CSCS Cards

[garybadger]

Hi people, quick question for everyone.

With everything being geared towards health & safety nowadays.

To actually be able to set foot on a site now, you need a SVQ/NVQ to get the correct CSCS card for your trade.

How do the people that have been tiling for years feel about having to go to college and take one of these courses just to set foot on a site?

I have a guy working for me that's been tiling for 13 years, is known on all my sites and a really good tiler but now I have to get Construction Skills in to get an on site assessment(hopefully) just so he can set foot back on the site's.
I understand you need to move with the times, but surely there can be some sort of compromise for the people that have done on site apprenticeships(better in my opinion) and are known throughout the trade, rather than someone doing a 3 week college course and getting one of these cards saying they are a tiler??

[tfs]

Its more than just doing three weeks at college mate. You need to prove that you are eligable to get qualified by proving you have been employed in the trade for the last three years and have refferences, invoices or payslips etc

Your guy can get an experienced worker assesment which is 1 full day of tasks that he is asked to perform at a selected training centre. After succesfully doing this he will get his card.

The other route is OSAT which I have done to get qualified as a Joiner, this was just a case of getting reffecences together from previous employers in the sector, cv, copies of invoices, risk assesments and any other documented evidence like websites or work portfolio. This was followed by two or three visits where the assesser asked me questions about my method of work (why I am doing this and how would you go abiout doing that) and also took film evidence of me working completing Maintenance, first fix and second fix tasks. This is an easy process for someone with the correct skill level and experience.

The only down side was having to fork out £600 to be assesed.

[pjc]

well i work on sites with my labouring card you just have to do the heath and safety test i have a nvq but haven't renewed my card yet as it still has time on it

[tfs]

I know many guys who have the standard CSCS card too and the last guy was a bricky with 30 years behind him. I think it would only be a problem if you come across a real akward site agent during your induction etc.

[Sir Ramic]

I know many guys who have the standard CSCS card too and the last guy was a bricky with 30 years behind him. I think it would only be a problem if you come across a real akward site agent during your induction etc.

I know a few of those

[paul flight]

and to top it all a cscs card is not a goverment run org and is not a legal requirment!!!!!

[deanotile]

have a look at the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment route (EWPA).

[ROBSON MCGREGOR]

I got my cscs card a year past january for a contract with miller homes.
I never knew or have ever heard of needing a specific card relevant to your trade.

With some of the site work i have seen then half the so called tilers will be out of a job as they wouldnt pass a skills test.

[Phil Hobson]

I know a couple of time served tilers who sub for mostly one company, they got their CSCS cards through the said company. To keep it cheap the firm issued them with site operative cards, they were pulled on one job because they were tiling with an unskilled card. To do with insurance I think.

[Sir Ramic]

My brother was asked to leave site due to not having the correct card.

[ROBSON MCGREGOR]

Might have to look into this then as we have a few tenders in for other sites.

[MissTiler]

I worked on a large site earlier in the year and they were really hot on safety, we had to have CSCS cards that were actually checked. Every day we also had to fill out a small check list about our working environment which you had to keep on you and the Safety bod would ask to see it. Apart from the usual PPE everyone had to also wear gloves at all times which I hadnt come across before. We also werent allowed to use the standard work platforms, they had to be the ones that are 600mm x 600mm. On one day 40 guys got sent home for various infringements!
All good fun.
When the Induction Forms have asked for details of any qualifications Ive never been asked for proof of my NVQ.


missyT

[nybor62]

i think the whole cscs card is one big money racket
a site we were on recently newbury town centre at the induction you had to produce cscs card which i did no probs my pal only had the certificate
no cscs number on it so they told him ti ring this number for your cscs no £30.00 later he had is cscs no this was on monday they inducted him and let him on site thursday cscs card check no card no work they kicked him of site , complete madness imo

[jonboythetiler]

I remember vaguely taking a 30 minute test, about 6 years ago. It cost me £50, but im sure the tile company i was working for at the time had to pay aswel. I never even looked at the health and safety booklet for more than 20 minutes, and past!

At the time it felt like i was just being robbed, the test was a joke, general safety on site, nothing more than common sense questions, and i lost a days work, plus i was £50 down!! and i have only ever been asked to show the card once!

