Posted By P.R I know that it is an old and emotive subject, but I felt the need to off! Although I am far from an expert, but with the 30 years construction experience, 10 odd years with varying forms of safety responsibility, General Cert, SMSTS, Tech IOSH, AIIRSM,RMaPS and various other small training certs, I do not consider myself a "Trainee". Yet as I do not have a NVQ, the only CSCS card I can get is via the Professionally Qualified route. As I am Tech IOSH, this only gives me the aforementioned trainee card. As I am employed as a safety manager and carry out visits to my company's sites, it is laughable that I have to sign in with a trainee card. The only reason that I have even bothered, is because I need the card. Surely this is just wrong. Sorry for my negativity. P

Posted By steven bentham P.R. I think you make a good point, in credit crunch times the last thing we need is 'Cards' with no value . . . .

Posted By martinw Not much you can do really. Used to be an area manager for a company which provided a number of services to retailers, including when their new stores were being constructed. The only card that I could get to get me onto one of these sites was one for a cleaner. Never cleaned as a job in my life. Their game, their rules.

Posted By PMW I am currently studying NEBOSH Diploma, I am TechIOSH and refuse to apply for a trainee card! Visitor meets my requirements, don't be too quick to judge when you are not aware of circumstances. When I pass diploma, other cards can then be considered. The whole CSCS situation is a farce, I have yet to find any principal contractor in the construction sector, who actually checks what level of card anyone has, all that they are interested in is if the individual as a CSCS card, not the level of competence. I agree this is totally wrong, but that is what is happening. The card has no value as the system is being manipulated.

Posted By Carolc P R has my sympathy - the CSCS system is one of constantly moving goal posts. Every time I have a new employee to put through the system, I have found it to be a different process with different rules. PMW you may find the situation changing too - our company was asked recently by a Principal Contractor if we are planning to upgrade our site operatives to gold cards. That is not possible because a gold card requires NVQ3 and there is no level 3 available in our specialism, but the fact is that they asked the question I got a gold safety officer card some time ago, just on a NEBOSH construction certificate, but I doubt if I will be able to renew it when it expires next year, despite CPD and having obtained gold RoSPA H&S awards for my company

Posted By Susan MacDonald Is there a difference between the CSCS card and CITB card. I have drivers who use a CITB card to access construction sites to deliver plant. They took the CITB health and safety test, and this is now due for renewal. Do i book the health and safety test through CITB or CSCS.