Ready for the new CSCS?

[BAJR]

Well are you ready for the replacement CSCS cards?

http://www.bajrfed.co.uk/bajrpress/cscs-...-and-fame/

In a nutshell

[h=4]The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers have released a joint statement on recent work towards establishing appropriate mechanisms for archaeologists to achieve accreditation under the Construction Skills Certification Scheme after September 2017, when the current scheme is to be withdrawn.

The following CSCS cards will be available for archaeologists

• Apprentices’ card – available to archaeologists on a recognised apprenticeship scheme provided it contains a basic health and safety element. Card valid for five years. No health and safety test required.
  
• Trainee card – available to students or trainees registered on a recognised training course. For an employers’ training scheme to be recognised by CSCS, it will need to be endorsed by CIfA, as the standards setting body for archaeology. CIfA will design a framework around National Occupational Standards, for all employers to use. Card valid for five years. Requires the basic (operative level) health and safety test.
  
• Academically Qualified Person (AQP) card – available to archaeologists with an ‘archaeology and heritage degree’. There is currently a lack of clarity from the scheme regarding what qualifies; to be resolved by CIfA, FAME and CSCS agreeing a list of courses. For reasons of pragmatism, these will be very broadly defined initially in order to ease the transition following the withdrawal of the CRO card. Requires the Manager level health and safety test. Valid for five years.
  Note: CSCS is proposing changes to the AQP route in future to ensure that candidates are able to demonstrate appropriate competence. CIfA and FAME understand that these changes will not be introduced for at least 6 months following the withdrawal of the CRO card.
  
• Professionally Qualified Person (PQP) card – Will be available at three levels, equating to Operative, Supervisor and Manager (= PCIfA, ACIfA, MCIfA) – and with the three corresponding health and safety tests (card to be clearly marked to indicate which level test had been taken). Approval has been gained for the PCIfA level card (agreed by FAME and CIfA as the priority). Mapping for ACIfA and MCIfA will be undertaken late 16/early 17. CIfA membership at appropriate level will need to be maintained in order for cards to be renewed. Card valid for five years.
  

The* Site Visitor card *will still be available for those who visit sites in a monitoring role (i.e. those not working directly on site). This card can be used by senior/project manages, by consultants, and local authority curatorial staff.
NOTE: The CSCS website is currently being updated to reflect the new option for the Practitioner level PQP card. As further changes are made through 2016/17 the site will continue to be updated.
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[Mike.T.]

Completely wrong that we ( or our employer ) has to shell money out yet again for this pointless test. As everyone in the construction industry will have to resit it the people behind this must be making more money than Richard Branson.

Mind you I did learn a few things the CSCS test, such as what colour fire extinguisher to use ( useful for Archaeologists ) and not to ignore a work colleague that i find happen to find unconscious.

[Dinosaur]

Managed to guess all the stuff like the electrical section, despite knowing b*****-all about site electrics, so the old operative test at least wasn't really fit for purpose.

There's a rumour I might have to try and track down my degree certificate to get a new card? - will be the first time anyone has EVER wanted to see it (graduated 1983, and am really not sure which box it may be composting at the bottom of), so shows just how pointless they are really - till now anyway

[Marc Berger]

I don't understand, they all have to pass the same test but depending on your c..a status you get a different badge?

The following CSCS cards will be available for archaeologists:

•Apprentices’ card – available to archaeologists on a recognised apprenticeship scheme provided it contains a basic health and safety element. Card valid for five years. No health and safety test required

.

"No health and safety test required" whats the point? and what comes first: an archaeologist or an apprentice?

I have never had one and don't intend ever to have one. In my recent experiences I was given a site based induction course and signed some book. I then waited around for some minor HSE infringement to occur and then asked the brighter looking ones if I should do anything about it. This established that I was an archaieologisty thing and nothing to do with construction and was mostly left alone in my own bubble.

The CSCS card had anything archaeology it would have a section about archaeology HSE that the whole of the rest of the construction industry would have to pass in their test. Automatically they would then be apprentice archaeologists

normally a woodbridge rears its head when CSCS is mentioned

[Sith]

I don't understand, they all have to pass the same test but depending on your c..a status you get a different badge?

I obviously read that bit differently. The quoted message from CIfA implies that you will have to take a different test for each of the three levels of card. the diferent 'badge' should reflect your level of responsibility for safety on site (i.e. do you just have to turn up and not injure yourself, or are you the person left carrying the can if something goes wrong).

"No health and safety test required" whats the point? and what comes first: an archaeologist or an apprentice?

Agreed. If you don't need to pass a safety test, why do you need a card to say you haven't passed one?

[Dinosaur]

Mapping for ACIfA and MCIfA will be undertaken late 16/early 17

Wish they'd get on with it, my old card ran out months ago, and apparently can't get a new one

[BAJR]

If you are not a member of CIfA ( unless something weird happens to you Dino) you can still apply for the CRO card up to March 2017 (although this will be time limited to September 2017) or, if you are degree qualified, you can apply for the AQP card.

[Dinosaur]

What, and inderdict the months-long fraught correspondence our office administrator has been having with them? Not a chance, FAR too much entertainment }

Just a bit annoying in practical terms, although a H&S guy at a site induction yesterday was very understanding (phew!)

[BAJR]

You are awful... but we like you

[Marc Berger]

Quote Originally Posted by Marc Berger View Post

I don't understand, they all have to pass the same test but depending on your c..a status you get a different badge?

I obviously read that bit differently. The quoted message from CIfA implies that you will have to take a different test for each of the three levels of card. the diferent 'badge' should reflect your level of responsibility for safety on site (i.e. do you just have to turn up and not injure yourself, or are you the person left carrying the can if something goes wrong).

your right Sith (although its wrong that they don't have to all pass the same test) So somebody has to set four tests related to archaeology HSE. Who that then and has anybody done any of the tests and could we have a look at it?

Happy Christmas