CSCS launches Professionally Qualified Persons Card

CSCS today announced the launch of a new Professional Qualified Persons (PQP) card.

The card widens the scope of CSCS to cover non-site based professionals who have health and safety responsibilities – such as consultants, clients and engineers – to ensure that everyone in the construction industry can demonstrate competence, qualifications and health and safety awareness.

Almost 20 professional institutions, including the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Royal Institution of British Architects and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have had their qualifications and membership criteria reviewed as part of the process for creating the new card. The criteria for members of Professional Institutions who would be eligible for the Professionally Qualified Persons card are:

􀂃 Professional institutions whose qualifications have been mapped against S/NVQ and approved for recognition against existing CSCS platinum or black occupational cards

􀂃 Professional institutions whose qualifications are regulated by the Engineering Council

􀂃 Architects Registration Board whose qualifications are regulated by statute.

The card will identify an individual’s professional institution and will only be issued to professionals who can demonstrate a high level of health and safety knowledge though the achievement of a new Higher Managerial Health and Safety Test. The Test was developed by CSCS, CITB-ConstructionSkills and the Construction Industry Council (CIC) in close conjunction with professional institutions and consultancies.

The Professionally Qualified Persons card will be promoted to consultants and other professionals not working permanently on site, and we will encourage them to ensure that CSCS is specified in the tenders and contracts in which they are involved.

Brian Adams, CSCS Chief Executive added: “We are extremely encouraged that Professional Institutions and Consultants have requested a CSCS card to reflect their commitment to occupational competence. This card broadens the reach of the CSCS scheme beyond site operatives and will be another key driver in proving competence and health and safety amongst the entire construction workforce.”

Sir Michael Latham, Chairman of CITB-ConstructionSkills added: “We are extremely pleased with the support we have had from this sector, with key industry bodies getting involved in setting the standards for the new Health and Safety Test, ensuring it meets the needs of the sector. We thank them for this input, and look forward to their continued support in furthering our industry’s commitment to raising Health and Safety standards.”

Stuart Henderson, Construction Industry Council Deputy Chairman, said: “The new PQP card underlines the commitment of those in the professional services sector to Health and Safety as it was promoted by CIC. It also creates a challenge for those providers to take the test and pass it. Those that do and gain the card will be moving the whole industry a little further forward.”

The Higher Managerial Test will sit alongside the existing range of CITB-ConstructionSkills Health and Safety Tests, which are sat by over 300,000 candidates per year. CSCS has recently decided that the new test will also apply to the level 5 card for Managers who are resident on site, with effect from January 2007.

Those wishing to apply for a CSCS PQP card, should call CITB-ConstructionSkills’ SkillsDirect service which pulls together the various components into one integrated service – call 0870 850 5262 to book or visit www.citb-constructionskills.co.uk/skillsdirect for more information.

There is a question book available for the Higher Managerial Health and Safety Test - which carries all the possible questions and answers for the Test and is available when booking the Test or from the booking line and website at any other time.