CISRS webinar on CSCS
The NASC and CISRS team hosted a webinar yesterday afternoon to offer an update on the decision by CISRS to give notice on its CSCS licence. The team outlined the thinking behind the move and what it could mean for the scaffolding and access industry. One key objective was to explain that the process of consultation has only just started. CISRS had not intended for these discussions to be held in public but now that it has been is looking to engage with stakeholders from across the supply chain.
Another aim of the session was to highlight that while plans are being put in place to ensure a smooth transition over the next nine months if necessary, there is still some hope of achieving a different outcome.
The discussion looked at how the scaffolding sector has evolved beyond just construction, with CISRS cards being used in a wide range of areas including industrial, infrastructure, marine and offshore environments. Against this backdrop, CISRS believes its certification arrangements also needs to evolve.
A key focus is the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) One Card Rule and notably Clause 4. The ambiguous nature of Clause 4 has introduced considerable uncertainty for CISRS and raised the risk of it being called out for being in breach of that rule. During the webinar, the implications of the requirements of Clause 4 on CISRS were discussed and it was pointed out that the decision to give notice was taken to offer the industry protection from it being presented with the need to terminate in a 90-day timeframe.
The CISRS team again expressed their hope that positive discussions can continue and that the notice of termination could be withdrawn.
Importantly, CISRS confirmed that the transition arrangements that will be put in place should the outcome of those discussions not be positive, will mean that existing cardholders, qualifications and training standards would be unaffected. Current CISRS cards would remain valid for their five-year term, and the established training and assessment requirements will continue to apply.
The webinar also looked ahead to the next phase of CISRS, including plans to move towards a rebrand of CISRS as “Competence in Scaffolding Record Scheme”, the continued rollout of ScaffPal, increased integration of digital systems and further planned consultation with employers, training providers and the wider industry.
Watch the webinar for the full discussion and further detail the future direction of CISRS.
There will be another webinar on 8th October at 10am. The registration link is here
