CISRS Cracks Down On Part 1 ‘Loophole’

By
Scaffmag Newsdesk
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CISRS has revealed for the first time ever it's running a series of subsidised one-day COTS courses over the Autumn and Winter.
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The CISRS Part 1 Scaffolding Training course ‘loophole’ closes after standardisation program highlights loophole.

The Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) has announced that, as of 1st September 2015 anyone wishing to attend a CISRS Part 1 Scaffolding Training course must now of held a valid CISRS Trainee Scaffolder of Labourer card for a minimum of six months.

Previously, the rule was that a delegate must have had a minimum of six months on site experience as a Trainee Scaffolder or Labourer working under the direct supervision of a qualified scaffolder. They were not however requested to provide a copy of a valid CISRS card at this stage to demonstrate registration to the scheme and help establish their time within the industry.

CISRS say in a recent press release:  ‘The current on-going standardisation programme has helped to highlight this loophole. Around two years ago the CISRS Operative Training Scheme (COTS) course was introduced for New Entrant Trainees and Labourers which allowed a lot of the essential generic health and safety, manual handling and component recognition type training to be delivered in the initial stages of an individual’s career within the sector. Anyone applying for a CISRS Trainee or Labourer card after June 2013 was required to complete COTS training.

The Introduction of this course allowed the standardisation group to consider reducing time spent on those modules within the Part 1 programme in favour of more up to date industry guidance and best practice e.g. TG20:13, and introduction to Scaffold inspection etc. Although it was becoming an increasingly rare occurrence some delegates were still attending Part 1 courses without having completed COTS training or holding a CISRS Labourer or Trainee card. There have been instances where a delegate will claim to have had the relevant prior on site experience, however upon attending the course it is apparent that this is not the case and they will subsequently fail the course.

As such it was agreed by CISRS and the Access and Scaffolding Industry Training Organisation (ASITO) that this loophole should be should be closed.

The new rule was initially going to be introduced with immediate effect but it was felt that industry should be given a short notice period to be made aware of the changes to the scheme. This would also accommodate those who had previously booked a Part 1 course prior to the announcement, it has since been confirmed that the rule will now be implemented from 1stSeptember 2015′.

Dave Mosley CISRS Scheme Manager said: “We think that this is a sensible change of scheme rules and is basically a case of housekeeping. The standardisation programme has highlighted a few minor anomalies within current scheme criteria and these are now being addressed.”

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75 COMMENTS

  17. In NZ its an apprenticeship, you move on when your employer deems you competent and able to sit the next block course. in the past it was Just Advanced, either you could do it or you couldnt, seperated the wheat from the chaff

  18. I think progression through the CISRS cards Should be made mandatory with any card held expiring after a 5 year period. Once at the Advanced Scaffolders Card a 1 day review should also be mandatory at 5 year intervals. This would keep all candidates up to speed with the new release of guidelines and regulations.
    Any scaffolders showing a below par level of competence should then be made to resit the CISRS course to the level at which they are deemed to be at when assessed by the examiner

  36. I think any part 2 or advanced card holder should re-sit a refresher every two years to guarentee they know the most current regs.
    Also 3 year employed as a part two before you can complete an advanced course.
    Thoughts?

  39. I’ll send them your way, see how they labour for you. Put them on a course and think they’re scaffs. Surely if they’re labouring for at least 6 months they get a feel for things. And so if they can’t lift or drop a long how can they hemp? Regardless of how much safety practice is in place.

  40. When i first started you knew you were ready to put on some tools when you stopped having fittings thrown back down at u and u stopped getting spat on etc. Too quick to give lads cards these days. Trainee card means nothing, part1 means nothing, part 2 means nothing……. the nature of scaffing always has been that it attracts braindead guys. Sorry to say it but its true. Dont get me wrong some lads are great to work with. They pick it up fast and are good at what they do but the other 95% are just as dangerous after they have been on their course and are “qualified”. In scaffing youve either got it or youll never have it

  51. With part 1 you’re still a trainee so what’s the difference? Another way of getting money off us! Should make it 12 months before you can go on your part 2 after your part 1 rather than coming up with a labour card pffff proper bull

  72. I have been scaffolding 26 yrs now. I only have a part one card. I like to think my work is of a good and safe standard and often get complimented on my work. I worked on a southend firm that puts young lads through their tickets and some of them had no clue yet were allowed to work on tower blocks in london. Its a scary situation.