10th September 2008, 11:05 PM
As far as I understand the CSCS scheme, it is not specifically about health and safety. It is supposed to accredit you as qualified to a defined standard in your trade/profession. So, for instance, I have an Environmental Manager's card, and that is supposed to accredit me as an Environmental Manager. That is not really what I am, although I do work in two disciplines closely related to Environmental Management. If that is really what the card is doing, then an archaeology-specific card would be appropriate, because you could tell that anyone holding a card had at least a basic level of competence as an archaeologist.
The H&S test is, in theory, just one part of that accreditation, on the principle that no-one is qualified if they don't understand H&S issues relevant to their work.
In practice, however, the scheme seems to be mostly used to certify the fact that you have passed the H&S test. If that is what it is actually doing, then I don't see that an archaeology-specific card is relevant; all you need is a card whose H&S test focuses on the type of hazards that archaeologists face - manual handling, deep excavations, hand tools, working in conjunction with large mobile plant, etc.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
The H&S test is, in theory, just one part of that accreditation, on the principle that no-one is qualified if they don't understand H&S issues relevant to their work.
In practice, however, the scheme seems to be mostly used to certify the fact that you have passed the H&S test. If that is what it is actually doing, then I don't see that an archaeology-specific card is relevant; all you need is a card whose H&S test focuses on the type of hazards that archaeologists face - manual handling, deep excavations, hand tools, working in conjunction with large mobile plant, etc.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished