Check your CSCS card - it might be back to school time!

[Canal Navvy]

I think that the real low point came back in 2007 when someone died of hypothermia after getting stuck in a temporary drain cover. Apparently the emergency services argued over who was in charge and how to release him for four hours ....... any of us lot would have had him out before the 999 lot even turned up

 

[Lancs Lad]

I think that the real low point came back in 2007 when someone died of hypothermia after getting stuck in a temporary drain cover. Apparently the emergency services argued over who was in charge and how to release him for four hours ....... any of us lot would have had him out before the 999 lot even turned up

Dont even look at the aftermath of the Manchester arena bombing then....🫣

 

[Gunners]

The country isn't that bad, we have so many opportunities here, focus on how you can make yours and the people around you's life better and don't let the hate on social media get to you - its a very easy trap - look how much better life was back then, place is ruined now. Its only as ruined as we let it be!
Most of us here are self employed and so have the ability to make a difference as to how we live our lives and conduct ourselves. Set the example, don't join the masses. I really believe it starts with us. You and me.
Bringing that back onto the CSCS/CPCS card issue. The industry has allowed the card scheme to be like this and now those of us on the ground have to suffer the consequences. However, the big boys need us to do the work and in an increasingly tight labour market the tail will start to get a handle on the dog again so to speak.

I started this thread, not to comment on the issues with the card scheme (which I have made clear before) but to make people aware that IF THEY NEED A CARD, they should make sure they get enrolled on an NVQ if required before its too late.
If you don't need a card then by all means let it lapse, the fall in numbers will be a shock to NOCN/CITB and with a dwindling number of renewals to cream money in from, you might just see some change. But I'm not holding my breath on that front. Instead, I have made sure I have protected my interests, the people I work for, and the work I do and I have acted accordingly.

 

[Grahams]

Really ffs

Smells like bull to me. CSCS is not a legal requirement, just something large companies do to try and avoid liability if there were an accident.
I know the army are getting into more H&S such as running in trainers rather than boots (which makes no sense unless you carry your trainers with you on the battlefield and stop to change) and wearing rock climbing style helmets on assault courses, but I find it very hard to believe they would not sort an unexploded bomb, especially one that has been disturbed, because of some irrelevant paperwork. Maybe if you have a fire the H&S guy on site will stop the fire brigade putting it out until he has done the site induction and checked they have the proper card?

 

[Bri963]

The country isn't that bad, we have so many opportunities here, focus on how you can make yours and the people around you's life better and don't let the hate on social media get to you - its a very easy trap - look how much better life was back then, place is ruined now. Its only as ruined as we let it be!
Most of us here are self employed and so have the ability to make a difference as to how we live our lives and conduct ourselves. Set the example, don't join the masses. I really believe it starts with us. You and me.
Bringing that back onto the CSCS/CPCS card issue. The industry has allowed the card scheme to be like this and now those of us on the ground have to suffer the consequences. However, the big boys need us to do the work and in an increasingly tight labour market the tail will start to get a handle on the dog again so to speak.

I started this thread, not to comment on the issues with the card scheme (which I have made clear before) but to make people aware that IF THEY NEED A CARD, they should make sure they get enrolled on an NVQ if required before its too late.
If you don't need a card then by all means let it lapse, the fall in numbers will be a shock to NOCN/CITB and with a dwindling number of renewals to cream money in from, you might just see some change. But I'm not holding my breath on that front. Instead, I have made sure I have protected my interests, the people I work for, and the work I do and I have acted accordingly.

X2. Trouble is when card schemes come up you always get the “I’ve never needed one/ never been asked for one/refused to have one/I’ve earned more without one/load of crap/hasn’t done anything for safety/I knew more than the trainer” etc. Having one hasn’t bankrupted me, made me less safe, or closed any doors regarding work.

I won’t disagree with anything levelled against how these schemes were implemented but the fact is, certainly this part of the country, you won’t get on the higher paying jobs as an operator without a card. There’s jobs at £11-12 an hour that don’t ask for cards or too much experience, generally landscaping or agricultural related work, or £25+ on pipelining or major construction jobs. How many hours do you need to work before you’ve paid for the card and start to get the benefits? A good op with a card, gps and/or tilty experience is only going to be out of work as long as he/she/they want to be.

 

[Grahams]

X2. Trouble is when card schemes come up you always get the “I’ve never needed one/ never been asked for one/refused to have one/I’ve earned more without one/load of crap/hasn’t done anything for safety/I knew more than the trainer” etc. Having one hasn’t bankrupted me, made me less safe, or closed any doors regarding work.

