SMSTS is the flag ship CITB Qualification

If you are currently working on a construction site as a manager or if you are planning to manage a site in the future the SMSTS CITB is the course to choose. Construction managers know that being up to date with their health and safety knowledge is key to a safe and productive site. The SMSTS CITB course is a perfect choice for site managers as it hits the required standards for the Construction Design Management regulations, introduced in April 2007. It covers both the health and safety aspects of the training and the management skills needed to take charge of a construction site.

The course covers topics such as hazards and how to identify and avoid them, safe; efficient work practices, method statements, assessing risk and the Health and Safety at Work Act. The SMSTS CITB course teaches candidates the key elements of good health and safety practice on site. While attending the course candidates get the chance to discuss the topics and areas of knowledge with each other and the trainer. Many trainers also offer practical activities such as completing model method statements and trial risk assessments.

The course is assessed by an hour long multiple choice test at the end of the 5 days. Successful candidates receive a certificate as proof of achievement. This certificate is valid for five years and the CITB grant a six month grace period to allow candidates to complete an SMSTS refresher. The SMSTS refresher is a two day course that is designed to bring current managers’ knowledge up to date. Managers must hold an SMSTS card that is in date or no longer 6 months out of date to eligible for a refresher course. Training providers are obliged to check this at time of booking.

One of the biggest reasons that the SMSTS CITB is so popular is that there are two main ways of completing the course. If delegates opt to attend a course at trainers venue they may chose the day release method. This means that delegates can attend for one day a week, for five weeks. This is brilliant for those managers who are strapped for time or those on working on projects where it is unthinkable that they be spare for a whole working week. The other option is to attend a course in a block format. This entails completing the SMSTS CITB training over a full working week, perfect for those that need the qualification quickly or for those who have a quiet spot in the diaries.

As the SMSTS course is endorsed by the CITB, those successfully completing it have the added bonus of knowing that it meets their requirements in terms of health and safety practice. In addition to this, candidates who are working for a firm which pay the CITB levy are entitled to claim back a portion of the course fees under the CITB grant scheme. Many training provider offer a grant claim service and will make the application to the CITB for the candidates as long as they are provider with the firm’s CITB levy number.