Provisional Red CSCS Card

UK Construction firms are placing a greater emphasis than ever on health and safety holding a CSCS card shows them that you clearly understand the risks and dangers on a worksite and that you can work safely. It also holds all of your skills, training and qualifications on a central database so that you do not need to carry lots of paperwork around with you. A simple card is all you need to gain access to work sites up and down the country.

There are many different colours of CSCS cards and they each reflect different occupations and qualifications in construction. The red provisional card pictured above is a temporary CSCS card and is only available to those who have never held a CSCS card before. Those eligible to apply for one are:

• Tradesmen who need to work through a probationary period while employers assess their suitability for employment. These individuals need to access work sites daily and even though they may not end up working there long term - they still need to be acutely aware of how to stay safe whilst carrying out their job. Not only for their own sakes, but also for the safety of their colleagues.
• Candidates who are over the age of 16 and who are carrying out supervised work experience. It does not matter who the person is or what background they come from - anyone who has not had the relevant training and does not hold a provisional red card should not be allowed on a construction site. The risk to lives is simply too great to ignore.
• Individuals who are working as labourers on work sites but who do not currently hold a CSCS card. Although it is not legally mandatory for workers to hold a CSCS card, at least 80% of construction sites within the UK will deny access to tradesmen if they do not hold a valid one. So even if you are already working on a site without a CSCS card - it is never too late to apply for one. Your safety - and the safety of others around you - is at risk if you do not have one.

How long is the Red CSCS Provisional Card valid for?

The card lasts for six months and is not renewable thereafter. It is therefore of imperative importance that card holders achieve, or are at least registered, for a recognised construction qualification and apply for the correct CSCS card for their job before their provisional card expires. This serves to prove that they are working towards gaining the qualification that they need in order to carry out the role that they are doing. Employers will also appreciate employing a member of staff who is not only focused on health and safety - but also focused on their own future career path. The market for construction tradesmen is so flooded at present - qualifications and certificates are a sure-fire way to make sure you stand out in a crowd.

In order to qualify for the red CSCS provisional card, candidates must have completed the relevant Level 1 H&S course and passed the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test within the past two years. This is so that employers can ensure not only the individual’s own safety on the work site - but also the safety of their team members and colleagues who will be working alongside them. The aim of the test is to examine the participant’s knowledge across a rangeof topics in order to improve safety and productivity on-site. The 45-minute test consists of 50 touch-screen questions and a score of 45 or above is needed in order to pass. Five core areas of knowledge are examined:

1. General Safety
2. Health and Welfare
3. Legal and Management
4. Environment
5. High Risk Activities

How to apply for Red CSCS Provisional Card?

Apply for a red CSCS provisional card or call our expert team at Construction Helpline on 020 7199 9800 and we will help you every step of the way to make it as quick and hassle-free as we can for you

Since opening for business in 2010, we have risen to become one of the UK’s leading nationwide consultancies within the construction industry. We style ourselves as a ‘one-stop-shop’ where tradesmen can find everything that they need to get onto a construction site. As it can all become a little overwhelming, we pride ourselves in being able to provide a team of friendly experts at the end of our phones who can help and guide you in your career within the construction industry. They hold a wealth of experience between them and are only too happy to discuss what you need in order to get you on site as quickly as possible. This includes queries about CITB tests, CSCS cards, courses, revision material (including books and DVDs), construction NVQ’s and much, much more.