<p><span>The Home Builders Federation and Home Building Skills Partnership are marking a year since the launch of their Home Builders Virtual Visitor Card, with more than 1,500 visitor cards issued in the past 12 months.</span></p><p><span>The scheme, launched with the help of CIGA and Reference Point, has allowed non-construction staff to “easily and safely” access sites during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was created for the industry as a replacement for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme’s Construction Site Visitor card, discontinued this year, following demand from HBF members for a new industry card, HBF explained.</span><br/></p><p><span>With the virtual visitor card, those who do not have a construction role but regularly visit construction sites can be accounted for and prove an appropriate level of Health and Safety Awareness by passing the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test. The card can be accessed through a phone app or computer, with more data easily contained on the digital card.</span><br/></p><p><span>The learning from the visitor card project will be used towards demonstrating competence, a key issue arising from the Hackitt Review, and as part of preparing for the New Homes Ombudsman.</span><br/></p><p><span>“The home building sector is to begin measuring competency virtually against the HBSP skills frameworks in the coming …