The CITB SMSTS stands for Site Management Safety Training Scheme. It’s a certification course primarily aimed at individuals working in construction site management roles, such as site managers, supervisors, and other senior personnel. The course is designed to ensure that they understand health, safety, and environmental responsibilities and can apply this knowledge on construction sites.
Here’s a breakdown of what the SMSTS course typically covers:
- Health & Safety Legislation
- Overview of health and safety laws and regulations in the UK (such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974).
- Roles and responsibilities of employers and employees in relation to site safety.
- Risk Assessment & Hazard Identification
- Methods for assessing risks and identifying potential hazards on a construction site.
- Understanding the risk assessment process and how to mitigate risks.
- Safe Work Practices
- Procedures and techniques to ensure safe working environments for workers.
- Focus on safety in specific areas like working at heights, with machinery, electrical installations, etc.
- Site Safety Procedures
- How to implement and manage safe systems of work on site.
- Emergency procedures and dealing with incidents.
- Control of Site Operations
- Understanding how to manage site activities to ensure compliance with safety standards.
- Implementing control measures to reduce accidents or incidents.
- Environmental Awareness
- Understanding the impact of construction activities on the environment.
- Ways to minimize environmental damage during construction.
- Accident and Incident Investigation
- How to properly investigate and report accidents and incidents on site.
- Techniques for analyzing the causes of accidents to prevent reoccurrence.
- Communication and Leadership
- Effective communication with workers and subcontractors to promote safety.
- Leadership skills to enforce safety regulations and standards.
- Practical Applications
- Real-life scenarios and case studies.
- Group discussions and exercises to reinforce key safety principles.
Who needs an SMSTS?
The SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) is for individuals who have responsibility for managing construction sites, including:
- Site Managers
- Project Managers
- Construction Supervisors
- Site Agents
- Contracts Managers
The SMSTS course is generally five days long and culminates in a final exam. It’s widely recognized in the UK construction industry and is often required for those taking on supervisory or managerial roles on construction sites. This course needs to be refreshed every 5 years and can be delivered over zoom. Please see links for more information CITB SMSTS Online Training Course: £340