Skanska is the first construction company to introduce its own mobile CSCS test unit which will travel to its major projects, enabling subcontractors to take the health & safety test required for a CSCS card.
The groundbreaking initiative from Skanska is part of its commitment to meet the Major Contractors Group target for a 100 per cent qualified construction workforce by the end of 2003. The mobile unit is seen as the most effective and flexible method to enable Skanska’s subcontractor base to take the test.
David Fison, chief executive of Skanska UK said, “As a major contractor, we have a responsibility to ensure subcontractors working on Skanska sites gain CSCS cards. Many do not have the resource, time or back-up support to organise tests on their own, so our mobile unit does it for them. Our close relationship with the CITB and CSCS test provider Prometrics has also helped make this happen.”
Currently at the Swiss Re project, the unit will move in mid-February to Skanska’s PFI project to modernise the MOD’s Whitehall headquarters and then on to its PFI hospital project in Coventry. These sites were chosen because of their large subcontractor base and location that allows staff from other Skanska projects to use the facility.
So far, 52 people a day are taking their test following the unit’s arrival at Swiss Re, with over 600 people scheduled to use the facility while it is at the project. Up to 1500 people are expected to take the CSCS test at the mobile unit over the next two months, with more to follow when other sites are visited.
The move has brought praise from subcontractors, with John Sweeney from Sweeney Carpentry and Joinery commenting, “This is an excellent service provided by Skanska to enable our employees to gain CSCS cards. It was very efficiently done with most of our people back on site within an hour.”
Fibrous plastering and dry-lining specialists James and Son said, “It has been a great success and Skanska’s involvement has helped enable our workforce towards achieving their CSCS cards.”