CSCS Card

[bmacrow]

Hey guys,

 

Anyone got any experience of applying for a CSCS card? I have a client who want me to start doing some install work and one of the sites they are in is a proper building site, so as such requires all workers to have a CSCS card. It doesn't look too hard to apply for but I wondered if anyone out there has one (video techs especially) and what card they ended up applying for, if they had to do any additional courses except the health and safety course that everyone seems to have to go on, and what qualifications they originally had which allowed them to get the card.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Ben

[patrick_keys]

Yes - I had to apply for one to work on the Olympic site a few years ago. The process is very simple: buy the book and learn the answers. Then locate a training agency that can issue the card - they'll administer a computer-based multiple choice test. Assuming you pass, your card will appear within a few weeks. The questions (40, I think) and answers are all in the book. It took me less than 5 minutes to do the test.

 

The only thing I'd advise is to check out the training agency online before placing an order. I had the misfortune to use an agency who liked to charge huge fees for 'extras' - like getting a receipt for payment. They were also extremely slow issuing the card. Five minutes with Google would have saved me a significant amount of hassle!

[paulears]

I don't quite understand -

The Scheme keeps a database of people working in construction who have achieved, or are committed to achieving a recognised construction related qualification.

 

Surely anyone working on a site of any kind that isn't complete is not involved in construction? I suppose they deem that adding permanent infrastructure on a functioning site is a construction worker, which seems a bit tenuous when some very specialist processes get carried out at that stage, because they have to?

 

There must be circumstances when non-construction industry people have to do specific things on site? Are there no exceptions on the sites that adhere rigidly to the certification scheme. Sounds a bit like working in unionised America, where you can tell people what to do, but can't actually do anything yourself?

 

How tight is it? Is it a straight ban to even be there, or just do something?

[xllx]

It's as tight as the individual site wishes to make it.

 

I have been stood by a fence throwing tools and equipment in to a colleague who had a card because I didn't and there was no way I was allowed on site without one. On another site I have also approached the site Project Manager and negotiated access for a small number of crew without CSCS cards, we had to submit extremely thorough Risk Assesments and Method Statements well in advance.

[john-sp]

Holding a CSCS card is a way of demonstrating that you are aware of the H&S issues relating to the tasks that you carry out on a building site - hence the different types of card you can get. We have "Construction Site Operative" cards at the moment as nobody could work out a more appropriate card for theatre installation work. The test is pretty simple, it is all multiple choice H&S questions, most of which can be answered using a modicum of common sense. It is a way the major building contractors can show that their workers and sub-contractors are H&S aware.

 

Most major sites will not let you in without an induction where you will be asked for your card - no card, no induction, no access to site. Some of the smaller sites are much more lax and will apply different degrees of regulations. We just try to comply with whatever conditions we are given prior to attending site, whatever they may be.

 

 

 

 

John

 

 

 

[bmacrow]

Thanks for the info so far guys, I am looking at the CSCS website and there are literally hundreds of categories of cards, what category have people ended up being issued with?

 

Thanks in advance again!

 

Ben

[ocfe]

My CSCS card is "Control Systems Engineer"

[itiba]

There is a CSCS card for Lighting and Sound which is available through the ECS. It's exactly the same Health and Safety test just a bit more paperwork confirming that you meet the requirements of the card. Whether you need such a specialised card or not is up to you?

[Simon Lewis]

Had this information concerning changes and restrictions in the CSCS cards scheme send today from one of the MEWP hire companies. At first glance it seems to imply that the ECS type card shown the post above might not be valid from next year?

 

Has anyone got more detailed interpretation or knowledge about this?

[bigclive]

Looks like they're trying to corner the "market" so they can get cash from every single construction worker in the UK on a regular basis.

 

It's just another of the many protection racket scams that have blighted British industry. I wish we had a government.

[Simon Lewis]

Just an update for this thread

 

The Construction Related Occupation (CRO) card scheme has now been withdrawn. Details on how cards are being phased out are here.

 

The Institute of Sound and Communication Engineers has liaised with the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme and can now offer a CSCS ECS related discipline card for 'sound engineers'. This may be required by operators on some construction sites if you are installing stuff or working on production on a site that's still in its construction phase.

 

Details can be found here. Membership level of the ISCE reflects the training / qualification level achieved and therefore satisfies the CSCS requirement - so the ISCE would like you to join!

 

Although I am an ISCE member, I am just passing on the information - don't flame me about the validity of card schemes or the industry it's spawned ;-)

[bigclive]

I was under the impression you could get a generic labour CSCS card at a local "walk-in and sit the test on a computer" basis at various centres around the UK.

 

The ECS will be harder to get simply because it has to be done through a small number of organisations at greater expense.

 

You can find lists of all the questions and answers online to practice plus also do a fake test online with the real questions on the same timed basis.

 

Most of the questions are patronising and have to be answered in the mindset of an officious office worker.

 

You can try a mock test on many sites like this one:-

 

Mock test.

 

Note that some questions could be classed as trick questions so read them carefully.

[Simon Lewis]

It's probably a fact of life that such schemes tend to have relatively basic health and safety sections!

 

What CSCS seem to want is to ensure whatever skill or level you are working at, you have evidence of appropriate training or qualification for it.

 

If a card scheme is being effectively run on site, it would stop someone with a general labourers' card trying to work on a skilled activity.

 

The issue for the audio profession, as far as I understand it, is that it can sometimes be hard to point to any suitable training or qualification that's needed to get an ECS card. The ISCE scheme can (through membership interview) determine and effectively 'validate' the level of knowledge, experience, training and qualification so that an ECS card can be applied for. From that viewpoint, I think the ISCE have been pretty helpful. The health and safety section still has to be taken, unless you can evidence recent acceptable alternatives.

[bigclive]

The CSCS card is not a test of electrical knowledge. It's purely basic health and safety like fire extinguisher colours and loads of dumb packer questions along the line of "If there is a fire on site should you leave or watch it burn".

 

Having done several of the patronising ECS versions because it was added as an extra cash maker on my SJIB card, the only electrically specific questions I can recall are:-

 

Your mate gets an electric shock. What do you do.

 

A. Sit them down with a cup of tea.

B. Send them home.

C. Seek immediate medical attention.

D. Tell them to pull themselves together.

 

You are sent to drill a hole and find that the electric drill has exposed wires. What do you do.

 

A. Just use it anyway.

B. Refuse to use it and report the damage.

C. Wrap some tape around the wires.

D. Tell your coworkers and then use it anyway.

 

These same questions are asked in the standard labourers test.

 

It's all turned into a bit of a lucrative industry. One that can charge again and again every five years.

[Simon Lewis]

Clive,

 

I think we agree that the health and safety test aspect is pretty basic and in cases patronising. It goes alongside the first question at the IPAF session... "can you all read and write?"....

 

However, the card scheme is meant to show and verify the level of training or qualification reached by the holder and to ensure that that is commensurate with the level of work undertaken.

 

For example - "unsupervised work in the electrotechnical industry" requires an ECS Gold Card. ECS state that, "to qualify for the ECS gold card a relevant industry level 3 qualification is required, which includes the necessary underpinning knowledge and competency assessment".

 

I'm sure we can find holes in this argument (including why not just carry a folder with laminated copies of your C&G certificates). The issue I feel is pertinent is when someone tries to get a card for working on audio installations but cannot provide evidence of suitable qualification.

 

Simon