Construction Plant Competence Scheme
The Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) was created from a need of construction and allied employers requiring recognition of competence for their plant and machinery operators.
The original CTA Scheme itself was adopted by industry as the standard bearer. Its purpose was to provide a safe operating skills and site safety knowledge through training and was a leading player in adopting the Health and Safety Test.
Industry needed to improve safety, led by initiatives such as Rethinking Construction and Revitalising Health and Safety agendas, meant that a common competence scheme was required. This was bolstered with the formation of organisation such as the Confederation of Construction Clients and the Major Contractors Group who set minimum safety standards and fostered the implementation of a single card scheme for the industry under the umbrella of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS).
Industry members of the CTA Scheme Management Committee spent three years devising a competence-based scheme, with widespread consultation with federation, organisation, employers, operators and stakeholders. All supported the need for a simple, robust yet pragmatic system.
In February 2003, CPCS was formed and initially comprised the CTA Scheme, Lantra Awards and the National Plant Operators Registration Scheme. To ensure a complete transition within CSCS and to unify plant schemes under a single card. The CTA Management Committee dissolved the CTA Scheme.
The mandatory attainment of NVQs/SVQs within CPCS promotes the concept of a fully qualified workforce. It further endorses the recognition of plant operators as skilled individuals.
It is vitally important that people in the industry understand that representatives of the industry run the Scheme and that industry continues to support and promote the Scheme, which can only be of benefit to industry itself and its customers.
If you want to train as a plant operator or if you are a trainer, tester or become a test centre and want to know more about the “CPCS Scheme” visit the CPCS website www.cskills.org/cpcs
After almost 5 years since the launch of the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS). The CPCS Management Committee, which includes representatives from key sections of the industry, conducted a far reaching consultation lasting eight months. A variety of feedback channels (including an online questionnaire, a dedicated e-mail address, a mail-out to over 11,000 employers, face-to-face consultation at SED, consultation with key federations and associations, and twenty-four industry and training provider roadshows) has helped inform key changes to the largest plant scheme in the UK. Responses have been received from individuals and companies representing over 44,000 employees, offering their feedback on the proposal – which was up for review, in line with industry requirements.
The consultation with industry showed that the core elements of the scheme should remain in place, these include:
- Maintaining the ConstructionSkills Health and Safety Test pass
- Keeping Level 2 Scottish/National Vocational Qualification (S/NVQ) as the measure of competence
- The scheme would continue to consist of red Trained Operator cards and blue Competence cards
- Using the logbook as a means to record ongoing competence
However, there was wide support for an additional core element which will see a 'CPCS Technical Test' implemented into the scheme. The Technical Test will replace the existing Intermediate Certificate end test.
During the consultation process a number of issues were raised regarding the initial proposals causing amendments to be made, these include the following:
- Amending the life of the red Trained Operator card – from the one year originally proposed to two years to encourage individuals to work towards their S/NVQ once the Technical Test has been taken.
- Removing the proposed requirement that new entrants register for the relevant S/NVQ before receiving their red Trained Operator card to avoid candidates being disadvantaged due to eligibility requirements for government funding. CPCS are, in conjunction with ConstructionSkills, continuing to work with government agencies to seek an acceptable solution for the plant sector.
- Permitting a degree of flexibility regarding location of Technical Test Centres to deal with remote locations and provision of testing on site.
- Maintaining a list of Instructors that meet CPCS recommended standards to ensure individuals can select trainers that have the required skills.
- Whilst it was agreed that the recording of health issues was desirable, consultation has concluded that, at present, recommendations will be made to ensure that applicants to the scheme are reminded of their responsibilities in regard to occupational health issues.
- Providing flexibility in the Technical Test Syllabi to ensure current issues notified to the scheme by the HSE and industry bodies can promptly be included in the recommended training items. These would include items such as Quick Hitches.
People who work in the Industry run the CPCS Scheme on behalf of the Industry. A Management Committee, made up of Representatives from all types and sizes of Plant Operator Employers, Associations and Federations, as well as Trade Unions and the Health and Safety Executive. It does not stop there; the CPCS Management Committee also consults with the people who work in the Industry to find out what they want from the Scheme.
New Telephone Number
Please note that the CPCS has a new telephone number 0870 4177274. This replaces the previous number 01485 577877.