CSCS Cards and Test

[mrsxllifts]

Once again, we are having to work our way through some more red tape in order to please another contract and have to get CSCS cards.

Does anyone have any experience on getting them, I gather I need to do a test in 'elf and safety, is that included in my £30 card cost? (wishful thinking, me thinks)

Has anyone one done the test? specifically the Lift and Escalator one? Is it worth getting the book and cramming or is it a common sense will get you through style test?

Thanks

Hannah

[lewes]

Hi

I last did the test about 4 years ago but I was connected to H&V industry at the time. The main book was general H&S and another supplement relating to various hazards in the H&V industry.

Most of it was common sense but like with a lot of tests its not always what they are asking but the way they are asking the question so you have to sit and think. Anyone with basic construction skills and knowledge should be able to get through.

Ive still got a couple of books in the office so I will have a look at them tomorrow.

If you need any more info just ask

[jas xjr]

i would take a look at the book.
make sure yiu do the correct version , lifts might count as plant. not sure re cost as my employer paid at the time. i reckon its possible to pass withoout studying but for how long it takes to bone up on the book i would just spend a few hours studying.
its been too long and i am sure things have changed. but it was very easy to pass when i did it . took 10 minutes including the practice run. i had very little construction experience.
cscs does give you access to larger jobs , with all the hassle that entails with risk assessments and method statements , but ultimately can be good

[a boardman]

I have do the basic health and safety course in next few weeks, a lot of the questions are general knowledge but some of the disease questions you may need to look up and i think you can only get about 5 questions wrong for a fail.

[Sam_68]

The actual test (at least when I did it) was a multiple choice session done on a touch screen on a computer.

You will need to spend a couple of hours swotting up from the book beforehand, but if you fail after that, you shouldn't be in the industry.

[GuinnessMK]

It depends which card you are going for.

The basic "get you on site" card, is a quick course then a H&S multichoice touch screen thingy.

But there appear to be loads of specific "lift" cards:-

http://www.cscs.uk.com/RunScript.asp?search_field=...

[gtr-gaz]

Sam_68 said:

The actual test (at least when I did it) was a multiple choice session done on a touch screen on a computer.

You will need to spend a couple of hours swotting up from the book beforehand, but if you fail after that, you shouldn't be in the industry.

Yes, indeed

I did one last year, basic health and safety in order to work in a Sainsburys for the builders.

Considering a lot of the labourers can barely speak english, it has to be pretty easy for them to pass!

[sider]

Make sure you read the paperwork before getting there properly.

When i've done the test, i've done it twice, they are quite strict and there are always people being turned away and having to call irate bosses. I think, but not 100%, it's to do with the I.D. that you need to take - check what you need to take carefully.

Also, when booking, tell them where you live and not like your nearest big city - they travel around in big trailers so very often will be on a pub car park closer than you think!

[sider]

Oh and lifts?

If so, might be worth us speaking.

I need a mezz goods lift for a shopping centre pricing up if you're interested?

[a boardman]

booked in for my basic test on 17th feb, Did a test using the cd we have and passed without reading up. think there is a option to do the lift test, will have a go tomorrow.

[mrsxllifts]

Thanks for all your help, it sounds like I need to get the book, do some swotting and hopefully pass.

I think it is the gold card I will be going for as I already have NVQ 3 and the other bits they need. I could go for the managagial (sp) one, but that won't help on the sites where they require you to be able to do the actual job rather than manage it, if that makes sense.

Is it possible to have multiple cards? Although, from what I hear, most site just want a card and aren't that interested in what it says on it.

Thanks again everyone.

To the lad who has his test on the 17th, let me know how you do, the mock test cd sounds like a plan!

[jas xjr]

mrsxllifts said:

Thanks for all your help, it sounds like I need to get the book, do some swotting and hopefully pass.

I think it is the gold card I will be going for as I already have NVQ 3 and the other bits they need. I could go for the managagial (sp) one, but that won't help on the sites where they require you to be able to do the actual job rather than manage it, if that makes sense.

Is it possible to have multiple cards? Although, from what I hear, most site just want a card and aren't that interested in what it says on it.