[radim]

]i think the whole cscs card is one big money racket
[/B]a site we were on recently newbury town centre at the induction you had to produce cscs card which i did no probs my pal only had the certificate
no cscs number on it so they told him ti ring this number for your cscs no £30.00 later he had is cscs no this was on monday they inducted him and let him on site thursday cscs card check no card no work they kicked him of site , complete madness imo

agree.that card should make employer sure that worker who have got cscs is skilly and knows H&S rules.cost £50.{test and card}. but does not make u a good tradesman.it is just one big con IMO.howgh

[Mike]

I remember vaguely taking a 30 minute test, about 6 years ago. It cost me £50, but im sure the tile company i was working for at the time had to pay aswel. I never even looked at the health and safety booklet for more than 20 minutes, and past!

At the time it felt like i was just being robbed, the test was a joke, general safety on site, nothing more than common sense questions, and i lost a days work, plus i was £50 down!! and i have only ever been asked to show the card once!

i thought the maximum length for the card was 5 years, you may need to renew your card now (if you want to)

[bsc ceramics]

ewpa, its the best way to go for an experianced tiler. i did it last year and am always being asked for my card (nvq) on sites.
on a lot of sites now its no card no work and it will only get worse so its best to be prepaired

[timeless john]

I wouldn't complain as any form of assessment/regulation for the tiling trade is a step in the right direction.

[bsc ceramics]

your right there, cant be a bad thing, gets rid of the cowboys

[Minesacarling]

your right there, cant be a bad thing, gets rid of the cowboys

Just because you've got a CSCS card with Nvq written on the back doesn't mean people know what there doing and there not cowboys.


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[JRCCR]

I remember when I took my CSCS test. £17.50 for the test. I took a 45 minute drive to the nearest test centre. Waited 35 minutes for my test. Walked in and 6 minutes later had completed the test and waited a further 40 minutes for my certificate. 45 minute drive home, telephone call, £30 paid and 3 weeks for my card to arrive. But yet have only been asked to show my card twice. It does seem like another way of making money to me. I've never had a problem getting on sites. But with all these new regulations, they are making it harder for people to just get on with their work. Anyone can complete a health & safety test. It's all so simple. Some of my questions asked "which sign means hi viz vests?" and it showed 4 pictures. Not rocket science.

[Alan.P]

I've only been asked a handful of times but have needed it when having been asked on only 3 or 4 sites, and they were strict, no card no work. The simple fact is, if it's needed ( and it is ) then get it sorted, it can only be of benefit to the tradesman / serious worker.

[garybadger]

Good to see the debate this thing has thrown up.
My employee had an Experienced worker card last year, but because he never got an SVQ/NVQ in the said year he wasn't allowed that same card again.
I have gotten him one on the basic operative card, so he's at least allowed on site, however here's the catch.
According to the CSCS people, he isn't allowed to be doing any tiling and the basic operative card is for labourers only.
This is getting a lot stricter on every site I'm going onto, and I was told on the phone, that too even set foot on a site in future(think its starting at some point next year) you will need the CSCS card in your trade. So if you have a card saying basic operative, and are doing tiling. Your off the job. Crazy I know.
Bearing in mind these only last a year for employees and 5 years for the supervisours. Its a money making machine.
You'll have to sit an on site assessment or go to college for a week, for you to pass. Which may be subsidised by the Construction Skills(thats the angle I'm trying just now) but your still out of pocket. Then you have to pay for the card as well.

[pjc]

yes and what i have seen you are assed by people i wouldn't take on as an improver because of there lack of skill money for the boys IMO

[Wingn]

Most small sites here aren't too bad about having a CSR card (as it is in NI). Mine ran out but recently was sent on a refresher/update course funded by the local wooly faces for tradesmen in the area. About the only decent thing they've ever done.

[sts1]

I've recently been offered some site tiling work. I haven't been on a site for around 20yrs. CSCS card ? £600 ? health and
safety. No thanks

[Sir Ramic]

More like £70 mate.. ?

[Mike]

More like £70 mate.. ?

whats the £70 for neale? the basic operative card?

[Sir Ramic]

Its all I paid, once i obtained my NVQ2 then I got it upgraded to Skilled worker , Wall and floor tiler.
If i were to go onto a site I would be able to work but my brother with the basic card could not unless I said he was working under my supervision. Crazy eh ?

[Mike]

Its all I paid, once i obtained my NVQ2 then I got it upgraded to Skilled worker , Wall and floor tiler.
If i were to go onto a site I would be able to work but my brother with the basic card could not unless I said he was working under my supervision. Crazy eh ?

Yeah it is, I've had my skilled worker card 18 months and I'm using it for the first time next week on site. I need to check they'll let me use my 240v tools there first or I won't be going

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