Thursday 20 March 2014

What is a CSCS Card?



A CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) Card is a mandatory requirement for any individual who will be entering  a Construction site. This is because it provides the proof that an individual is fully aware of the health and safety implications of working on a Construction site. 

A CSCS Card is gained on successful completion of the appropriate CSCS test for the individual, which is dependent on their job description. The CSCS testcomprises of 50 multiple choice questions and lasts for 45 minutes. The test is about the health and safety issues of working on a Construction site. 

There are many different types of CSCS Cards which depend on an individual's job description and the qualifications that they hold.
A CSCS Card is important as it helps other colleagues understand what job roles an individual has and what their duties are on site. Also the type of CSCS Card an individual has helps employers see how qualified an individual is and if they would meet potential job requirements. Hence, holding a higher level CSCS Card is beneficial for an individual in the Construction field as it helps the individual stand out for potential employers.

Wednesday 12 March 2014

CSCS Cards. Why are they so important?



CSCS Cards are extremely important for anyone in the Construction Industry who will be working on a Construction site. Firstly, their main importance is that they provide proof that an individual is fully aware of the health and safety implications of working on a Construction site. Secondly, they are important as the CSCS Card that a particular individuals holds, shows their level of expertise and how qualified they are. Also, it gives a good indication as to the role of a person on a Construction site, for example a manager of a construction site will have a different card to a Construction site visitor. 

A CSCS Card is achieved by successfully passing a CSCS Test appropriate for the individual. All questions in the test are regarding the various health and safety issues of working on a Construction site.

There are varying levels of CSCS Cards that can be gained. This will depend on a person's job description and on their qualifications. The most common qualifications for the Construction industry are Construction NVQ's which can be taken on varying Construction areas. The higher the level an NVQ an individual has, the higher the level of CSCS Card they can gain.

Thursday 6 March 2014

Construction NVQ. Why is it so important in the Construction Industry?

A skill is something which is learnt over time and expertise in a certain field comes over years of experience. No matter how  good a skill an individual has in a certain trade, there needs to be a test in place to measure a skill and hence gain a qualification which is recognised by employers and nationally. The Construction trade is vast and there are various skills that can be learnt from carpentry to plastering.

The best thing about gaining a Construction NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) is that an individual does not have to miss out on a days' pay. Most examiners go to the Construction site where the individual is working and assess the individual's skills. There are many different levels of NVQ  that can be achieved. The higher the level of NVQ that can be achieved the more the individual will stand out to potential employers.

A CSCS Card is a mandatory card which needs to be taken on a Construction site. It is proof that an individual has sat a Health Safety and Environmental Test and is aware of the health and safety implications of working on a Construction site. By gaining a higher level of NVQ a more advanced CSCS Card can be achieved. This means that an individual will stand out more to potential employers.

In all, a Construction NVQ is a very beneficial qualification to gain and can help significantly with job prospects.