ECITB Developing Training/Assessment Programme For Scaffolders Working Overseas

ECITB Developing Training/Assessment Programme For Scaffolders Working Overseas

Construction firms making excellent use of scaffolding companies in the UK that have plans to work overseas in the near future will be interested to hear that the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) is developing a training and assessment programme for jobs done abroad.

Chief executive of the organisation Chris Claydon explained that the move has been made in response to interest from international engineering companies. Furthermore, UK-based offshore fabric maintenance companies have also voiced their interest in a common scheme to help facilitate the development and assessment of scaffolders working offshore against relevant standards.

UK construction union Unite, however, warned against the scheme, saying that it could see standards drop and result in scaffolders requiring different skills cards for different projects. In addition, the development would compete directly with the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme, the already-established registration programme here in the UK.

Unite national officer for construction Bernard McAulay noted that the move could see confusion reign on building sites. And, because workers often move between different sites, they may need to buy two cards so it will affect them financially.

In response, Mr Claydon said: “We have no plans to bring in a new scaffolding card scheme in the UK. The new programme, which would be entirely voluntary, would award scaffolders based overseas the International Competence in Engineering (ICE) card, which has been in existence since 2013 and is used widely overseas as a standardised indicator of competence.”

He went on to say that the ECITB is committed to making sure that training supports safety standards across engineering construction sites.

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