If you’re a site supervisor, or you’re going to be, you might have been asked about taking an SSSTS course. This tongue-twisting acronym is nothing to be afraid of. It stands for Site Supervision Safety Training Scheme, and it is as quick and simple as it is important.
What is an SSSTS Course?
An SSSTS course is a short course that provides health and safety training for construction site supervisors. The course covers a range of topics, including risk assessment, accident prevention, and fire safety. It is designed to help you identify and control risks in the workplace, and to protect yourself and others from harm.
Who Needs to Take an SSSTS Course?
If you’re a construction site supervisor (or will be), then you need to take an SSSTS course. This is expected of site supervisors because they are legally responsible for all employees and visitors to the site. If there were an accident on site, and health and safety procedures had not been followed, the site supervisor could be fined or even jailed in the worst cases!
For example, a site supervisor was recently charged with manslaughter by gross negligence and sentenced to 30 months in prison after one of their workers died while installing windows. In order to avoid incidents like this, it is important that site supervisors are well-versed in health and safety best practices.
What Will You Learn in an SSSTS Course?
An SSSTS course covers a variety of topics, including
- Health and safety law and how it applies to supervisors
- Your supervisory responsibilities in controlling site safety
- Risk assessments and the need for method statements
- Effective site inductions, toolbox talks and method statement briefings
- Monitoring site activities effectively
- Timely intervention when bad practice is identified
You will also learn specific techniques for managing safety on site, such as first aid provision and awareness of construction hazards including asbestos and noise.
How Long Does an SSSTS certificate last?
Upon completion of the course, you will receive a certificate that is valid for five years. To keep your qualification, you’ll need to take a refresher course before your current certificate expires.
How Long Does an SSSTS Course Take to Complete?
Our SSSTS courses take just two days to complete. So taking an SSSTS course doesn’t need to be a liability and a distraction from your work duties. It’ll be over in a flash!
On the second day you will be asked to complete a toolbox talk (a talk outlining any safety issues on site) and to complete a multiple-choice questionnaire on the subjects you have covered.
What is the Cost of an SSSTS Course?
An SSSTS Course with Portland Training costs £245 +vat per person. There may also be discounts available when booking multiple people onto the course.
How Do I Book an SSSTS Course?
Simply fill in the Contact Us form and a member of our team will get in touch with you at their earliest convenience. They will ensure that the course is right for you, in that, you need to take it and meet the eligibility requirements. They will then make an appointment to provide the training at a time that works for you.
Conclusion
SSSTS courses are not just a box-ticking exercise. They are essential training that can spare your company and you the responsibility for accidents taking place on-site. An SSSTS certificate is also invaluable proof of your competence and can do a lot to help your career to progress.
