CSCS

[teresa green]

Through our lines of work when working on construction sites can you apply for more than a green labourers CSCS card?

[Mark Bolam]

Just looking into this.

Looks like the answer is yes.

 

Arborist Skilled Worker Blue

WWW.BALI.ORG.UK

 

[GarethM]

It's like a tier system, you can work your way upwards, green is like the lowest rung for building site work.

[Mark Bolam]

It’s not very simple though Gareth.

CSCS has only just included arb as Skilled Worker.

The more anal sites will want more than that for the ‘foreman’.

SSSTS doesn’t recognise arb?

 

It’s a big mess.

[GarethM]

I wasn't sure about the skilled arb worker aspect of the CSCS.

 

I had to get the green one last year for on site electrical installations, which was a pain in the arse world of online learning and an old DVLA test centre for one of several exams.

 

They make it out like it's driving license which you can add endorsements and change colours.

 

I would assume this the the specialist version ?. But did regret not doing the supervisor or managers version as operatives and specialist only really need the 1 day HSE course.

 

They'll just say unless you've passed our supervisor or manager course it's a no.

Edited March 3, 2023 by GarethM

[waterbuoy]

1 hour ago, Mark Bolam said:

It’s not very simple though Gareth.

CSCS has only just included arb as Skilled Worker.

The more anal sites will want more than that for the ‘foreman’.

SSSTS doesn’t recognise arb?

 

It’s a big mess.

 

Like many aspects of life, I think the CSCS cards are another money generating exercise brought in on the back of 'Elf and Safety that provide bean counters with another piece of paper to demand.

 

I was fortunate in obtaining a CSCS card on the back of my LEEA (Lifting Equipment Engineers Association) membership (which itself involved a number of weeks attending training courses etc).  Initially this was a red card, but that has evolved into a white one through CPD.  Every construction site we have had to work on has accepted this as either 'Team Leader' of 'Foreman' qualification, even though I have not actually completed the specific CITB H&S course (the LEEA courses include a lot of H&S as one might imagine).

 

Not sure that any of this helps with the OP, but my understanding is that you can apply for a higher grade card in its own right in order to manage a site, irrespective of the practical experience you need for a skilled grade.  Further information available here: 

Which Test?

CONSTRUCTIONCERTIFICATION.CO.UK

 

Looking forward, this is something which is likely to be an increasingly common issue so maybe the Arb Assoc should be working on behalf of the sector to simplify things to a sensible level (unless they already are)?

[Mark Bolam]

@AA Teccie (Paul) Help!!!

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

On 03/03/2023 at 23:10, waterbuoy said:

 

Like many aspects of life, I think the CSCS cards are another money generating exercise brought in on the back of 'Elf and Safety that provide bean counters with another piece of paper to demand.

 

I was fortunate in obtaining a CSCS card on the back of my LEEA (Lifting Equipment Engineers Association) membership (which itself involved a number of weeks attending training courses etc).  Initially this was a red card, but that has evolved into a white one through CPD.  Every construction site we have had to work on has accepted this as either 'Team Leader' of 'Foreman' qualification, even though I have not actually completed the specific CITB H&S course (the LEEA courses include a lot of H&S as one might imagine).

 

Not sure that any of this helps with the OP, but my understanding is that you can apply for a higher grade card in its own right in order to manage a site, irrespective of the practical experience you need for a skilled grade.  Further information available here: 

Which Test?

CONSTRUCTIONCERTIFICATION.CO.UK

 

Looking forward, this is something which is likely to be an increasingly common issue so maybe the Arb Assoc should be working on behalf of the sector to simplify things to a sensible level (unless they already are)?

Good morning Mark, et al - "in a nutshell", unfortunately, despite concerted efforts over the years trying to get CSCS to accept / recognise the NPTC qualifications card as an equivalency for CSCS card purposes we've had no success (whatsoever.) They haven't / won't consider our requests (in effect they've now added it as an additional requirement 'over-and-above' the ROLO H&S course and CSCS test, so perhaps they have given it recognition .)

Essentially we're not a large enough industry sector to have sway and make them change so if you require CSCS cards to access work sites, which is essentially what it is, you need to engage with the process (done via BALI and the LISS Scheme (Landscape Industry.)

Sorry all, really can't help here.

Paul  

[Clutchy]

Done this what feels like 100 times 

 

Should be a blue skilled worker NOT labour only (green). In an ideal world, and on the larger sites, the supervisor should have a gold or black card. 

 

As Paul mentions the path is this: 

 

Check to see which blue card you can apply for, the easiest one is groundman which only requires cross cut and maintainence. You then have different levels of blue card such as:

• Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-cutting ONLY
• Tree Climbing & Aerial Rescue
• Stump Grinder
• Arborist Worker Chainsaw Groundsman
• Arborist Worker Chainsaw Ground-based
• Arborist Worker Chainsaw Advanced Ground-based
• Arborist Worker Chainsaw Off Ground
• Arborist Worker Chainsaw Advanced Off Ground (rigging and pruning)

 

Once you have that, book a 1 day ROLO course (can be done online, use Jon as UKHSS) 

Book CITB either before or after, download the spec/op CITB training app, its around £7 and that's all the training you need, don't waste a day training at training school, really not needed. 

 

If your employee isn't the sharpest, get them to do ROLO first then CITB test as a lot if covered there.

You then take the level 2 NPTC certs + ROLO + CITB touch screen test and send that to BALI/LISS who will then send it off to CSCS for you to get your card. 

So, 
Book CITB here: https://wsr.pearsonvue.com/testtaker/signin/SignInPage/CITB

Book ROLO: https://www.ukhss.co.uk/training/rolo-courses/

Submit all docs to: https://www.bali.org.uk/lisscscs-2019/apply-for-a-card/?preselect=Blue (Skilled Worker)

 

 

A tonne of our work is building sites so let me know if I can help with any questions. 

 

 

 

 

[Clutchy]

Worth mentioning that it can take 20 days from submitting the above to actually get the card.