ECITB Denies ‘Rogue Scheme’ Claims

Earlier this week, we published a blog, which focused on claims made by the Unite Union that the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) had plans afoot to launch a new card scheme for Scaffolders.

In the interests of balance, and contrary to the information within that blog, the independent scaffolding industry news site, ScaffMag, yesterday carried  an article in which the ECITB’s Chief Executive, Chris Claydon is quoted as saying that this is not correct and the scheme being planned is merely an extension to their existing Competence in Engineering (ICE) card which has been in existence since 2013.

ScaffMag quotes Mr Claydon as saying:

“We have no plans to bring in a new scaffolding card scheme in the UK. The new programme, which would be entirely voluntary, would award scaffolders based overseas the International Competence in Engineering (ICE) card, in existence since 2013, and used widely overseas as a standardised indicator of competence.”

“…Offshore fabric maintenance companies in the UK have expressed an interest in a common scheme supporting the development and assessment of offshore scaffolders against a relevant standard.”

The article goes on to state that there is there is no firm basis for a new scheme and it also contains a quote from a representative of the Scaffolding Association who denied any contact with ECITB.

Further information on Scaffolder competence can be found via the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme website and in their CAP 609 publication.