Thanks again everyone.

To the lad who has his test on the 17th, let me know how you do, the mock test cd sounds like a plan!

not too sure on the " Although, from what I hear, most site just want a card and aren't that interested in what it says on it."

because if you , god forbid , do get hurt , this would be their get out of jail card. a few sites i worked on paid more attention to the paperwork than actual safety.hope this is not the case these days and i have been out of the industry for a few years.

[taffyracer]

I had to put 40 lads through it a few years back, cost us a small fortune and it very rarely gets asked for on site....total waster of time, if i remember rightly you only need to be regiestered with the scheme rather than have a card for most purposes

[dxg]

Today, I was refused access to a site due to not having one! First time it's ever come up, and I've been through plenty of H&S inductions to get onto sites before. Maybe it's to do with this particular client.

Anyway, having looked into it tonight, the questions asked (on the "professional" option anyway) are beyond simplistic...

Yet more hoops to jump through. I am particularly looking forward to traipsing along to the test centre. Not like I could be doing anything more productive.

In my day, H&S was "don't do anything stupid!"

And the cost? £17.50 test, £30 card, £20ish for the training "book" - someone's raking it in...

And the opportunity cost of my time.

Meh.

Edited by dxg on Tuesday 29th July 22:53

[J18NHS]

Iv never been asked for mine on site,so I let it expire

[RJD223]

Virtually every site we go to now insists on us having CSCS cards...

It's just another box to tick.

The 'Operative' card is very easy to obtain (as are most of the specialised ones for HVAC/etc as long as you're remotely familiar with that industry).

The ones that will trip you up always relate to colour coding of fire extinguishers. As someone said before the way things are phrased needs to be digested before answering quickly as they can trip you up easily.

An example of one of the questions a friend of mine got:

Q: On site you find a large number of rats in the site cabin. What do you do?

A1) Tell the site manager immediately.
A2) Run away.
A3) Bring a big cat to work with you tomorrow.
A4) Attempt to catch the rats.

I've just done, about a week ago, the Managers test which is a lot harder - questions about CDM regulations/etc. so would recommend you get the book (different one to normal tests) to revise from.

If you buy a book off ebay check it's the latest one as they change the questions every so often...

HTH.

[SS2.]

Anyone with an ounce of common sense (or any experience of constructions sites) is unlikely to require to cram from a £20 book to pass the basic H & S / CRO test - I did one a few weeks back and, to be honest, it really was very straightforward with most (if not all) of the correct answers being blindingly obvious.

[dxg]

SS2. said:

Anyone with an ounce of common sense (or any experience of constructions sites) is unlikely to require to cram from a £20 book to pass the basic H & S / CRO test - I did one a few weeks back and, to be honest, it really was very straightforward with most (if not all) of the correct answers being blindingly obvious.

I'm an academic. I'm screwed, then!

[lewes]

dxg said:

In my day, H&S was "don't do anything stupid!"

Edited by dxg on Tuesday 29th July 22:53

I think the introduction was to combat the amount of people retraining and having limited site exposure but calling themselves Qualified because they had done a 6 week fast track plumbing course.

Similar with the migration of foreign workers, to make sure they are aware of our site rule and regs.

That's my thought about it

[blindswelledrat]

mrsxllifts said:

Is it possible to have multiple cards? Although, from what I hear, most site just want a card and aren't that interested in what it says on it.
!

I don't think you can have multiple cards (or if you can-there isn't any point) but I think the industry/trade specific cards cover the same things as the basic card as well.
We supply staff to the construction industry and supply to sites run by pretty much all of the large contractors.
To my knowledge, all of them specify the need for CSCS cards but none of them insist on anything more than the basic H&S one.

I believe (but aren't certain) that trade specific ones are a complete pain in the arse to get and involve much more hoop jumping and money than the basic ones.
Of the people I deal with I would guess that less than 1% have anything other than the basic card.
I have done that and it is easy. You need basic intelligence, a little site knowledge and commonsense although have a look through the book because there were about two or three questions that I genuinely had no idea about. The rest were ranging from stupidly obvious to commonsense if you are familiar with building sites.