IOSH withdraw support from five training centres

Published: December 19, 2023

In August 2023, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) announced plans to introduce additional security measures surrounding the issuing of certificates for its Safety, Health, and Environment for Construction Workers course. Passing the course is a key requirement to obtaining a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS Labourer) card.

While IOSH carried out these improvements, it was agreed that the course would not be eligible for CSCS card applications.

Since then, working with its network of approved training providers, IOSH has strengthened the delegate identity verification process. In November 2023, the course was once again approved by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and CSCS as an eligible route to obtaining a CSCS Labourer card.

Ruth Lake, Director of Strategic and Commercial Development at IOSH, said: “I’m pleased to report that the vast majority of our approved training providers have worked hard to introduce the security improvements and can continue to deliver the Safety, Health, and Environment for Construction Workers course. However, five training centres who previously offered the course were unable to meet our standards.

“To ensure the integrity of the Safety, Health, and Environment for Construction Workers course, IOSH has announced the complete withdrawal from these training centres until they can demonstrate that adequate standards are in place.”

For the avoidance of doubt, IOSH has withdrawn all its courses from the following centres:

1. Constructfutures
2. ISHA
3. Skills Learning
4. SRP Training
5. Techno CTA

As part of this process IOSH has confirmed that candidates who took their course with one of these providers must retake the course if they wish to go on and apply for a CSCS card or for their current CSCS card to remain valid. All retakes will be free of charge and must be taken at centres operated by IOSH and booked through the IOSH website before 16 January 2024.

To register to re-sit the course, candidates should visit IOSH’s dedicated webpage: www.iosh.com/employees/awareness-courses/she-for-construction-workers/resit-booking.

Sean Kearns, Chief Executive at CSCS said: “CSCS is committed to ensuring UK construction sites remain safe, and construction workers hold the appropriate training and qualifications before being allowed to work on site. CSCS fully supports IOSH’s decision to withdraw its support from these centres and to offer resits of the Safety, Health, and Environment for Construction Workers course.”

CSCS has written to the affected card holders to confirm their CSCS card is at risk of cancellation.

Sean Kearns continued: “For the CSCS card to remain valid cardholders must register to retake the IOSH Safety, Health, and Environment for Construction Workers courses before 16 January 2024 and complete the course by the end of February 2024.”

Failure to complete either of these steps will result in the immediate and permanent cancellation of the CSCS card.

For further assistance, please contact IOSH by emailing [email protected].