The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) is to withdraw 100,000 Construction Site Visitor Cards from circulation and will stop issuing the card completely from 2020.
The card was originally intended for workers who did not perform a construction-related role but visited a site on a regular basis.
However, CSCS has determined that the card no longer fits with its desire for a fully qualified workforce.
Following a consultation with the industry, all Construction Site Visitor Cards issued from 3 September 2018 will expire on 31 August 2020 and CSCS will stop issuing the card from 28 February 2020.
All cards issued before 3 September 2018 will remain valid until their expiry date.
Graham Wren, chief executive at CSCS said: “Following the closure of the Construction Related Occupation card in 2017, the Site Visitor card is now the only card issued without the need for the applicant to achieve a recognised qualification.
“The Construction Site Visitor card does not support industry’s desire for a fully qualified workforce and as such it will be withdrawn.”
CSCS said that those with Site Visitor Cards who work in construction-related occupations must now start to develop plans to work towards the appropriate skilled card.
But many people holding the Construction Site Visitor card would not be required to obtain another CSCS card because they work in non-construction-related roles such as site cleaning and catering, rather than construction-related occupations.
Historically, those people have been told to apply for the card by their employer, often as a result of policies requiring sites to be 100% carded, rather than for construction workers to be 100% qualified.
Wren said: “The withdrawal of the Site Visitor card will see an increase in the numbers of individuals turning up to site without a card.
“We are not suggesting site supervisors and managers turn non-cardholders away from site. If a worker is there to carry out a construction related activity then a card is required as proof of their training and qualifications.
“If they are there to perform a non-construction related activity it then becomes the responsibility of site supervisors and managers to induct and supervise these people to ensure they remain safe at all times when on site.”