I won’t disagree with anything levelled against how these schemes were implemented but the fact is, certainly this part of the country, you won’t get on the higher paying jobs as an operator without a card. There’s jobs at £11-12 an hour that don’t ask for cards or too much experience, generally landscaping or agricultural related work, or £25+ on pipelining or major construction jobs. How many hours do you need to work before you’ve paid for the card and start to get the benefits? A good op with a card, gps and/or tilty experience is only going to be out of work as long as he/she/they want to be.

That seems to be the problem. Because operators are individuals rather than unionised big firms can set the agenda. In my opinion they should have to take resposibility for safety on site rather than sloping off responsibility by saying cards are showing you are properly trained and safe.
I had cards which I let lapse, which in hind sight was probably an error, but I don't know I'm up to an NVQ, having left education many decades ago.

 

[Smiffy]

That seems to be the problem. Because operators are individuals rather than unionised big firms can set the agenda. In my opinion they should have to take resposibility for safety on site rather than sloping off responsibility by saying cards are showing you are properly trained and safe.
I had cards which I let lapse, which in hind sight was probably an error, but I don't know I'm up to an NVQ, having left education many decades ago.

The nvq is not academic. Just proving what you do on a daily basis. This is half the problem. It makes blokes on site think they are demi-gods. Then they end up with their head up there arse and make stupid mistakes.
The attitude that the cards provoke is worse than the money grabbing

 

[Bri963]

The nvq is not academic. Just proving what you do on a daily basis. This is half the problem. It makes blokes on site think they are demi-gods. Then they end up with their head up there arse and make stupid mistakes.
The attitude that the cards provoke is worse than the money grabbing

I‘ve personally never seen this, just competent, semi competent, not really getting there, and f###ing dangerous. What I have seen is that cards and NVQ’s mostly seem to provoke an attitude in people who can’t get regular or better paying work because they couldn’t be bothered to get one. For most people it’s just something to get you on site, the same as a high-viz vest and hard hat. Whatever licensing scheme anyone could come up with to replace the current schemes, one thing for sure is you’d still hear the same complaints that we have now.

 

[Smiffy]

I‘ve personally never seen this, just competent, semi competent, not really getting there, and f###ing dangerous. What I have seen is that cards and NVQ’s mostly seem to provoke an attitude in people who can’t get regular or better paying work because they couldn’t be bothered to get one. For most people it’s just something to get you on site, the same as a high-viz vest and hard hat. Whatever licensing scheme anyone could come up with to replace the current schemes, one thing for sure is you’d still hear the same complaints that we have now.

I think it might be down to the different environments we work in, in all honesty we aren't doing the cream of the work although it is very varied, the pay is quite good but not amazing, company vans all round As such we get a lot of chancers. And I'm not saying it's everyone who has the attitude either. I wouldn't know what ticket half the drivers I work with have unless I have to record the details. The other half walk onto site and announce their tickets before you've even established their name.
You also see it a lot on Facebook groups which seemingly attract comments from this type.
It's time allot of people woke up and realized the ticket regardless of the name or colour. Says you reach the minimum safety standard to drive a machine it relates nothing to do with skill. Likewise there are many different skills for a machine driver to have and no cards or tickets recognize this.
A high reach demo driver is likely to be highly skilled. But likewise would struggle digging drainage with a mini and vice versa l. And this is where allot of blokes who shout about there ticket come unstuck. As they won't take advise as they already know better.

 

[6feetdown]

I think it might be down to the different environments we work in, in all honesty we aren't doing the cream of the work although it is very varied, the pay is quite good but not amazing, company vans all round As such we get a lot of chancers. And I'm not saying it's everyone who has the attitude either. I wouldn't know what ticket half the drivers I work with have unless I have to record the details. The other half walk onto site and announce their tickets before you've even established their name.
You also see it a lot on Facebook groups which seemingly attract comments from this type.
It's time allot of people woke up and realized the ticket regardless of the name or colour. Says you reach the minimum safety standard to drive a machine it relates nothing to do with skill. Likewise there are many different skills for a machine driver to have and no cards or tickets recognize this.
A high reach demo driver is likely to be highly skilled. But likewise would struggle digging drainage with a mini and vice versa l. And this is where allot of blokes who shout about there ticket come unstuck. As they won't take advise as they already know better.

Agree. The issue i have is it's a money making exercise, if your not competent you should re sit or not bother. The driving test is bad enough the amount complete aholes who have no clue but have passed their tests inc the instructors, is surreal. None of us are perfect but the amount of idiots on the road beggars belief

 

[Bri963]

I agree with this 100%. We have interviewed and tested a few Chancers, but mostly they shove the “I done this, I done that, I can operate any of your machines better than the bloke who’s on it” crap before I even ask to see the cards. That’s mostly when they quieten down, when I say I’m doing the card check.

