In a recent article by British Safety Council, they have reported that the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has suspended recognition of the e-learning version of the IOSH Working Safely training course as a route to its green “Labourer” health and safety skills card over concerns about the use of the online assessments.

The IOSH Working Safely course and certificate is one of several CSCS-approved routes to its green Labourer card, which is widely demanded by large construction contractors as proof of a labourer’s health and safety training, qualifications and personal identity. To gain the card, candidates must sit and pass one of a variety of approved health and safety training courses and pass a CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) Health, Safety and Environment Test at an approved centre.

However, CSCS says a review of the IOSH Working Safely course revealed the online version is available without the need to complete the final online assessment under invigilated conditions. As a result, it has suspended the e-learning version of the IOSH Working Safely course as a route to a Labourer card, though the classroom-invigilated version of IOSH Working Safely is unaffected.

Director of Operations at CSCS, Gordon Jenkins has said CSCS had approved the IOSH Working Safely course as a route to the Labourer card in 2014 “on the understanding that the end of course assessment would be completed in a classroom environment under invigilated conditions”.

He added: “CSCS’s aim is to ensure the card remains a valuable and credible tool in ensuring workers have the necessary training and qualifications to carry out their jobs. Completing the IOSH Working Safely assessment online without invigilation introduces a security risk………………….Completing the IOSH Working Safely final assessment online could put the safety of site workers at risk and falls below the expected training standards of the industry.”

“CSCS is committed to working with IOSH to help find a solution to the online assessment issue,” he said. “But only when the quality and security of the assessment can be guaranteed can CSCS consider accepting it [IOSH Working Safely online assessment] as an approved form of testing.”

Applicants for the green Labourer card are required to achieve the QCF Level 1 / SCQF Level 4 Award “Health and Safety in a Construction Environment” or a recognised alternative such as the IOSH Working Safely certificate.

Further information can be found on the CSCS and IOSH websites at: https://www.cscs.uk.com and www.iosh.co.uk