This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34575170
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Centres caught rigging construction safety exams | Centres caught rigging construction safety exams |
(34 minutes later) | |
The flagship scheme for certifying builders has been called into question after a string of test centres were caught rigging health and safety exams. | The flagship scheme for certifying builders has been called into question after a string of test centres were caught rigging health and safety exams. |
Construction workers across the UK are required to hold a CSCS card to prove skills and grasp of health and safety. | |
But a joint BBC London/Newsnight investigation revealed widespread, organised cheating, allowing untrained builders on to dangerous sites. | But a joint BBC London/Newsnight investigation revealed widespread, organised cheating, allowing untrained builders on to dangerous sites. |
The scheme's administrators insist fraud is being tackled robustly. | The scheme's administrators insist fraud is being tackled robustly. |
Construction Skills Certification Scheme cards, launched by the industry in 1995, are seen as a benchmark. | Construction Skills Certification Scheme cards, launched by the industry in 1995, are seen as a benchmark. |
Nine of the UK's 10 biggest construction companies demand them, as do Crossrail and Heathrow. | Nine of the UK's 10 biggest construction companies demand them, as do Crossrail and Heathrow. |
But numerous test centres are offering guaranteed passes for cash, enabling workers lacking English to obtain qualifications. | But numerous test centres are offering guaranteed passes for cash, enabling workers lacking English to obtain qualifications. |
'Just click' | 'Just click' |
Wep HSE, in Ealing, west London, was among three centres exposed by undercover reporters. | Wep HSE, in Ealing, west London, was among three centres exposed by undercover reporters. |
Its director, Garet Estensen, read exam answers from a big screen, instructing candidates: "Follow me on screen, guys. I'm going to shout the correct answer, you just click. | Its director, Garet Estensen, read exam answers from a big screen, instructing candidates: "Follow me on screen, guys. I'm going to shout the correct answer, you just click. |
"We're going to make a couple of mistakes - what I don't want is everyone making the same mistake." | "We're going to make a couple of mistakes - what I don't want is everyone making the same mistake." |
Find out more | Find out more |
Watch an extended report on Newsnight at 22:30 BST on BBC2. Or catch up via the iPlayer. | Watch an extended report on Newsnight at 22:30 BST on BBC2. Or catch up via the iPlayer. |
Confronted with the evidence, Mr Estensen, who has won a prestigious health and safety award, made no comment. | Confronted with the evidence, Mr Estensen, who has won a prestigious health and safety award, made no comment. |
Also exposed was Future Training 4 Jobs in Ilford, east London. For £450, Anna Calancia issued the BBC with a supervisor qualification. | Also exposed was Future Training 4 Jobs in Ilford, east London. For £450, Anna Calancia issued the BBC with a supervisor qualification. |
The company says Ms Calancia acted alone. It insists it provides quality training and works hard to uphold standards. | The company says Ms Calancia acted alone. It insists it provides quality training and works hard to uphold standards. |
Job offers | Job offers |
A CSCS card acquired with fraudulent qualifications was used by the BBC to get offers of work at building sites, a school - and even a power station. | A CSCS card acquired with fraudulent qualifications was used by the BBC to get offers of work at building sites, a school - and even a power station. |
Construction is the UK's most dangerous employment sector. More construction workers were killed than members of the armed forces during the Afghanistan war. | Construction is the UK's most dangerous employment sector. More construction workers were killed than members of the armed forces during the Afghanistan war. |
In the past five years alone, 221 workers died. | In the past five years alone, 221 workers died. |
The cost of untrained workers | The cost of untrained workers |
Alan Gillman's son Justin, 26, was killed by falling bricks on a building site in Lincolnshire. | Alan Gillman's son Justin, 26, was killed by falling bricks on a building site in Lincolnshire. |
He and another worker were untrained for their task and Chestnut Homes was fined £40,000. | He and another worker were untrained for their task and Chestnut Homes was fined £40,000. |
Mr Gillman said: "You don't expect someone to go to work and not come back. It's beyond all belief. | Mr Gillman said: "You don't expect someone to go to work and not come back. It's beyond all belief. |
"He would've been married by now, we would have grandchildren. | "He would've been married by now, we would have grandchildren. |
"That's all been taken away. You think about it every day." | "That's all been taken away. You think about it every day." |
A BBC Freedom of Information request to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), which administers the scheme, revealed steeply rising cases of CSCS fraud. | A BBC Freedom of Information request to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), which administers the scheme, revealed steeply rising cases of CSCS fraud. |
