Sites Should Accept Expired SKILLcards During COVID-19 Crisis, says BESA

Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) logoThe Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has joined calls for site managers to show leniency towards staff with expired SKILLcards, because operatives are unable to sit their tests due to the closure of testing centres last Friday to help stem the outbreak of COVID-19.

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/raining centres.

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.