New health and safety CSCS card

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From 1 July 2014, anyone wishing to work on a construction site must at least have a  CSCS Green Card (Labourer) will have to either pass a Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment or hold a valid Site Safety Plus Health and Safety Awareness Course certificate.

This qualification is aimed at learners who currently work, or want to work, in construction.

The completion of this qualification will enable operatives to apply for the CSCS green card allowing them acces to construction site s across the UK.

From the 1 July 2014 those who need a CSCS Green Card will be able to obtain one by completing* this qualification. This includes those entering the construction industry plus those who are renewing their card.   

They must also pass the Construction Industry Training Board’s Operatives Health, Safety and Environmental Test in the two years prior to applying for the card. Most UK contractors and construction clients insist that workers on their sites hold the appropriate CSCS card for the tasks they undertake, making the CSCS Green Card essential for anyone seeking work as a non-skilled operative.  

Alex Botha who is the Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, commented: “Construction is a high risk industry, accounting for over a quarter of all fatal injuries to employees in Great Britain, despite employing just 5% of all employees.

“The new Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment allows employers, training providers and colleges to provide non-skilled construction workers with an essential foundation in health and safety at work, which will help make construction sites safer and healthier for everyone.

“Employees who gain formal qualifications also feel valued, supported and engaged with their organisation, and completion of accredited qualifications also helps to develop a professional culture at work.”