CSCS: why we’re changing the Green card

CSCS chief executive Graham Wren explains more about the new qualification and card for labourers.

Last September Construction Manager reported on CSCS’s intention to introduce a card specifically for labourers that would require achievement of a Level 1 award. Since then a pilot has been undertaken to assess the effectiveness of training delivery and to gain feedback from trainers and candidates taking the new qualification. Overall opinion was extremely positive and I will talk more about this later.

First, though, it’s worth reiterating why CSCS is implementing this change. CSCS’s role is to provide a scheme for the construction industry that confirms site workers’ training and qualifications. The green Construction Site Operative (CSO) card had been introduced for entry level workers and simply required applicants to pass the health, safety and environment test and for their employer to sign their application form to say they were carrying out “labouring duties only”.

In reality, however, many site workers who carry out skilled occupations applied for the green CSO card as the easiest route to gain access to construction sites. This made it difficult for contractors to use CSCS cards as a reliable method of checking that site workers had the appropriate skills to work on construction sites safely and effectively. It was important that this situation was addressed.

A working group was established comprising representatives from across the industry, including principal and specialist contractors, professional bodies, unions and training providers supported by CITB. The result of their deliberations was a Level 1 knowledge-based award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification designed to assess a labourer’s knowledge of the most common risks to safety on construction sites today. Once this had been agreed, plans to get the pilot programme mentioned above were progressed.

The pilot ran from January to March 2014. During this period 525 people registered for the award, of which 334 passed, the remainder were still learning and/or awaiting assessment when the pilot concluded.

A sample of learners was surveyed to determine how well this new Level 1 award met their needs and feedback was extremely positive:      

• 97% thought the pre-assessment process was suitable to assess their training needs
• 88% thought that training delivery was suitable for their requirements
• More than three quarters believed that the training content was suitable
• Just over half considered that the training was the correct length. Around a third believed it was too long and this is being reviewed.
• Nine out of 10 respondents regarded the training materials as suitable.
• 85% thought the assessment was suitable

The introduction of an entry level qualification to obtain a CSCS card is an important move in our strategy to ensure that people have appropriate qualifications, skills and knowledge to carry out their work on construction sites. Before we introduced the new Labourer qualification it was important we tested our proposals were appropriate. The results of the pilot have shown that industry is supportive of this development and that what is being offered is suitable for learners’ requirements.

The specification for the award is available from the CSCS website and most of the awarding organisations that provide services to construction have registered to offer the new qualification. They are offering various methods of training and assessment including online testing and workbooks. This choice is particularly important to cater to different learning styles and needs.

In addition, the number of training providers and colleges that have been accredited to deliver the qualification is growing and is currently up to almost 100. We envisage that this number will grow significantly as demand for the qualification increases from 1 July onwards. From this date anyone applying for the new Labourer card must achieve the new award or a recognised equivalent. As part of the changes we are also introducing new provisional and apprenticeship cards as well to ensure those key groups are not adversely affected by the changes. This includes a new provisional card and a new apprenticeship card. 

The majority of the industry’s leading trade bodies and construction unions are also supporting the introduction of this new labourer’s qualification.

CECA chief executive Alasdair Reisner said: “The misuse of CSCS Green cards has been a problem in construction for many years, and it’s encouraging to see that CSCS has worked with industry to identify this, and have come up with a workable solution. Over the coming years this should help to ensure that everyone on site has the correct basic training and qualifications for their role and holds the right card for the right job.”

NSCC president Kevin Louche was equally positive: “Carrying the right CSCS card enables NSCC specialist contractors to demonstrate that they are properly qualified to do their job on site. The changes to the scheme provide a real incentive for everyone to get the right card for their current role and make it easier for the skills and qualifications they do have to be recognised.”

For more information about the new qualification and changes to CSCS green cards visit www.cscs.uk.com/greencard