Posted By Pete48
Sorry, this is more a continuing thread but I was worried that I would hijack the previous one if I posted there. I am not active in the Construction sector but like many I guess, it passes across my desk in small ways now and again. So, I do not have to recognise the scheme unless I choose to do so. However, if I chose to do so it might be because I wanted some re-assurance about competence beyond our immediate expertise.
The CSCS site is quite specific about two things which lead me to a view that anyone carrying a card, which I can check at any time as to its current validity, is competent to perform as recorded on the reverse of the card. If I cannot rely upon these facts in law, the system is worthless to me. The extracts from their site are:
1. " to keep a record of workers in the construction industry who have achieved a recognised level of competence and to provide a means of identification"
2. "CSCS cards certificate occupational competence including health and safety for those people who require access to site, where individual safety or the safety of others could be at risk, and whose role materially affects construction resources".
I don't, for the purpose of this thread, care how they define competence and whether that is an issue or not; it is the plain, simple fact of their claim to do so.
This is important since confidence in any system is paramount and if some of the allegations and comments that are regularly made on this forum are anywhere half way likely, it is not just the industry that has a problem, I would suggest!
However, I have no information and I am not aware of any in the public domain about areas such as; number of card checks requested; numbers of failed cards when checked; follow up on such fraudulent presentation/possession; audits to ensure proper assessment before issue of cards etc.

Anyone closer to the day to day stuff care to comment?

Posted By GeoffB4
That's a very big statement David, would 'you' care to back it up?

FYI I can back up any of mine about CSCS.