The ECITB has issued advice to help holders of industry-standard safety card, the CCNSG Safety Passport, avoid some common pitfalls.
A valid CCNSG Safety Passport card is often a requirement for working on many engineering construction sites. Developed by the Client Contractor National Safety Group (CCNSG) and administered by the ECITB, the card, which is also known as the ECITB Safety Passport, helps contractors and site personnel to work more safely with lower risk to themselves and others.
This year, the ECITB has noticed some common problems encountered by cardholders when their safety passport expires and as a result they are turned away from live sites and refresher courses.
Also, in booking courses and tests, some cardholders use third-party booking agents that offer CCNSG renewals with additional booking fees and without the knowledge to make sure candidates sit the right course.
The ECITB is reminding CCSNG Safety Passport holders that their cards are valid for 3 years from the date of the course. Cardholders must renew via a one day Refresher Course or Renewal Test Only before the expiry date on the card. After that period a two-day CCNSG National Course is mandatory.
You should expect to pay £110 + VAT for a Refresher Course, £75 + VAT for a test-only Renewal and £150 + VAT for the longer full National course if your card has already expired.
Chris Claydon, ECITB Chief Executive, said: “The CCNSG is recognised across the industry as the foundation of site safety, ensuring that those going to work on a site have a basic knowledge of health and safety.
“During the pandemic, the ECITB introduced a grace period for renewal in recognition of the difficulties in sitting refresher courses. However, with more than 90 ECITB approved training providers currently delivering CCNSG training the grace period has ended.
“Moreover, as we emerge from the pandemic the ECITB has worked with training providers to simplify the renewal process with test only now available online.”
You can find an ECITB Approved Training Provider delivering CCNSG courses near you via the Find a Training Provider tool and search for scheduled CCNSG courses using the Find a Course tool.