The CITB health, safety and environment test or an approved equivalent will now be the only way to show satisfactory evidence of health and safety compliance.

Applicants are normally required to have passed the CITB health, safety and environment test or equivalent within the last two years. However, if an applicant has achieved an SVQ or NVQ within the last two years, they currently do not have to sit the CITB test. This is because NVQs or SVQs have included separate relevant learning modules as part of the syllabus and were therefore deemed a suitable equivalent to the health and safety requirements. This will no longer be the case.

Skillcard’s head of certification, Duncan Sibbald, said: “By introducing this change to our acceptance criteria for applicants gaining a Skillcard, we are demonstrating our continued support for meeting the CLC’s Industrial Strategy vision.”

The change will take place on 02 September 2019, from which time all applicants will be required to pass the CITB health, safety and environment test or equivalent.

As a CSCS partner card scheme for the the mechanical sector of the building engineering services industry, Skillcard must meet the requirements of the Industrial Strategy for Construction.

Overseen by the Construction Leadership Council, it requires that Skillcards are only issued to applicants who hold nationally recognised construction qualifications and have passed a separate health and safety element. It is this separate health and safety element that Skillcard is now enforcing.

Skillcard applicants requiring more information can contact the Skillcard team at skillcard.info@theBESA.com or on 01768 860406.