CPCS announces further industry-led amendments

Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) has announced industry-led changes to the CPCS scheme, to increase its flexibility whilst upholding strict quality standards.

One year on from the revision of the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) in response to industry requirements and to fit in with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulation Approved Code of Practice (CDM ACoP), the plant industry has been consulted about how those changes were working and what else might need to be done to help the scheme reflect the current state of the sector. 

After extensive consultation with industry bodies, including the CPA, CECA, UNITE, SPOA, NFDC, UCATT, FPS, ALLMI, Lantra Awards and the HSE, an extra meeting of the CPCS Board was held on 9th July. Discussions focused on the need to support the plant sector and individuals in it through difficult economic times  and ensure that trained individuals are not lost, whilst maintaining a focus on the highest standards of health and safety and continuing to move towards a fully qualified workforce.

Changes to CPCS to be implemented in coming months will include:

• Greater local decision making for the national network of CPCS Monitors, to deal with specific one-off requests and provide a degree of flexibility
• Overlaps between training and testing to be allowed in some very specialist areas, but only where, due to demand, the number of trainers and testers is low
• At the request of the demolition sector, the ConstructionSkills Health & Safety Test will replace the current demolition specialist test for plant operators undertaking category A65. The A65 Practical Test will also be reduced from 4 hours 30 minutes, to 3 hours
• Additional guidance notes and training materials will be developed and published to assist employers and individuals prepare for the CPCS Technical Tests
• Logbooks will be issued at first red card stage, indicative of the support they have from industry and the HSE
• A review of the renewals process will be undertaken, seeing the development of the CPCS Renewal Theory Test and seeking to simplify the logbook validation process
• A widespread communications campaign will be launched, raising awareness of the scheme and encouraging take-up.

Further specific changes will also be made to the red card system, recognising current financial uncertainties and their impact on the plant sector:

• Subject to certain conditions, one additional red card per category (with a two year life) will be permitted for individuals, supporting them in difficult times
• All “Grace Periods” in the scheme will be extended to 12 months to bring parity between the different elements
• For candidates who appeal, the red card extension period will be extended to 12 months to allow sufficient time to complete the S/NVQ
• Awareness of the need to complete a S/NVQ amongst red card holders will be raised by adding information about this on the card.

Trevor Gamble, Chair of the CPCS Management Committee, said of the changes:
 
“It’s been a year since we had to look at CPCS in response to industry requests and it seemed like an appropriate time to talk to the plant industry about how those changes were working and what else we might need to do to help the scheme reflect the current state of the sector.  We think the further changes announced today strike a good balance between showing flexibility and supporting employers and individuals through hard economic times, and maintaining the high standards of the CPCS card that we know the industry and the HSE value.

“CPCS is still the only card scheme that means you can get any of your team onto any site in the country, and it’s the only scheme supported by CITB-ConstructionSkills Grant. We hope to be able to continue to support businesses and individuals alike in making the plant sector a safer, more qualified industry to work in.”

For further information about CPCS, contact the ConstructionSkills helpline on 0844 815 7274 for details of local Test Centres, trainers or your local area monitors, or visit www.cskills.org/cpcs .
 
ENDS
 
Notes to editors
 
About the scheme

• The Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) scheme was launched in 2003 with the aim of becoming the card scheme for the plant industry.  CPCS is now the main standard for plant operators, proving that they have passed the ConstructionSkills Health and Safety Test and have the necessary qualifications and experience to competently operate construction plant.
• The scheme is managed by a board of employers and members of industry bodies such as the Construction Plant-Hire Association (CPA), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and National Federation of Demolition Contractors.
• It is the only scheme accepted by UKCG and MHBG group firms for all plant occupations.
• The scheme is ‘run by the industry for the industry’, with a management board made up of representatives from across the plant sector.