PAL card gets green light from contractor group

The International Powered Access Federation's (IPAF) PAL card will continue to be accepted on sites run by members of the Major Contractors' Group (MCG) after 1 January 2004.

The MCG has confirmed that "IPAF is included in the list of MCG Accepted Record Schemes and I am not aware of any proposals to change this at present".

Confusion had arisen due to the MCG's insistence that all workers on its members' sites must have CSCS-accreditation as of 1 January, but the PAL card has not yet been affiliated with CSCS.

IPAF managing director Paul Adorian said: "Although we have an outline agreement that would bring the PAL card within the ambit of CSCS, the practical details still need further discussion.

"So, until we have a fully workable agreement, the PAL card will naturally continue to be recognised throughout the construction industry."