Skill levels and competency standards across the construction industry continue to improve, with one and a half million workers now holding a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, it has been announced.

The milestone was officially passed when Dunne Christie, a Contracts Manager with Chap Construction, having recently successfully completed an NVQ (level 5) and passed the ConstructionSkills Health and Safety test, was presented with the card by CSCS Chief Executive Brian Adams at a special presentation in Aberdeen.

CSCS, the construction industry’s competence card scheme, was introduced 14 years ago to improve skill levels and competency of the UK’s construction workforce, reducing accidents, ill health and fatalities and improving productivity as a result.

The cards are increasingly demanded as proof of occupational competence by contractors and public and private clients in the construction sector.

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The 1.5 million milestone coincides with figures released from the HSE last week showing that from April 2008 to March 2009 there was a reduction of 7,000 in the number of serious and over three day injuries in the UK.

Brian Adams, Chief Executive of CSCS said: "To present a competency card to our 1.5millionth member is a terrific milestone. It underlines the growing importance of these cards as the industry benchmark for demonstrating the very high level of skill and competence increasingly expected of individuals working in the construction industry. As a growing number of construction workers carries a CSCS card, so the number of accidents, injuries and fatalities within the industry will continue to be reduced, while the sector’s productivity continues to improve.

"Dunne is an excellent example of the high quality individual that we look to attract to the industry. He is a very worthy candidate having excelled both in his health and safety test and his NVQ."

Michael Levack, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Federation, said: "It is hugely encouraging that 1.5 million UK construction workers are now accredited to the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. We continue to lobby the Scottish Government to make these cards mandatory on all public sector contracts. The construction industry in Scotland and throughout the UK remains firmly committed to continually raising the bar with regards to competence, safety and productivity within our industry – and the CSCS card is a practical and effective way of helping to achieve that."

(GK/BMcC)