The
SMSTS course is for people working within construction and is undertaken by around 10,000 people each year in the UK. Once the certificate has been completed by the delegate it is valid for five years before the delegate needs to take another course to renew it.
The course is accredited by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and is nationally recognised as a vital part of modern day site training. The course is recommended to all site managers, project managers and site supervisors. Owners of small to medium construction companies should also take the SMSTS training course. As an SMSTS qualification is shown in the Approved Code of Practice for construction regulations, it is considered to be a key requirement for anyone who wants to be a site manager.
Holding responsibility for managing a site can be a big job. Working on a construction site is one of the most dangerous jobs, and construction workers find themselves working in one of the most dangerous industries. This is because there are dangers everywhere, whether it be working from a height, carrying heavy items, or simply brick laying, there are dangers everywhere. For this reason, it is important that the site is managed efficiently, and safe working is encouraged on site. For this to be possible, the manager of the site needs to be knowledgeable about the risks on the site which the SMSTS course can assist with.
The SMSTS course takes five days to complete, after which it lasts for five years before it needs renewing. The five day course covers health and safety, risk assessments and new legislations. Health and safety laws change every year, so it's important to keep up with the latest changes. The course enables the delegate to have a better understanding of the legal, moral and social responsibilities of their role.
Once the
SMSTS certificate has run out, the delegate is able to complete an
SMSTS Refresher course which only takes two days and simply covers any new legislations or requirements which have come into place since the previous course was undertaken. Once this course has been taken, the delegate is issued with another five year certificate.
A good knowledge of health and safety is vital in the construction industry. It was reported that last year alone the highest rates of workplace injury were in the construction industry. It is very important for all construction managers to hold an up to date SMSTS certificate.