Improving standards and tackling fraud

With CSCS Smart Check, sites and projects of all sizes have a quick and simple way to check any operative working in construction and the built environment is who they say they are, are suitably qualified for the job they are being engaged to do and have kept up to date with the latest requirements for health and safety, technical qualifications or CPD.

CSCS Smart Check will also help the industry in the battle against fraudulent cards – alerting site managers and CSCS to such cards in order to cancel them and alert authorities where necessary.

Since the introduction of the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) One Industry Logo action, requiring a qualification for all CSCS cards, criminal gangs have employed increasingly sophisticated operations to facilitate fraudulent qualifications.

Another driver for the increase in fraudulent activity is the rise in modern slavery. Modern slavery and human trafficking investigations show a high percentage of trafficked persons are employed in the construction industry, hence the interest from criminal gangs.

While CSCS estimates the number of fraudulent cards in circulation to be less than one per cent, any amount of fraud needs to be proactively addressed and we continue to work with industry and law enforcement to eradicate fraudulent activity and keep the workforce and wider public safe.

Construction fraud takes many forms, but the best way to tackle it is by checking CSCS cards regularly to ensure it is valid.