A proposed new scaffolding card scheme is "bad news for workers", according to union Unite.

With the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) in the process of forming a new scaffolding card scheme, Unite said this second breakaway initiative "will affect standards and create confusion on sites".

The union claims ECITB's decision to create a second scheme is due to pressure from several offshore fabric maintenance companies and is being supported by the Scaffolding Association and the Offshore Construction Association.

Unite states this scheme is a direct result of the CISRS scheme introducing, from 1 July 2017, a compulsory two day continuing professional development course (CPD) which all scaffolders will have to undertake in order to have their card renewed.


The CPD course was introduced following pressure from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who criticised the scaffolding industry. The HSE asked CISRS to intervene regarding ongoing CPD updates, as it expressed concern that the scaffold industry was not ensuring the ongoing competency of scaffolders.

A meeting will take place between senior stewards and Unite officials later this month to determine a plan of action to oppose the creation of the new rogue scaffolding card scheme.

Unite national officer for construction Bernard McAulay said: "With workers regularly moving between sites it is also likely to hit them in their pockets as they will be forced to purchase two different cards, to ensure they are able to accept job offers.

"The creation of a new card is not about improving standards and has everything to do with a few employers, principally those working offshore, wanting to avoid paying scaffolders for the training they need to ensure they remain fully competent in the work they do.

"Our members are not going to accept this attack on their skills and their pay packets. The employers behind these proposals are being placed on notice that these proposals are entirely unacceptable.

"Scaffolding is one of the most safety critical roles in the construction industry and we should be ensuring that standards are being pushed up, rather than watered down."

(LM/MH)