EUSR SHEA cards: Water, Gas and Power

What it is

SHEA is a one-day health, safety and environmental awareness course for people working on utility sites, with a short multiple-choice assessment for each module. Passing puts you on the EUSR register. There are three versions: SHEA Water, SHEA Gas and SHEA Power, each with modules for that industry, such as highway working and excavations.

Since 2022 EUSR cards are virtual by default, held in the free Vircarda app, with a plastic card as an option.

Who needs it

EUSR says SHEA is for everyone working on permanent and temporary operational utility sites, from operatives to managers. A current SHEA registration is also needed for any EUSR CSCS card. SHEA Water doesn't replace National Water Hygiene, which water companies ask for separately for clean water work.

How long it lasts

The scheme sets the period, not the law:

• SHEA Water: 3 years.
• SHEA Power: 3 years.
• SHEA Gas: 5 years.

Renewing

You renew with a refresher course and assessment, either a full day or a half day, face to face or remote. The half-day refresher is only open to people whose registration is still current, so if it lapses it's the full day again. EUSR doesn't publish a grace period after expiry.

Checking a card is genuine

The EUSR register search on eusr.co.uk is free and open all the time: enter any two of EUSR ID, surname and date of birth. Virtual and plastic cards can also be checked with the free Checarda app, or the CSCS Smart Check app on CSCS sites.

The expiry date on the card is the card's own. Always check the registration dates on the register itself.