There were 96 reports in 2012, some 264 in 2013 - and 311 last year. | There were 96 reports in 2012, some 264 in 2013 - and 311 last year. |
Construction company Willmott Dixon, which has a turnover of more than £1bn, has now raised questions over the entire scheme. | Construction company Willmott Dixon, which has a turnover of more than £1bn, has now raised questions over the entire scheme. |
Mark French, head of safety, said: "As an industry, we've set our stall on the CSCS card being the minimum benchmark to accept workers on to our sites. | Mark French, head of safety, said: "As an industry, we've set our stall on the CSCS card being the minimum benchmark to accept workers on to our sites. |
"If these people aren't competent workers, we'll end up with guys prepared to take risks. It's going to take a long time for us to get over this as an industry. We'll probably never identify the true number working with cards that aren't bona fide." | "If these people aren't competent workers, we'll end up with guys prepared to take risks. It's going to take a long time for us to get over this as an industry. We'll probably never identify the true number working with cards that aren't bona fide." |
Health, safety and environmental manager Alistair Donaghey warned of possible deaths, adding: "I'll never trust the scheme again." | Health, safety and environmental manager Alistair Donaghey warned of possible deaths, adding: "I'll never trust the scheme again." |
It is estimated that 14% of the UK's construction workers are from abroad - approximately 228,000 people. | It is estimated that 14% of the UK's construction workers are from abroad - approximately 228,000 people. |
Reports by Loughborough University and Irwin Mitchell solicitors have warned that communication difficulties put them at higher risk of accidents. | Reports by Loughborough University and Irwin Mitchell solicitors have warned that communication difficulties put them at higher risk of accidents. |
T&D Glazing and Installation, in east London, employs 200 people. Managing director Toni Timis estimates 20% applying to work there have fraudulent CSCS cards. | T&D Glazing and Installation, in east London, employs 200 people. Managing director Toni Timis estimates 20% applying to work there have fraudulent CSCS cards. |
He said: "Out of 100 people, half will speak English, so they have no problem with exams. Of the other half, 15 or 20 pay someone [extra] rather than take exams. It's easy to spot them." | He said: "Out of 100 people, half will speak English, so they have no problem with exams. Of the other half, 15 or 20 pay someone [extra] rather than take exams. It's easy to spot them." |
One Romanian labourer, speaking anonymously, told the BBC it was open knowledge that CSCS qualifications could be bought. | One Romanian labourer, speaking anonymously, told the BBC it was open knowledge that CSCS qualifications could be bought. |
He said: "People don't care about it being illegal - they just get a job, make some money. In the future, they'll kill someone." | He said: "People don't care about it being illegal - they just get a job, make some money. In the future, they'll kill someone." |
'Small minority' | 'Small minority' |
A CITB survey of 419 construction workers responsible for checking CSCS cards indicated 1% saw a fraudulent card every day. | A CITB survey of 419 construction workers responsible for checking CSCS cards indicated 1% saw a fraudulent card every day. |
In London, one-third had seen a fraudulent card. | In London, one-third had seen a fraudulent card. |
Carl Rhymer, of the CITB, said: "CITB is aware of the problem card fraud poses, which is why we've taken a series of measures to tackle this head on. | Carl Rhymer, of the CITB, said: "CITB is aware of the problem card fraud poses, which is why we've taken a series of measures to tackle this head on. |
"We doubled our spend on fraud investigations, which led to five centres being shut down - with eight other centres under investigation. | "We doubled our spend on fraud investigations, which led to five centres being shut down - with eight other centres under investigation. |
"We're accelerating plans to install mandatory CCTV in all centres to monitor for fraudulent activity, and have launched spot-checks. | "We're accelerating plans to install mandatory CCTV in all centres to monitor for fraudulent activity, and have launched spot-checks. |
"Our intelligence suggests card fraud is focused in a small minority of the 544 testing centres." | "Our intelligence suggests card fraud is focused in a small minority of the 544 testing centres." |
Graham Wren, the scheme's chief executive, said: "CSCS takes fraudulent activity extremely seriously, and it's essential that steps are taken to prevent it. | Graham Wren, the scheme's chief executive, said: "CSCS takes fraudulent activity extremely seriously, and it's essential that steps are taken to prevent it. |
"CSCS relies on awarding organisations to verify an individual has achieved required qualifications before CSCS issues the appropriate card. | "CSCS relies on awarding organisations to verify an individual has achieved required qualifications before CSCS issues the appropriate card. |
"CSCS is confident the vast majority of cards issued are a result of a legitimate qualification." | "CSCS is confident the vast majority of cards issued are a result of a legitimate qualification." |
Watch an extended report on Newsnight at 22:30 BST on BBC2 | Watch an extended report on Newsnight at 22:30 BST on BBC2 |
Previous version
1
Next version