A selection of training courses on offer from the CITB

The first of the CITB training courses worth a mention here, is the site safety supervisor training scheme. A two day course, specifically designed to enable supervisors to work safely and effectively on construction sites, this course is available throughout the UK. 

The SSSTS course covers theory issues such as UK relevant legislation and practical hazards on construction sites like working at heights, working with electricity, fire prevention, manual handling, accidents, first aid and PPE. 

One of the SSSTS courses key aims is to facilitate effective communication between supervisors and their teams, leading to an increased awareness of health and safety matters in a construction workplace. 

SSSTS refresher 

The next of the CITB training courses, to discuss is the SSSTS refresher. This course is a great opportunity for previously qualified site supervisors to keep their qualification up to date with the minimum of fuss. The course is designed to remind supervisors of all the key issues of the full course and update them on any new developments in relevant legislation.

A relatively new development, the SSSTS refresher only lasts a single day, is available throughout the UK at different traininers' locations. Candidates are only eliable to complete the refresher if they hold an in date full SSSTS certificate. An in date certificate is regarded as one that was completed no more that five years and six months ago. 

SMSTS

The next, and possibly most well known of the CITB training courses, to look at here is the Site Managers Safety Training Scheme or SMSTS course. At five days long, is one of the longest of the CITB training courses and one of the most indepth. The course is specially designed for managers with responsibility for construction sites. 

It covers aspects of site management such as how to implement health and safety legislation, how to put standards of best practice in place and defining a managers responsibilities on site. Things managers can expect to learn about on the course include : Uk relevant legislation, costs and prevention of accidents, managing contractors, good communication, safe systems of work, risk assessment and motivating good health and safety behaviour. 

One of the biggest draws of the SMSTS course is that there are two different ways of completing it. You can either get the whole thing done in a week or do it one day a week for five weeks. This flexibility makes it even easier for managers to take the course, because no matter what the demands on their time are, there is a way to fit it in. 

SMSTS refresher 

Like some of the other CITB training courses, such as the SSSTS, the SMSTS is also available as a refresher. As the SMSTS full course is longer than the SSSTS by three days, the SMSTS refresher is also longer. At two days, there is still a significant time and cost saving by doing the refresher. Like the SSSTS refresher, candidates can only do this if they are before or within the six month grace period that lasts after the five years validity for their original SMSTS certificate.