Sites should accept expired SKILLcards during COVID-19 crisis, says BESA

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) is continuing its calls for site managers to show leniency towards staff with expired SKILLcards. Operatives have been unable to sit their tests due to the closure of testing centres on 20^th March 2020.

This follows the recent CSCS statement asking employers and those responsible for site access to use their discretion towards workers whose cards have expired since mid-March onward, so long as they can provide evidence that they have been unable to sit their Health, Safety & Environment test or undertake the required training due to closures of test/training centres.

Following the Government announcement on 10 May, CITB is re-establishing the Health, Safety and Environment testing operations in England. The majority of Pearson Professional Centres in England will be operational from Monday 18^th May with their ITC network being phased back on a one by one basis once they have confirmed the implementation of new social distancing measures.

BESA Head of Certification Duncan Sibbald said: “This is a temporary measure to deal with workers not being able to meet the usual SKILLcard application requirements due to the pandemic.”

“SKILLcard will continue to provide assistance to SKILLcard holders and Site Managers faced with this exact scenario by being able to confirm the validity of the SKILLcard in question,” he added.

Mr Sibbald said Site Managers seeking advice should call the SKILLcard helpline on 01768 860 406.