What does SSSTS stand for?

SSSTS stands for: Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme. This course is specifically for site supervisors and is for you if you are considering, or already have, supervisory responsibilities.

Why you should learn for SSSTS?

Are you a newly appointed construction site supervisor? If so, you may need to take the Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme.

Each year it is reported that thousands of construction workers suffer some degree of injury on site in the UK. Whether serious or not, every injury received on site could be avoided by supervisory construction staff being properly trained in health and safety. This way they can take every possible step available to ensure the safety of construction workers on site, and be able to implement steps to help minimise the risks to themselves and their staff.

How to check SSSTS certificate?

You can check the status of your SSSTS certificate using the online card checker. You can use the service to check the status of all your cards and construction training courses. Any of the following combinations are acceptable:

  • Surname & Individual ID/Registration Number
  • Surname & National Insurance Number
  • Date of Birth & Individual ID/Registration Number
  • Date of Birth & National Insurance Number

When using the card check facility, please note that it will not recognise temporary NI numbers or anyone under the age of 18.

What is SSSTS course?

The course aims to ensure that all staff working in the construction industry with supervisory responsibilities understand the following:

  • Why they are carrying out their identified duties
  • What is expected of them
  • To ensure that they contribute to the overall health and safety of the workplace

Benefits of SSSTS course

This CITB accredited course is recognised as the industry-standard training for all supervisors working on UK construction sites and provides an in-depth understanding of health, safety, welfare and environmental issues. The course also details all legal responsibilities and the need to promote health and safety to be able to supervise effectively.

The Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) course gives candidates a solid base for the basic understanding of Health & Safety duties and site responsibilities for construction supervisors and those working in junior management roles. Once completed, qualifying candidates wishing to take their training to the next level should be progressed onto the Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) course. This training course would be suitable for existing site managers, surveyors, agents and staff that hold management positions within your company.

Who should learn for SSSTS?

  • A first time supervisor on site
  • Looking for a promotion into a supervisory role
  • Need to be refreshed with your SSSTS training
  • Taking a temporary supervisory role on a construction site
  • Training to become a site supervisor

If you are not yet working as a supervisor, but hope to in the near future, you can get ahead of the game by taking an SSSTS course so that you are properly aware of the current laws surrounding health and safety regulations. You will also get training to help you understand the steps you need to follow to reduce the dangers to your staff and to any members of the public visiting or passing close by the construction site.

The course is good to take to make sure you are completely aware of your responsibilities as a supervisor so that you are not oblivious to them when taking on any supervisory role, even a temporary one to cover an absence.

Course Overview

At the end of the course you will have an understanding of the following:

  • Be able to monitor site activities effectively
  • Carry out effective site inductions, toolbox talks and method statement briefings
  • Carry out risk assessments and understand the need for method statements
  • Have an understanding of how health & safety law is structured and how it applies to supervisors
  • Identify how their supervisory role fits in with the management structure in controlling the site safely
  • Timely intervention when bad practice is identified
  • Understand the problems of the industry
  • Your supervisory responsibilities in controlling site safely

On successful completion of this course the candidates are awarded with the Construction Skills Site Safety Plus Certificate. The certification for this course is valid for a five-year period. It is strongly advised that you take a refresher course before the expiry date on your original certificate to remain certified in this area. Failure to do so will mean that the full course will need to be retaken.

How long does it take to finish SSSTS course?

As a construction site owner and employer, you may be concerned about the down-time needed for your employee’s to take up any training. However, this course only takes two days to complete and will equip your staff with valuable knowledge that can help to avoid or prevent serious accidents and injuries on site that could result in even more down time and staff time loss that would negatively affect site productivity.

The construction industry is very fast moving, so those employee’s who have already undertaken previous SSSTS training could benefit from taking on a refresher course. This will make a very positive impact for those currently seeking work within the construction industry as you will already be up to date with your qualifications when applying for a new position.

Or, if you are an employee you can show initiative by undertaking this level of training which will make a positive impact on your CV and make a difference in a job interview. In this current job climate, having the advantage of this qualification is even more imperative when applying for a position.

How Long Does SSSTS Certificate Last?

If you have successfully passed the SSSTS course and been awarded the CITB accredited certificate, it is valid for 5 years. You can use the certificate to support your work as a site supervisor in the construction industry as it is a nationally recognised qualification that is backed by BuildUK.

Paying greater attention to health and safety in construction is vital, perhaps more than in any other industry. According to the HSE, there were 61,000 non-fatal injuries on building sites in 2020. The cause of accidents include:

  • Slips and falls (26%).
  • Injuries caused while carrying and lifting onsite (19%).
  • Falls from height (19%).
  • Injuries caused by moving, falling or flying objects (12%).

As well as making sure that health and safety measures are in place, site supervisors nowadays are also more heavily involved in ensuring that building companies meet their environmental obligations.

What Happens If My SSSTS Certificate is About to Expire?

When you first take an SSSTS course and pass, you are awarded a certificate that lasts for 5 years. If you intend to continue working as a site supervisor, you will need to renew this BEFORE the certificate expires. This is mandatory unless you no longer intend to act as a supervisor or manager.

What Does the SSSTS Certificate Mean?

The certificate means that you can work as a site supervisor on a construction site, anywhere in the UK. The initial course takes place over 2 days and gives you a grounding in various important areas.

These include understanding the Health and Safety at Work Act, how to give toolbox talks, specific issues related to construction sites, how to monitor occupational health and maintain the right behaviours among site workers.

What Is a Refresher Course?

As with other industries, best practice and legislation rarely remain static. New laws and new ways of doing things often take the place of older practices. The refresher course is designed to ensure that you are up to date with the current industry expectations for a site supervisor in the construction industry.

Unlike the original SSSTS course, the refresher takes place over 1 day and updates your skills and knowledge in line with current industry standards and legislation. This includes:

  • Learning about changes to health and safety standards.
  • Understanding method statements.
  • How your role as a supervisor fits with a management role.

The course will also revise your understanding of areas such as occupational health supervision and maintaining good behaviours onsite.

On successful completion of this one-day SSSTS course, your certificate will be renewed for a further 5 years.