Those needing an ECS Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Assessment will no longer need to travel, as the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme has opened up remote invigilation to all cardholders.
The remote invigilation service gives both ECS cardholders and employers the ability to undertake their assessment using AI-powered remote invigilation technology. The system is completely automatic, using behavioural monitoring and verification tools to ensure the assessment is carried out correctly.
The use of the remote invigilation software means that cardholders and employers can undertake an assessment at any time of day at a moment’s notice, as they’re not waiting for a person at an assessment centre to become available. What’s more, the software works without the need to download any program or browser extension.
A video showing step-by-step instructions to set up an online assessment has been developed and can be viewed on the ECS website. You will also receive on-screen instructions as you go through the assessment making this as simple as possible to complete.
The remote invigilation service was launched as a pilot scheme for employers in January in response to concerns regarding increased travel to assessment centres with some closing due to Covid-19. According to ECS, the initial response has been overwhelmingly positive with thousands of assessments already processed through the remote system. The service is already part of the ECS Employer Portal system used by clients, contractors and other employers. However, some companies do not allow programs such as this to be used on their computer or do not allow access to webcams, so the availability has been widened to individual MyECS accounts to enable all to access this new service and enhanced value.
Jay Parmar, Chief Executive of the Joint Industry Board (JIB), noted, “We’ve been working hard behind the scenes and we are pleased to announce that our card holders can easily undertake their HS&E Assessment through their MyECS account. This leading edge digital solution puts our customers in control as, when and where they take their HS&E test with the results being sent back in real time. Physical centres will still remain operational for those individuals and companies that wish to use this facility or don’t have access to a working PC and webcam. We continue to listen to our card holders and this exciting new service is part of a wider journey that puts our customers at the heart of our vision to deliver greater value and an excellent service.”