If you have taken an
SMSTS course since January 2005 you will need to complete a
SMSTS Refresher course every five years to ensure your qualification is up to date.
Just 5% of the population work within the construction industry, however over 27% of fatal injuries at work come from the construction industry. This means it is considered to be a high risk industry and effective training is paramount in trying to prevent accidents occurring. This is where the SMSTS course comes in.
The SMSTS course is taken by over 10,000 candidates each year, these can be Site Supervisors, Site Managers, Project Managers and anyone else in a role of responsibility for others on a construction site. The course is widely recognised across the industry and is CITB accredited. It teaches delegates of their legal and moral responsibilities on the construction site. However, in order for the course to remain as up-to-date as it is, candidates are required to take a refresher course every five years.
The Refresher course is much cheaper than the SMSTS course, and is only two days rather than five days, so takes less time. In order for any delegate to undertake this course, they must be able to provide a valid in date SMSTS course certificate. Failure to do this will mean the delegate needs to take the course again.
The purpose of this course is to ensure delegates are updated with developments in construction legislation and the appropriate use of best practice. In an ever changing industry, five years can make a huge difference, which is why it is so important to keep updated. Changes to legislation is a large part of this course agenda. Although the course also looks at proposed and impending legislation in the construction industry.
The course also looks at case studies of accidents, including statistics, costs and management responsibilities. The delegates will also look at new policies and how they can measure performance of employees. Communication is a vital part of site safety, as the manager can have all the knowledge in the world, but if he or she doesn't communicate it with their employees, accidents can still occur. For this reason, communicating health and safety messages is a large aspect of this course.
The SMSTS Refresher course is valid for a further five years, after which the delegate will be required to attend another refresher course.