 

[Smiffy]

Agree. The issue i have is it's a money making exercise, if your not competent you should re sit or not bother. The driving test is bad enough the amount complete aholes who have no clue but have passed their tests inc the instructors, is surreal. None of us are perfect but the amount of idiots on the road beggars belief

Quite difficult to draw the line of competency for a machine driver. I've met people who are perfectly safe in a machine they are slow sensible steady and won't cause any damage. Yet make an untold mess of the job, work back to front and generally are useless. That is an extreme of course. But there is a certain point when it's difficult to say what constitutes competent. I'm sure there are a million machine drivers on housing sites that do a perfectly good job but no one on here would hire. Im also not excusing examiners who pass the downright dangerous.

The last point to note is that the card system also seems to distort wages. Everyone thinks that they should be on the same money as they have the same card as the next bloke. I get told this constantly " I think I need a pay raise, I have the card as him" but the other bloke is doing 10x better job but they can't see it. There are some drivers who really do deserve better money as their work is essentially saving the boss time and materials. But there is no recognition for them.

 

[Lancs Lad]

Ultimately any system that dehumanises folk to the level of an exam/number is fundamentally fkked.

Any business/job/employee-boss relationship thrives on the human touch...what are they actually like, I've seen folks CVs that look like gold dust and yet they almost fainted in an interview.

Imagine if the driving license alone was a measure of a person's ability...the clown I followed for 5 miles over the pass last night at 19mph was a potentially a Darwin award candidate and yet no doubt is a brain surgeon...🫣

Sunday night ramblings....

 

[Smiffy]

Ultimately any system that dehumanises folk to the level of an exam/number is fundamentally fkked.

Any business/job/employee-boss relationship thrives on the human touch...what are they actually like, I've seen folks CVs that look like gold dust and yet they almost fainted in an interview.

Imagine if the driving license alone was a measure of a person's ability...the clown I followed for 5 miles over the pass last night at 19mph was a potentially a Darwin award candidate and yet no doubt is a brain surgeon...🫣

Sunday night ramblings....

With the driving test at least there should be a a recommendation for future vehicles. If driving isn't your fair enough, but don't buy a range rover. It's not difficult. Likewise someone needs a chat with people before the buy a car. Along the lines of if you live down little country lanes that your petrified of driving down maybe a new car isn't the best option.

 

[Monkeybusiness]

I sub a local lad in, he’s early 20s and is far and away the best digger driver I’ve seen (farm lad who has grown up on machines).
He’s got his own (really nice) 14 tonner setup along with a mint tractor etc etc, and has never ending work on local farms putting sleeper tracks in/excavating shed based/draining etc etc. Amazingly tidy, incredibly productive - all round s**t-hot!
I put him through a couple of tickets as needed him carded to go on sites and it was massively refreshing to find out that he’d built his current empire without ever owning a hiviz or helmet!!!
(I felt bad for supplying him with them as I’ve somehow taken down the barrier of bullshit separating him from our ‘real’ world!).

 

[Mogman]

I sub a local lad in, he’s early 20s and is far and away the best digger driver I’ve seen (farm lad who has grown up on machines).
He’s got his own (really nice) 14 tonner setup along with a mint tractor etc etc, and has never ending work on local farms putting sleeper tracks in/excavating shed based/draining etc etc. Amazingly tidy, incredibly productive - all round s**t-hot!
I put him through a couple of tickets as needed him carded to go on sites and it was massively refreshing to find out that he’d built his current empire without ever owning a hiviz or helmet!!!
(I felt bad for supplying him with them as I’ve somehow taken down the barrier of bullshit separating him from our ‘real’ world!).

You told me I was the best digger driver you’ve ever seen

 

[DaveDCB]

You told me I was the best digger driver you’ve ever seen

You were 20 once…? Must be the same person he’s referring too

 

[Monkeybusiness]

You told me I was the best hitchhiker hider you’ve ever seen

Fixed that for you….

 

[Monkeybusiness]

You were 20 once…? Must be the same person he’s referring too

I wasn’t born when he was 20….

 

[kabin man]

I deliberately don't promote my own videos on here guys, you lot know who I am and what I do. But a topic that I have covered recently needs to go out to as many people as possible as it could affect us all in the construction industry.
In short, if you have a CSCS/CPCS card that you obtained before 2010 and you have not completed a relevant NVQ for the categories you hold - you have until December 2024 to do so.
My video explains more but suffice to say this is going to cost a lot of money just to keep the card you already have.
As always, please like and subscribe

Probably time to re watch this good video,as the clock is a ticking....