I see that there is a move towards removing the General Operative Green Card by passing the CSCS test. It is reported that by July 2014 anyone wanting the Green Card will need to pass a level 1 award in Health and Safety at an approved centre and passing another H and S test to qualify.

No details of the costs for doing this yet, but sure to add another financial burden upon the construction industry.

http://www.cscs.uk.com/news/cscs-raises-standards

looks like a very basic knowledge qualification, bit like the CSCS test then...

That depends what you think 'teh system' is for. I think that's what happening here is that CSCS see their purpose as being enhancing workforce skills. Their goal is to improve teh skills of teh construction workforce. Because of that, they don't want an 'unskilled' card, because it just doesn't fit - it would be like a driving licence that recorded you couldn't drive. If this is what you think teh card is 'for', then it's critical that you have the right card.

Unfortunately, the reason their users bought into the scheme was for something different - the H&S test. Most people see it only as a demonstration of basic H&S knowledge, not as anything about construction skills. If that's how you see the card, it really doesn't matter what colour it is.

So CSCS have been very successful, but at something that wasn't their primary goal. In my view, they haven't done very well at all at their primary goal, but rather than accepting how things have turned out and modify their goal, they persevere with trying to push the cards for a purpose that the vast majority of users aren't using.

Is it trying to beat the system whenever you use something for a purpose the creator didn't anticipate? Or when you use it for something other than the primary goal of the creator? CSCS seem to think it is, but I think I disagree.