The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) is set to assume a key role in strengthening the competence and safety of loading bay equipment installers, becoming the primary issuer of CSCS Blue Skilled Worker cards for those working with dock levellers from 1st September 2025.
This development marks a natural next step in DHF’s long-standing commitment to raising standards across the industrial and commercial door sector. Building on its collaborative work with the Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA), through which it already delivers CSCS cards to operatives across the gates, shutters, garage doors, and doorset sectors, this move extends DHF’s remit to include a further group of specialist operatives, those who work at the very front line of logistics infrastructure.
Through the Entrance Systems Alliance (ESA), a collaborative trade initiative led by DHF and ADSA, the organisations already co-deliver the Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Specialist Installation Occupations (Construction) – Loading Bay Equipment – Installation or Maintenance, a qualification that has become widely respected within the industry. By aligning this recognised pathway with CSCS card provision, DHF is helping to formalise and elevate professional standards in a sector where safety and skill must go hand-in-hand.
DHF has also developed the Level 2 Award in Dock Leveller Safety, an Ofqual-regulated qualification created in partnership with ALEM, the trade association for loading bay equipment manufacturers and suppliers. This tailored award directly addresses the specific operational risks faced by installers in the loading bay environment and reflects DHF’s rigorous and safety-first approach to competence development.
To achieve the CSCS Blue Skilled Worker card for dock leveller installation or maintenance, operatives must now successfully complete both the NVQ and the Dock Leveller Safety Award, a dual qualification route that prioritises not only technical skill, but the ability to work safely and responsibly in high-risk environments. To ensure this safety knowledge remains current, all cardholders will be required to renew their Dock Leveller Safety Award every three years, reflecting the fast-evolving nature of technology, standards, and best practice in the field.
Those wishing to obtain the Dock Leveller CSCS card can apply online in the dedicated area of the DHF website. https://bit.ly/40OzC1j where you can upload your supporting documents, register for the mandatory Health & Safety in the Environment test and pay, all in one place.
With a fully compliant training infrastructure, a network of sector partnerships, and a decades-long track record of delivery, DHF is uniquely placed to lead this progression. For industry employers, specifiers, and contractors alike, this new framework offers a robust and nationally recognised route to verified competence.
“We welcome DHF’s expanded role in supporting CSCS card provision for Loading Bay Equipment Installers,” says Garry Mortimer, Executive Director of Operations for CSCS Cards. “This initiative reflects a clear commitment to raising standards and ensuring that specialist installers are appropriately trained and qualified. By aligning NVQ achievement with sector-specific safety training, DHF is helping to deliver a workforce that is safer, more professional, and fully aligned with the goals of the CSCS scheme and the wider construction industry.”
“This new framework will create a consistent, nationally recognised route to CSCS card attainment, offering greater assurance to employers, main contractors, and specifiers,” adds DHF’s Commercial Director, Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens. “It supports CSCS’s mission to improve workforce safety, aligns with Build UK’s emphasis on verified competence, and responds directly to the needs of the loading bay equipment sector.”
As the industry continues to demand higher standards, improved safety, and increased competence across all disciplines, this expanded framework from DHF represents a significant step forward; one that not only supports individual operatives, but strengthens the wider supply chain.
For further information on DHF’s CSCS card offering, please visit: https://bit.ly/40OzC1j
26th August 2025
Join dhf
Enjoy the full benefits of dhf membership
Apply today
