CITB’s Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) is among the most recognised qualifications for construction site supervisors and, if you’re attending a course in Tonbridge or Ashford with Kentec Training’s instructor team, all you need is a good understanding of spoken and written English and to be working in, or moving to, your supervisory role!
SSSTS Course Requirements Key Takeaways:
- The SSSTS course doesn’t have any eligibility criteria, such as holding a previous certification – which means any construction supervisor, team leader or manager is welcome to enrol on the course of their choice.
- SSSTS is a formal programme accredited by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), and it’s designed for anyone with supervisory responsibilities on a construction site, regardless of whether they’ve completed previous training.
- On completion, delegates receive a formal e-certificate valid for 5 years, and can enrol on an SSSTS Refresher Course before then to keep their qualification up to date.
Most SSSTS delegates are either already construction supervisors or working to gain the qualifications and skills they need to do so; If you’re unsure whether SSSTS is right for you or whether you have the capabilities to pass the two-day course, we’ve answered all the questions about eligibility and expectations we come across below.
What Is the SSSTS Course?
The SSSTS is a two-day training programme that provides construction supervisors with the knowledge and practical skills they need to manage health and safety effectively on-site. It focuses on a broad range of areas, including:
- The legal responsibilities of supervisors under UK health and safety law
- Risk assessments and method statements (RAMS)
- How to supervise teams safely and in compliance
- Identifying and controlling hazards in a construction workplace
- Communicating safety procedures and enforcing them
This certification is typically considered mandatory for supervisory professionals in roles across the construction and civil engineering sectors, as well as for those with similar positions in related industries.
What Are the Entry Requirements for SSSTS?
One of the benefits of the SSSTS course is that it's fully accessible, and delegates don’t need to have preexisting qualifications to enrol. This makes the programme suited to everyone from new supervisors to experienced construction professionals progressing into leadership roles, as well as team leaders and forepersons.
As a quick summary of the eligibility criteria:
- Delegates need a good understanding of written and spoken English. That’s because the course includes classroom-based learning, group discussions and assessments in a written multiple-choice format.
- Attendees with concerns about language comprehension or literacy are advised to chat with the Kentec Training team or their tutor in advance to ensure that additional support can be put in place where possible.
- There isn’t a formal requirement for delegates to be in a specific role or have a minimum level of experience, although SSSTS is designed for delegates in supervisory positions.
- Most attendees are site supervisors, team leaders, forepeople or gangers and first-line managers – although anyone planning to apply for or progress to a similar role will also find the course content beneficial.
The topics covered and the level of detail are tailored to real-life construction environments, so any delegate with experience in the sector and in active developments will be able to engage with it.
What Do You Need to Bring to an SSSTS Course?
Because much of the SSSTS course is set in a training centre, you’ll need to bring very little with you, aside from:
- Photo ID, to be shown to your instructor on the day to verify your information.
- A basic level of literacy and numeracy to be able to understand the content
- The motivation to participate in discussions and exercises
Delegates do not need any PPE, since anything necessary will be provided by us, nor do they need to carry tools or specialist equipment. Where there are practical examples or demos, all the facilities and materials will be supplied.
What Do Delegates Need to Pass the SSSTS Course?
Attendees enrolling in one of our SSSTS programmes need to attend both training days, participate in course activities, and pass a final multiple-choice assessment.
In the evaluation, there are five questions considered crucial to safety, and they must be answered correctly to pass.
However, if a delegate does not answer one of those questions correctly, following lectures and presentations, the Kentec Training includes a same-day resit, allowing for a second opportunity to answer the mandatory questions correctly.
Upon completion, delegates received a CITB-accredited SSSTS e-certificate valid for five years. This demonstrates that they understand their legal responsibilities, can supervise work safely, and can manage on-site risks.
What Comes Next After SSSTS?
Next steps will always depend on the delegate and whether they aspire to complete more advanced construction health and safety qualifications or their employer wants them to achieve more certifications.
Certificate holders might choose to take on more supervisory responsibilities, whether or not they enrol in other courses, or move into site management roles.
They could also consider completing the Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS), which may be appropriate for those moving into more senior roles.
Steve Booker, Managing Director at Kentec Training, says, “SSSTS is designed to be accessible, but that doesn’t mean the course content is basic. It’s focused on ensuring supervisors fully understand their responsibilities and can apply that knowledge on site.
Our accomplished trainers deliver engaging lessons balanced with practical examples to ensure the content is relatable and understandable, giving delegates the confidence they need to take real ownership of safety and be able to lead their teams independently.”
Related Guides and Resources
- CITB: Site Supervision Safe Training Scheme (SSSTS)
- CITB Accredited Courses
- CITB: Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS)