Open/Close Menu

All CSCS cards set to go smart

All CSCS cards should have a smart chip embedded into them by March 2022.

That’s the recommendation being made by the Construction Leadership Council which it says will improve security and efficiency, thereby protecting the integrity of the system.

CSCS cards are widely recognised as the industry-standard requirement for all on-site construction operatives.

Encouraging the idea of bringing smart technology into the system, CLC task force member, Mark Reynolds said: “The CLC is keen to see technology used across the industry to enable everyone to access and use the information we hold to make better decisions.”

At the moment, there are several bodies that issue different CSCS cards for different tradespeople, many of which are already ahead of the game and have already integrated smart technology in those cards (or are working on it).

The CLC is now calling for them to ensure there is a common interface which allows people to check the cardholders information electronically (via a smart chip on ALL cards) and so remove any need for manual/ multiple data-checks.

03.12.2020

Feature image: Lorelyn Medina/Shutterstock.com

RELATED STORIES

Image showing an excavator on a construction site
23 April 2024

Why and how to purchase used construction equipment

Yesterday was Earth Day, an annual event when organisations and individuals around the world celebrate our remarkable planet and demonstrate support for environmental conservation and sustainability.

It’s got us thinking about some of the actions our industry can take – everything from reducing plastic waste and minimising the use of water on site to going paperless and lowering energy consumption at the office. Another idea is to purchase pre-used construction equipment but there are several considerations to take on board around this so let’s explore those in this week’s blog.

Aerial photo of London showing the river Thames and some key landmarks
16 April 2024

Meet the world’s most expensive city to build in – London!

The latest study into the world’s costliest places for construction has placed London at the very top of the list.

Looking at 100 of the world’s largest cities across six continents, the latest Arcadis International Construction Costs (ICC) report ranked London first, ahead of Geneva, Oslo, New York City and then Copenhagen. Find out more in this week’s blog.

Image of a circular dial with a sad face, a straight face and an arrow pointing to a smiley face
11 April 2024

Always score an eight out of ten

One of our team just came back from an overnight trip full of praise for the hotel they stayed in and its management.

Not only was this because the hotel was great but also because of an email the manager had sent within minutes of them checking in, which explained the high standards they wanted to achieve and what guests should do if anything falls short of that. Read our blog for more about how we think this type of excellent customer care could be applied to our work.

Image showing lots of colourful small wooden houses
4 April 2024

Planning system blamed for UK housing shortage

Housebuilders are applauding a report by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that pins the blame for the UK’s housing shortage on the country’s planning system, not on construction companies.

A few weeks ago, the CMA released the final results of its year-long investigation into the housebuilding market. While the initial media focus was on potential collusion among eight major builders, the industry’s deeper interest lies in the report’s findings on planning. Read on to find out more.

Image taken from an aeroplane showing the wing of the plane, the land below and a sunset in the distance
27 March 2024

What can travel teach us?

Having just returned from a business trip in Thailand, our Managing Director, Ekrem Mahmutaj, is currently full of tales about the places he visited and the people he met.

A strong believer in the philosophy that travel opens up your mind, he’s also been using this trip to demonstrate how travel can actually offer huge benefits for business people. In a slight detour from our normal topics, why not read this week’s blog to see what you could be learning by taking a voyage.

Image showing construction site workers sweeping and tidying up materials
18 March 2024

A clean site is a safe site

While cleaning up might seem like a secondary concern on a bustling construction site, taking the time to remove scrap materials, dispose of debris properly and store tools securely is crucial. These practices aren’t just about keeping things tidy; they’re essential for preventing accidents, injuries and environmental hazards.

In many cases, incidents involving slips, trips and falls could have been prevented if the site had simply followed better housekeeping practices. Take note of some top tips in this week’s blog.

Image of a female building inspector with a clipboard standing in front of a city building.
13 March 2024

Is building control on the brink of breakdown?

A leading figure in building control for England and Wales has warned that a new requirement for inspectors to register with a new Building Safety Regulator is leading to an impending breakdown in the system.

That means, from 6th April, there could be a number of local authorities where the building controls service that oversees safe and compliant construction is much reduced or ceases to operate altogether. Find out more in this week’s blog.

Image of a robot (humanoid-style) looking over a cityscape
5 March 2024

Robots learning to spot cracks in our aging infrastructure

We’re living in a time when many of our roads, bridges and buildings are getting old and showing signs of wear. It’s like they’re all getting sick at the same time, making it impossible for inspectors to keep up with the job of checking out every crack, creak or crumble. This is a big problem, because if problems are not caught early, they can deteriorate and even lead to dangerous failures.

Here’s where some clever minds at Drexel University in the US come in. Read this week’s blog to find out more about how they’ve developed a system that uses robots and artificial intelligence (AI) to help with the inspections.