CSCS Health, Safety & Environment Test Exemptions

By | April 16, 2011

There are rare cases in which an applicant for a CSCS Card does not have to first pass a CSCS Health, Safety & Environment Test. The Eire (FAS) Safepass system is held in place of the CSCS in the Republic of Ireland: and in the UK, a very limited number of construction employees will qualify for an exemption.

Exemptions for the Health Safety test are restricted to people that have passed an NVQ or SVQ (construction related) in the last two years and have not yet applied for a CSCS Smart Card. Even in these cases the number of exemptions is very small, so be sure to check your individual circumstances with Construction Site Skills. We will be able to advise you whether you are exempt from taking the test or not.

Other Exceptions to the Normal CSCS Card Routes

CSCS has made provisions for its Scheme to account for experience and competence in long serving staff, who may not have had the chance to pass NVQ or SVQ Levels in the normal way. CSCS recognises that there is a stratum of senior management in the construction industry whose high degree of competence and knowledge means that they must be free to manage sites, contractors and teams as they always have done.

As a result, CSCS has created the Profiled Route, which allows existing managers and supervisors to attain a Black or Gold CSCS Card, without having to gain the normally recognised NVQ and SVQ Levels. Instead, the manager is able to take an assessor/internal verifier qualification in a construction related NVQ to Level 3 or above. The manager is still required to complete the CSCS Health, Safety & Environment Test – usually the “MAP” test, which is for Managerial and Professional staff.

What to Do if You Do Not Qualify for an Exemption or Exception to the CSCS Health, Safety & EnvironmentTest

Most construction employees do need to take the CSCS Health, Safety & Environment Test, in order to qualify for the correct CSCS Card. In order to apply for the test, just book online or contact Construction Site Skills directly. You need to know which variant of the Health, Safety & Environment Test you will be taking (there are different Tests for different construction trades and positions).

When your test has been booked, you will receive confirmation of the date, location and time. If you need to reschedule, contact Construction Site Skills immediately. As long as you get in touch with a minimum of three full working days to spare your reschedule will not be a problem.

I Work in HVAC, PMES or electricity. Am I exempt?

Construction employees working in HVAC, PMES, electricity or hazardous materials disposal are not exempt from the CSCS Health, Safety & Environment Test. The health, safety & environment tests run by these industries are affiliated with the Health Safety Test – so in effect they are the Health Safety test for the trades covered thereby. Construction Site Skills is able to book health, safety & environment tests for all HVAC, PMES and electrical trades. Just book online or talk with one of our agents.