The Construction
Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) is a card scheme to prove the skills of
plant operators, CPCS is the largest and most highly recognised card
scheme for the plant industry. It helps to prove workers operating
skills and health and safety awareness, reinforced by each card holder
passing the Health &
Safety Test
The Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS)
provides a single skills card for the plant sector of the Construction
Industry.
Step 1 a
practical test of ability and a theory test (which will incorporate
relevant questions relating to underpinning knowledge of a specific
category of plant or equipment, environment and Health and Safety
related issues, also Operators rights and responsibilities. this will
also be supported by a training syllabus,
Step 2 the
CPCS Technical Test the practical part undertaken within time limits,
To follow
up within 2 years the S/NVQ will only need to be achieved once for a
same family of categories (each grouped into a unit of achievement),
therefore if an individual has an NVQ in a 360 excavator below 10
tonnes, if they pass a further CPCS Technical Test on a 180 excavator
below 5 tonnes they will automatically be awarded the blue Competence
card,
renewable by recording 300 working hours in the CPCS log book for
each category of plant, or by the Technical Test which will become the
alternative to the logging of 300 operating hours in the Operators
logbook, the test which can be completed at the centre or the
workplace in the form of an On-Site Assessment, The CPCS Theory
Technical Test will need to be retaken to support all blue card
renewals.
The
lifespan of the red Trained Operator Card has been reduced to 2 years
to encourage operators to complete their S/NVQ sooner rather than
later, therefore making registration for the S/NVQ an option at the
time of attaining the Red CPCS card, dependent upon the operators
employer or companies funding arrangements.
How do
we work towards a 2 year Red Trained Operator card?
-
An
Operator will be required to:
-
Pass the
ConstructionSkills Health and Safety Test
before any assessment or
training begins (if not passed in the last 2 years)
-
Carry out
any training necessary to bring them up to the standard required to
pass the Technical Test
-
This
training would be tailored to meet individual requirements and based
on a CPCS training syllabus
-
Pass CPCS
Technical Test
The
CPCS Technical Test what it involves.
-
Pass the
ConstructionSkills Health and Safety Test
before any theory or
practical test begins (if not passed in last 2 years).
-
All CPCS
Technical Theory & Practical Tests are taken on a one-to-one basis
with the CPCS Tester, The Theory Test must be passed before
undertaking the CPCS Practical Test, Conducted in a classroom by
asking the Operator questions during a professional discussion which
is recorded on equipment and stored for record purposes.
-
Undertake
the CPCS Technical Test.
-
If the
operator needs training to bring them to the standard required to pass
the CPCS Technical Test then this would be underpinned by a CPCS
training syllabus. This would allow a training programme to be
tailored to meet their individual requirements. Have the relevant S/NVQ
unit in the category of plant required. The age and experience entry
restrictions, the Intermediate Certificate (ICT600) has been replaced
with the CPCS Technical Test for all categories, which includes
knowledge health and safety questions and practical ability tasks, it
is also the operators choice of awarding body for the NVQ.
