CSCS cards.

[Buzz]

Just been through this myself. Been on construction sites for years and some know the form others don't.

 

Arboriculture /tree surgery is NOT construction, therefore you don't need cic or cscs or whatever they are called now.

 

Site clearance is construction.

 

However felling trees using tree surgery methods and taking care not to damage retained trees is not site clearance. As long as you don't use a jcb to clear stumps etc as part of your work then it should be ok.

 

If another contractor comes along behind with jcb then thats fine he must be cis/cscs.

 

Make out invoices as tree work, even if it is a bit like site clearance.

 

Its best to make sure they will pay you in this way before you start.

 

I can confirm this is absoloutly spot on the correct answer.

 

On quotes, on site and on invoices refer to the works you are carrying out as Arboriculture and you will be fine.

[Andy Collins]

This is all correct, but if they have site rules stating that no cscs/cis=no pay then you lose out. They do not have to employ you, whatever you choose to believe. Easier to just get the cards sorted and be done with it. Once again, we all like to be seen as professional arborists, yet we dont want to carry a couple of little cards?

[Mesterh]

 

 

All of our occupations related to trees are CRO’s and do not require any qualifications. Please see are website http://www.cscs.uk.com

 

 

 

To apply for a CSCS card we have a service called Skills Direct which is a simpler, faster way of getting your CSCS card. The cost is £41.97 payable by credit/debit card only (Skills Direct do not accept American Express).

 

Does this mean that they think you dont need any qualifications to cut trees down but you should a cscs card:confused1:

 

 

 

Once again, we all like to be seen as professional arborists, yet we dont want to carry a couple of little cards?

 

 

Thing is though it can be never ending.

What say some other firm sets up who have a different standard of working and therefore different courses and cards. If the construction companies like what they see then everyone will have to have another card and pay the cost.

Ok it isnt a huge amount of money and we will probably have to get them since as you say they dont have to employ us if we dont meet there criteria regardless if its relevant or not.

 

Steve should set up an Arbtalk approved contractors list with a nice little logo.We could all pay a small fee towards it and push it on the industry :001_tongue

"Yes Mrs Miggins we are Arbtalk approved and therefore a much better company to hire rather than all the other cowboys knocking about"

[Mesterh]

Sorry meant to say nice1 for getting the info Yorkshireman and posting it

[dom57]

ive got a cscs and a cpcs card the cpcs is for operating a 360 degree excavator below 10 tons a and above 10 tons and ive also got one for a 180 degree wheel digger ie jcb 3cx the cpcs stands for construction plant compatancy scheeme

[Yorkshireman]

Sorry meant to say nice1 for getting the info Yorkshireman and posting it

 

No probs

 

& basically this is a card that most construction sites require

as a prove of H&S awareness for the relevant trade

 

It however might be taken by the unenlightened Site Manager as being a skills card

Which quite clearly it isnt

 

Very Dodgy

 

 

thats why As a NPTC ASSESSOR I have brought this to their attention of NPTC HQ

they can then promote their skills certifcates to the construciton industry

[dom57]

basically you could go to citb construction collage do a two week course to drive a 360 come away with a cscs cpcs card but still doesent make you any good on one its just another way to draw money out of the working man

[Rupe]

I can confirm this is absoloutly spot on the correct answer.

 

On quotes, on site and on invoices refer to the works you are carrying out as Arboriculture and you will be fine.

 

Don't forget I was confusing cscs with cis! cscs may still be required, but on most sites this is just for the workers that turn up. The tree company would also have had to supply full risk assessment/method statements etc which would include everybodies nptc certs, insurance etc etc.

 

Construction companies can't just accept a quote and then allow the work to be done on the basis that everyone has cscs! cscs is in addition to actuall qualifications.

 

For example all plumbers on site will have been checked to prove that they have a lot more than cscs.

 

 

One problem here is that local authorities are out sourcing the job of verifying contractors to different organisations. I've had invitations to subscribe to two differnt such organisations, both for a fee, in order to keep on doing work for councils that I already work for. CSCS would just be another fee/tax!

[Ian C]

Might be me being a bit thick here but whats the answer? Do we need one to do site clearance(if it starts again) or do arb work on building sites or not. also on the cscs site i put tree surgeon in the serch bar and it says i need a white card, what ever that is. Also how long does the card last? HELP..............AM GOING MAD:scared1:

[b101uk]

The problem I see with ALL these so called skills cards etc is they require a photo which is something I don’t like & think in an infringement of my rights and liberties in the fact they wont issue one without, they often wont supply data protection information about who they will supply my information/image to nor will they supply information as to ware in law in the statute books of the UK dose it give them the “right” in law to require an image/photo.

 

Its worth remembering even the police when they arrest and charge you with a crime don’t have the right in law to take your photo for police recalds unlike your finger prints which they may take by force.