CITB SMSTS Courses Are Important For The Workplace

Of all the industries in the United Kingdom, the construction industry is one of, if not the largest. There can be a great deal of danger involved if employees are not correctly trained on all aspects of their roles, including working with the machinery they need to use.

A large portion of the requirement to meet legal safety requirements can be met by construction workers undertaking CITB Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) courses, which work to ensure that all site management personnel are up to date with the latest legal requirements of working on a construction site. If you are an employer, there is a massive requirement to ensure your staff are fully trained up on health and safety issues.

The initial CITB SMSTS training course takes five days, which is a loss of a working week but the benefits of having managers and supervisors trained up in this manner far outstrips the short-term loss of the employee from their normal duties. There are core exercises throughout the week to ensure the candidate is following the course work and an examination at the end that must be passed before the candidate is presented with a CITB certificate.

Who Should Sit the SMSTS Course?

Managers and supervisors working towards becoming site managers are the staff who will initially benefit from undertaking CITB SMSTS courses. They should be kept up to date with all the requirements for the construction industry and of course,it is their responsibility to ensure that the requirements are being met and followed throughout the workplace. The training that these individuals receive should then be assimilated down to the line to all staff working in their area,as well as liaising with others who may need further information.

The CITB SMSTS qualification doesn’t only consider the legal requirements for people working in these roles, it goes into the moral and social obligations that are associated with their role. When taken in conjunction with the legal requirements, this leaves all supervisory staff with a better understanding of what they need to know when operating on site. Not only that but it will ensure that health and safety obligations are being to an agreed level which means if there is a change of manager or supervisor, there will be no confusion over what is required on site.

Given that there can be dangers in the working environment in the construction industry, knowing that the safety procedures are being met and followed is of great importance. It should also mean that the workplace is working more efficiently, which can improve the financial performance of the business. A CITB SMSTS course will obviously carry a financial price but the benefit that can be derived from the course makes it extremely good value for money for an organisation. The long-term benefits of having a working environment which is following safety procedures and legislation is something that a construction firm cannot live without.

IndustryStandard Course

Over 10,000 people sit the CITB SMSTS qualification each year, which is a good indicator of how well regarded it is in the construction sector. With so many people obtaining this “ticket”, it has fast become an industry standard, and is an essential item for many constructions sites. If you want to manage your site properly or if you are a supervisor wanting to progress into site management,this is a qualification you need on site.

These sorts of numbers also suggest that your rivals and competition are likely to be sending people on these courses, so if you are not already doing so, now is the time to consider it. Any slight advantage that can be gained over rivals is crucial to a firm in the modern business era and ensuring health and safety in the workplace is a huge issue. If you want your firm to prosper, ensure you are up to date with all legal regulations and requirements.

SMSTS Refresher Courses

Even if you hold an existing CITB SMSTS qualification, it is important to remember that they are only valid for a five-year period. Given that the construction industry can be very fast moving, after the initial 5 years workers who still wish to retain this qualification will need to sit an SMSTS refresher course within 6 months of the original certificate expiring.

The two day refresher course available aims to bring the candidate’s health and safety knowledge up to date in line with current legislature, as well as covering any changes to legislation and their impact on the workplace thoroughly. This means that managers and supervisors can keep up to date with any changes in the legal issues of a construction site and ensure everything is being properly managed. This should provide confidence to all staff throughout the organisation.