These training establishments have a reputation to preserve. You say your experience, well maybe youjust don't have that much experience when it comes to construction plant? And you say £1,000 is not much? I think you should take a look at CPCS closer and maybe from a different perspective. For example, if you want to have a card with excavator tracked below 10t, that could be up to a £1,000. Then it's the same for an excavator tracked over 10t, another possible £1,000. Then, maybe you want excavator wheeled, again could be another £1,000. It goes on and on. I use cost as an example, and it's what every employer looks at, regardless of what we H&S people like to think. National contractors have rules, it's not law. Otherwise the PUWER regulations would state CPCS. And by the way, I have some 50 operatives CPCS trained, I find the money, but is it value? I'll leave that one for you, although you clearly may have a little too much!!!

We seem to have moved away from the original question (although this is an interesting discussion all the same). I have no idea about Uk/Italy equivalency of qualifications. One could argue whichever UK card is held is some proof of competency. Every main contractor has their own rules anyway, no matter where they are based. I would also suggest CITB backed schemes are more likely to be recognised abroad though. On a side note, with regards to CPCS test costs - at least 70% of these costs would be reclaimable through CITB Grants.