Training for the Construction Industry

The majority of Health and safety courses are generic. In other words because the principles and standards are the same within all industries all qualifications tend to have parallel modules. However it is clear that some industries, whether in the private sector or public sector, may call for more specific tutorials due to exclusive needs. Phoenixhsc are known for creating excellent courses which ensure all aspects of a work environment are taken into account. The Site Management Safety Training Scheme or SMSTS as it has come to be known is a specialized qualification which has been designed for executives in the construction business. Traditionally taken over a period of a week, this course provides the supervisor with a license of 5 years. It needs to be re-taken after this time to refresh knowledge and ensure the candidate is aware of any changes in technology, accepted theory or policy.

Candidates entry requirements for SMSTS

Candidates will find there are no special entry requirements for this course but it is aimed at managers, supervisors and executives in direct charge of large jobs on major construction sites. Candidates will be in a position where they are responsible for planning, organising, monitoring, controlling and administering groups of staff and workforce.

To benefit from the course the perfect candidate is likely to be dealing with health and safety issues where employee’s maybe working in confined spaces, at height, with scaffolding, with electricity and water and from time to time with demolition teams. More and more employers are looking for SMSTS certification for their construction site managers. If you are looking to further your career or to add more gravity to your CV then this is certainly a straight forward and effective way to achieve this.

What to expect on the SMSTS

As in all health and safety training courses, the SMSTS includes a thorough instruction in the basic knowledge and theory of occupational health procedures. Even though this course is more specific to individual industry needs there is still a necessity to ensure the fundamental training is covered in full. Also special attention will be paid to the responsibilities and duties of the administrators in the business location and also how processes are actually applied within the specific business workplace.

The course covers all relevant legislation and other aspects which affect safe working in the building, construction and civil engineering industries. It highlights the need for risk assessment in the workplace, the implementation of the necessary control measures and adequate communication to sustain a health and safety culture among the workforce.

At the very core of the course are the health and safety procedures which were originally drafted in the Construction Design and Management regulations of 2007. These regulations specifically guide a manager through the correct processes – including scheduling assessments; how checks should take place; ensuring the site is safe before work begins and that how to guarantee the site will be safe during the period of work.

Managers and executives embarking on the Site Management Safety Training course will also be trained in how to assess whether there is a likelihood of an accident in the future on the site. You will be able to assess statistics gathered from health and safety records to recognize trends for instance in accidents. This gives the manager a great deal of insight into inherent problems. The manager is taught how to be proactive in preventing future problems in the work environment.