Site safety training: What does it mean?

Site safety skills on construction sites will enable the individual to be able to cope should a dangerous situation occur and have the correct knowledge to be able to deal with problem quickly and efficiently. Additionally, some situations will be prevented by these skills being learned.

What sort of skills are we talking about?
There are many different elements to site safety training; depending on who is taking the course and what they have learned previously will influence what is taught. There is a group of recognised courses run through a network of CITB accredited training providers.

For Site Supervisors there is the SSSTS site safety training course, which lasts for two days and covers includes the following elements:

- Basic health and safety, welfare and environmental issues and an understanding of legal responsibilities on construction sites.
- An understanding health and safety issues within the construction industry and what is expected of site supervisors.
- An understanding health and safety law and how the supervisory role links in with the site manager’s role in management of site safety
- Carrying out risk assessments and the requirement need for method statements
- Proactive and reactive monitoring on sites.

For Site Managers there is the full SMSTS course, which lasts for five days and includes the following areas:
- Health and Safety at Work Act, as well as other regulations relating to site health and safety at work on a construction site.
- Construction Design Management Regulations (CDM), setting up a site initially, method statements and risk assessments.
- Working at height on ladders, scaffolding etc, working with electricity, excavations, working in confined spaces and demolitions.
- What to do if an accident occurs, and the legislation around such incidents (RIDDOR).
- Why control measures are needed in the workplace, and how to maintain communication to ensure health and safety practices are kept at a maximum.

There is also a refresher course available, which is only open to those who have completed the five day full course and provides updates on latest legislation, guidance and regulations within the industry, best practice methods for old and new technology, up to date statistics of accidents, costs, causes etc and ways to motivate the workforce to maintain excellent health and safety standards.

Who runs these site safety training courses?
The Site Safety Plus courses, which include SMSTS and SSSTS are run by the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) and through a nationwide network of approved training providers. Anyone who successfully completes a course will receive a CITB certificate to validate their training. There are locations all around the UK where the courses can be taken, and full attendance of the whole course must be taken or the candidate will not pass.

Are there other courses associated with site safety training?
Yes – depending on your role within the company you work for, there are other courses available to take that will enhance your safety at work practices. The PMSTS (Plant Management Safety Training Scheme) is for plant managers, instructors, inspectors etc, and there are shorter, one day courses aimed at anyone working on a construction site to raise health and safety awareness and how to change behaviours on a site to enhance safety practices.