SSSTS qualifications encourage good health and safety practice

Risk control has become a common feature of many professions, and none more so than the construction industry, where being aware of risk can literally mean the difference between life and death.

Ensuing that your staff have up to date training can make a real difference to site safety and how the company is run. Many construction companies employ supervisors to lead teams of workers on specific tasks. Ensuing they are aware of their responsibilities for health and safety can help to minimise the risk to them, their teams and the general public.

2-day SSSTS Course

The 2-day SSSTS course is the most popular choice for supervisors for a range of reasons. Part of the CITB Site Safety Plus scheme, the SSSTS course is recognised as the accepted standard of training for supervisors through the construction industry. This means no matter which location or training provider you pick; the course will always contain the key elements that the CITB insist on.

Site supervisors take the responsibility to look after themselves and their co-workers as part of their role. As such, training in both their own duties and actions to take when someone’s health or safety is being put at risk is essential.

It is worth shopping around for the best deal on price, and many delegates choose a course which is delivered in a style which suits the way they learn. Some training providers put a bigger emphasis on teaching the course in an interactive way.

If you are unsure how to source the best location, price or course delivery method for you, use an online booking provider to find the right deal.

What does an SSSTS course cover?

The SSSTS course is designed to promote good health and safety practice on site. It covers two main key areas:

Core Factors

·        Carrying out risk assessments competently, giving a real insight into how to do this and what to be aware of

·        Health and safety legislation that supervisors need to complete their role in a competent way. This includes acts, laws, code of practice and HSE policy, The Health and Safety Act of 1974), confined spaces, working at Heights and dangerous substances (COSHH)

·        How health and safety management systems work and how to monitor them effectively

·        information on specific health and safety issues, relevant to the supervisor’s role including asbestos, fire risk, prevention and drugs and alcohol

·        Proactive and reactive safety – how to react to a situation and how to avoid it in the first place

Team Working

These SSSTS courses also cover awareness of physical and psychological health of those in the supervisors’ team and how to work effectively with subcontractors, which is a common situation on construction sites.

This will include:

·        An overview of how all levels of worker have to collaborate to maintain standards

·        Guidance on how to deliver toolbox talks. These consist of briefing their teams on news equipment, procedures or tasks to ensure that the job is carried out safely and efficiently.

·        The skills of how to supervise and deal with difficult people

·        How to complete a risk assessment

·        How to recognise and act on bad practice and the value of doing this early

Candidates are assessed via a short multiple-choice test. Those who pass this receive the SSSTS certificate, which lasts for five years. Many providers do suggest refreshing this every three year though, to keep on top of the latest health and safety information in the industry.

There are two books available for the SSSTS course and most providers include these within the overall price. They are ‘Tool Box Talks’ (GT700) and ‘Site Safety Simplified’ (GE 706/11); these are often kept by delegates for use back onsite after the course is finished.