Construction Skills Site Safety Plus

The Site Safety Plus Scheme is a series of short courses which are aimed at giving site supervisors and managers a basic grounding on their responsibilities in regards of Health and Safety on site. The courses are administered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and are provided by a range of private training companies and some local colleges.

Health and Safety Awareness

This basic one day course is aimed at anyone who works in the construction industry and is designed to raise awareness of site safety including:

  • Identifying typical site hazards
  • Personal legal requirements and liabilities
  • Work at height
  • Manual handling
  • Fire safety
  • Safe use of equipment

There are no minimum requirements other than a basic understanding of the English language.

The intensive one-day interactive course is delivered via classroom discussion, case studies and presentations and ends with a multiple-choice test. The course is an ideal preparation for the CSCS Health and Safety Test and/or as preparation for more advanced study.

Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS)

The more advanced two-day course is for those who are employed as site supervisors and foremen or for those who are about to enter into these roles. There are no minimum requirements other than good English although it is expected you’ll have at least some basic experience of working on construction sites.

Designed to provide an introduction to your requirements in regard to the health, safety and welfare of workers on site as well as legal duties and responsibilities including:

  • The Health and Safety at Work Act
  • Individual site issues such as work at height
  • Tool Box Talks
  • Control of Sub-contractors on site
  • Basic health issues

Delivered via classroom talks, group work and presentations you’ll be continually accessed via various individual/group exercises and will also be required to complete a multiple choice test to demonstrate your understanding of the subjects taught.

Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS)

This five-day intensive course is for site managers, contract managers, supervisors and company directors/business owners engaged in construction activities and aims to provide a thorough grounding in health and safety matters on site including:

  • The Health and Safety at Work Act
  • CDM Regulations
  • Site set up
  • Risk assessments and Method Statements
  • Working at height
  • Scaffolding
  • Electrical Safety
  • Excavations and Demolition
  • Working in confined spaces
  • Construction working practices

The course is delivered via classroom discussion, group and individual presentations. You will be continually assessed throughout the course which ends with a multiple choice test. The SMSTS certificate is now an essential pre-requisite for a career in site management and is also an excellent preparation for or as an enhancement to the more advanced NEBOSH qualifications

The Site Management Safety Training Scheme certificate lasts for five years and can be updated via an appropriate two-day refresher course.

Other specialised courses include a 3 day safety course for those working in the shop-fitting industry, a five-day course for plant managers (PMSTS) and a two-day course in site sustainability. See the Construction Skills site for further details.

**Please note that there are several businesses claiming to have courses available when they do not – they are simply trying to place you on another provider’s courses for a fee. In all cases get a written confirmation that the company will actually be the one who delivers the course before signing up or making any payment.

See Also
Hard hat, boots and high vis vest
Skills Card Scheme
Demolition
The Health, Safety & Environment Test