Plant & Machinery

CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme) is a card scheme created to reflect and showcase the competence of plant operating personnel. Launched in the year 2003, CPCS is a standard to show how competent a plant worker is.

CPCS was started due to requests put forward by several employers in the UK. It is controlled and run by the authority CITB (Construction Industry Training Board). The main objective of creating CPCS Is to standardize different practices for operatives throughout the country.

NPORS (National Plant Operators Registration Scheme) is the alternative to the CPCS accreditation. The card lasts for 2 years (red card) or 5 years (blue card) from the day you successfully complete the assessments.

The NPORS operator registration card is produced for an individual who has successfully completed practical and knowledge assessments on the categories shown on the back of the card.

This is an alternative to the CPCS scheme

Moving plant and machinery can cause injuries in many ways:

• People can be struck and injured by moving parts of machinery or ejected material. Parts of the body can also be drawn in or trapped between rollers, belts and pulley drives
• Sharp edges can cause cuts and severing injuries, sharp-pointed parts can cause stabbing or puncture the skin, and rough surface parts can cause friction or abrasion
• People can be crushed between parts moving together of plant and machinery
• Parts of the machine, materials and emissions can be hot or cold enough to cause burns or scalds and electricity can cause electrical shock and burns
• Injuries can also occur due to plant and machinery becoming unreliable and developing faults or when machines are used improperly through inexperience or lack of training

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There are two different types of cards available;

Red Card – Trained Operator

All candidates are required to complete the CSR 1 Day Health & Safety Training. All candidates are also required to complete the Construction Awards Alliance (CAA) Plant Award/Certificate. A profiling exercise is completed by the Training Provider to determine prior experience and ability and to assess whether the candidate requires training. If training is required the CSR Training Provider will deliver the necessary training.

Renewal Requirement 

Red Trained Operator cards cannot be renewed. This is to ensure the progression towards a Blue ‘Plant Operator’ card within 3 years.

Blue Card – Plant Operator

All candidates are required to complete the CSR 1 Day Health & Safety Training and Operative Touch Screen Test. The candidate must achieve NVQ 2 in Plant Operations and must record a minimum of 300 hours operating experience on each category in the CSR logbook. Candidates who cannot record 300 hours will be able to complete a site assessment in its place. A Blue Plant Operator Card will not be issued unless six months has passed from the time of issue of the Red Trained Plant Operator Card, and the Operative Touch Screen Health and Safety Test has been passed within two years of the application date.

Renewal Requirement 

CSR 1 Day Health and Safety Training

Operative health and safety touch screen test

Confirmation of 300 hours experience in each category of plant provided through CSR log book or employer declaration. Where confirmation is not available a technical test delivered by a CSR Plant Scheme provider is required.

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