Site Management Safety Training Scheme Refresher (SMSTS-R)

What is the Site Management Safety Training Scheme Refresher Course?

Those who attend the Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) will receive a SMSTS certificate.

We make getting your Site Management Safety Training Scheme Refresher (SMSTS-R) qualification a simple, stress-free process ✅

The SMSTS certificate will expire after five years. In order to remain qualified, certificate holders are required to sit the Site Management Safety Training Scheme Refresher (SMSTS-R) to renew their qualification for a further five years. 

Course Overview

Refresher (SMSTS-R) is a two-day Site Management Safety Training Scheme designed to equip learners with modern health and safety knowledge. Apart from giving trainees a broad spectrum of topics from the previous five-day course, it aims to give an in-depth summary of the legislative changes and their effect on the workplace.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for delegates who have passed the full (SMSTS) course previously and can provide proof of attendance.

How long is the course?

To be eligible for certification, delegates are required to complete a two-day course which has a total of 15 hours.

What will I learn?

SMSTS-R course aims to help site managers to:

• Improve awareness of recent developments in construction, legislation and health, safety, welfare and environmental issues.
• Identify measures that will assist the practical implementation of responsibilities established by new legislation and working practices.
• Implement new guidance and industry best practices.
• Consolidate their understanding of responsibility and accountability for site health, safety, welfare and the environment.

Delegates taking the SMSTS-R course should be able to achieve all the learning outcomes listed below by the end of the course:

Module 1 - Legal and management

Here, delegates can understand various legislative requirements to be followed and how the legal and management aspects are related. This aspect is broken down into;

• Health and safety law which describes the purpose of health, safety and environment
• Legal duties of employers and employees to promote health and safety awareness.
• Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations which address health and safety issues on construction projects.
• Health and safety management systems that describe how the system should be used.
• How risk assessments are important in ensuring a reduction in workplace accidents.
• Expounding on the legal requirements for providing information specific to the site.
• Effective communication on the site with all employees.
• Principles of leadership to influence good working practices.
• The importance of accurately monitoring and reporting on health and safety within the workplace.
• Importance of statutory forms, notices, and registers in keeping records.
• Accident causes, impacts and preventive measures.

Module 2 - Health and welfare

Detailed concepts of Health and Welfare are included in this section and are divided into various segments;

• How to plan and maintain practices that prevent work-related ill health causes.
• Importance of providing welfare facilities that comply with CDM Regulations.
• Managing mental health issues in the workplace.
• Understanding the legal framework that regulates drugs and alcohol.
• Control of substances hazardous to health and protecting the workforce from hazardous exposure.
• The implications and management of lead in buildings.
• The legal requirements required to manage health risks from asbestos.
• The risks posed by inhalation of airborne particles and control measures to protect the workforce.
• Risks that excess noise can place on the surrounding area and how to manage the risk.
• How excessive vibration is harmful and how you can mitigate it.
• Ways to reduce the risk of injury in the workforce.

Module 3 - General safety

Managing hazards and risks is very important in the workplace. General safety lessons offered are;

• The requirements to be considered when setting out a construction site.
• Ensuring procedures are in place to manage hazards and risks.
• Expounding on the dangers of working on or near live electrical circuits.
• The importance of control and management of work equipment on site.
• Legal obligations of working with mobile work equipment on site.
• The steps required to ensure risks are mitigated, and planning is undertaken.
• Describe the legal framework and guidance that supports the management of health and safety for workers.

Module 4 - High-risk activities

It is vital for trainees to be taught about risks in the workplace and how to manage them. These include;

• Risks surrounding working at steep heights and how to ensure safety.
• Health and safety requirements when using forms of access equipment.
• Key safety issues that relate to the use of scaffolds and how to manage them.
• The importance of fall arrest and suspension equipment.
• Why safe working practice is encouraged in planning excavations.
• Describe the risk factors of working with underground and overhead services.
• How to risk assess confined spaces to work safely.

Course Requirements

Only delegates who have passed the full (SMSTS) course before or subsequent refresher course and who can issue proof of attendance are qualified for the course. The online card checker can also be used to confirm if a delegate still has a valid certificate if the delegate cannot provide one.

Assessments and Certification

Like all other courses, there will be a 35-minute exam that will determine if the delegate will get a certificate. The SSSTS-R examination has 25 questions with a pass mark of 81% (26 out of 32). For the last 15 minutes of the exam, delegates can use the Construction site safety – The comprehensive guide (GE700) publication.

Completed examination papers are returned to CITB (The Construction Industry Training Board) for marking. Within 5 to 7 working days, results are made available to delegates as soon as the examination board has released the results to Training4Employment.

Certification

Successful candidates will receive a CITB Site Safety Plus certificate, which is issued upon completion and valid for 5 years. You can list your SMSTS certificate qualification when applying for a CSCS card since there is no physical 'SMSTS Card'.

Relevant Course Publications and Materials

A copy of the mandatory publication (Construction site safety – The comprehensive guide (GE700) will be provided to you at the start of each course with no extra costs.

Retakes

You are only allowed one re-sit for free without doing the course again. This is possible if you have attained 72–78% on the exam. The re-sit can happen on the same day or by attending the final day of another course within 90 days.

If you fail the re-sit, you must take the full Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) course again. You must also attend the full Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) course again before being permitted to re-sit the exam. This is if you have scored less than 69% on the final exam.

What does the course include?

The Site Management Safety Training Scheme Refresher Course provides updates on how current legislation impacts the construction industry and developments in health and safety best practice on a construction site.

The Site Management Safety Training Scheme Refresher Course also identifies and develops the managerial skills necessary to deliver compliance with current health and safety legislation with a focus upon the legal duties and responsibilities of managers.

At the end of the Site Management Safety Training Scheme Refresher Course you will be able to implement all health, safety, welfare and environmental legislation affecting your daily work, implement new guidance and industry best practice, state your duties and responsibilities with regards to health, safety, welfare and the environment.

Your SMSTS certificate will also be renewed for another five years.