Below in bold is the from the homepage of the NASC, you will notice on the second line the word "Guidance" how come this "Guidance " comes at such a cost, from the initial joining fee, to the various publications,to the training courses (approved by the NASC) to the new measures implemented by the NASC. Whilst I think the NASC probably started off with the right intention ,that being to regulate the industry and eliminate the cowboy element they have lost their way and become the self appointed governors of our trade.
The NASC is recognised as the national trade body for access and scaffolding in the UK, producing a wide range of industry guidance for scaffolding contractors, their operatives and their clients. (not free though is it)
Members of the NASC are strictly regulated to ensure a continuous high standard of scaffolding practice.
By understanding what to expect from an NASC member you can obtain a high level of reassurance that when you employ an NASC member to carry out scaffold work or supply scaffold equipment you are making an informed decision, you know what to expect, your expectations are met and of course ultimately you are making the right choice. (according to who exactly)
The NASC are trying to put themselves into a position whereby we have to adopt their point of view at their cost, where companies have to join to get any work, where clients have to use an NASC approved contractor where the guy's doing the work i.e. the scaffolders have to have the qualifications that the NASC recognise and not the ones that have been ok for years.
This sounds like a big rant by me and I'm not opposed to a governing body at all I just don't think we have enough choice, who's to say that the ECITB cards not as good as the CISRS card ,the NASC and thats my point .We need competition, a different point of view to keep the NASC on their toes and their fees in check. Always remember they are nothing without us ,this is not reciprocated.
I would say that the NASC have made our industry more safe, more proffesional and thats a good thing, when I started there was no PPE, there were single handrails, no handrails at all under 2 m no handrails on loading bays very few designs for scaffolds (not sure if thats bad) scaffolding tickets given out based on time scaffolding not experience.
I don't think the NASC themselves have been responsible for changing the above,more like lessons learned did , but we needed a voice back then to speak for us, what we have now is a voice telling us and thats a very different thing !!