coteca.co.uk > Blog > How Long Is the SMSTS Course and Is It Worth the Time Investment?
In the United Kingdom, safety is the topmost factor that needs to be considered when performing construction works. It is officially required that each site manager be fully aware of the safety measures to be taken for both the workers and the public. This is the reason why employers make it compulsory for managers and supervisors to participate in the Site Management Safety Training Scheme. However, the course not only takes time, but many professionals are also wondering whether it is really worth the sacrifice of time and effort. This article guides you on the duration of the course, what is taught, and whether the time and effort invested will be rewarded with career advancement.
SMSTS is for those who want a managerial or supervisory role in the construction industry. It explains the legal obligations that accompany these positions.
The training is conducted in accordance with the UK law without any deviations, especially the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations. These laws define the necessary actions that should be taken on-site to maintain a safe working environment.
The training includes the duties and responsibilities of the manager. It gives directions on how to carry out work safely, how to secure the workers’ safety, and how to manage risk. You will be taught how to set up safe working practices and how to ensure that welfare facilities are provided. By the end of the training, you will have acquired the capabilities to allow a site to operate safely and within the law.
The teaching also presents the application of the standards through actual cases from construction. This gives you a clear picture of how regulations function in everyday situations. At the end, you should be sure about the safety measures required on a site.
The SMSTS course lasts for a total of five days. This approximates to around thirty-seven and a half hours of instruction. Most of the providers organize the course as a full week, but some give the option of a day-release arrangement. Day-release means you will be taking one day a week for five weeks. Both methods impart the same knowledge.
You have the option to attend the SMSTS course online as well. There are plenty of providers in the UK that facilitate live online training through visual sessions. Moreover, the online course, which is considered to be five days long, does not compromise on the duration.
A brief evaluation marks the conclusion of the course. The majority of the providers do a multiple-choice test. Upon passing, you are awarded the CITB Site Safety Plus certificate, which is a certificate with wide recognition in the industry.
The main areas of construction safety are covered in the course. You become knowledgeable about the principal regulations that impose safe work practices on all sites. The restrictions include the duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the CDM Regulations. Understanding these laws is necessary since they are applicable to all construction work in the UK.
You are taught how to prepare risk assessments and method statements, which are the primary tools to create safe systems of work. The course also encompasses the high-risk categories of working at height, excavations, scaffolding, demolishing, and lifting operations. Such risks are common on the sites in the UK. Thus, it is necessary for the managers to be equipped with the skills to control them.
The course isn’t just about safety but also health and the environment. The areas covered are noise, dust, access for site workers, fire safety, waste control, and the health of workers. The method includes presenting real incidents and case studies, which make the understanding of the laws and their application easier.
Five days of training might seem like a lot; however, the advantages are certainly greater than the time involved. The SMSTS certificate is recognized by all the large construction companies in the UK and is seen as a standard qualification. If you are a site manager or supervisor, this course is often seen as a mandatory step towards career advancement.
The course also safeguards you against accidents. A manager who is well-versed in safety can organize the entire process in such a way that the company will not suffer any financial losses due to errors. The company will not be liable for any legal proceedings if proper measures were taken during the occurrence of the incident.
Since the certificate is valid for five years, the course gives you long-term benefits. After five years, only a 2 days SMSTS refresher course is required to renew the certificate. This is why SMSTS is a wise investment for anyone wishing to have a long career in site management.
Another advantage of this course is its flexibility. With different online and day-release options available, you can take the course without affecting your job. It lessens the burden for the workers who cannot afford to be absent from work for an entire week.
If you do not have plans on becoming a supervisor and work only as a labourer or tradesman, then the course might just be overkill. There are shorter safety courses designed for such workers instead of managers.
If attendance at every session is not possible, the course may also be very challenging for you to complete. The presence of all participants, both online and in person, is mandatory. Missing a day could mean that you may have to book the course again.
Upon completion of SMSTS, your certificate will be valid for 5 years. Before it expires, you need to attend a 2-day refresher course. The refresher will inform you about legal changes and new safety practices. It also grants you a new certificate for the next five years.
In case your card is already past due when you decide to get the refresher, even if it’s just one day late, you will need to redo the whole five-day course. For this reason, a lot of people prefer to set reminders for their certificates to be renewed on time.
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