CSCS Smart Check Rollout Guide
September 2026 is the cut-off for legacy visual card checks. Use this plan to digitise competency checks without slowing down your sites.
Cards in circulation
≈2.1m
CSCS, mid-2020s
Manual check time
~4 mins
Average per operative
Fake card detections
+30%+
CITB enforcement trend
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This guide is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute professional advice of any kind (legal, financial, tax, insurance, or otherwise).
Before making business decisions: Consult with qualified professionals (solicitors, accountants, insurance brokers, etc.) who can assess your specific circumstances. Laws, regulations, and industry standards change frequently and vary by location and situation.
Toolfy and the article authors accept no liability for decisions made or actions taken based on information provided in this guide. You are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
CSCS Smart Check rollout phases (2026 deadline)
Week 1
- Audit workforce and subcontractors
- Assign device owners
- Update RAMS
Week 2
- Train supervisors
- Simulate failed scans
- Configure Toolfy webhooks
Week 3
- Go live on two pilot sites
- Gather feedback
- Extend to all sites
Run the Smart Check rollout planner
Rollout plan
CSCS Smart Check Planner
Quantify time savings, compliance uplift, and hardware needs.
Projected compliance
87%
Manual hours/week
28.3 h
Paper or visual checks
Smart Check hours/week
7.1 h
App-based scanning
Hours saved
21.3 h
Need 7 scanners
Implementation checklist
Toolfy competency automation
- Central competency board showing card types, expiries, and Smart Check audit logs.
- Automated alerts inside Slack/Teams when a scan fails or someone is blocked from site.
- Export-ready evidence packs to share with principal contractors weekly.
Next step
Digitise competency checks in Toolfy.
We will clone our Smart Check template, connect your subcontractor data, and train supervisors in one session.
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