Readers back cards for all

An e-mail survey by CJ's sister magazine PMJ showed that 83% of respondents thought that competence cards should be a legal necessity for all construction plant operators.

The survey went to 1,526 readers - including plant hirers, contractors (building, civil engineering, demolition and groundwork), mining and/or quarrying operators, the utilities, local government and resurfacing companies.

Readers were also asked if they thought the provision of training should be separated from the testing establishment (as with HGV and car driving tests). A decisive 69% of respondents favoured separation while 28% were against and 3% didn't know.

On the need to recertify operators, 60% thought it was necessary, 37% felt it was unnecessary and 3% were undecided.