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The Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) is a 2-day CITB-accredited course for first-line supervisors, foremen, gangers and team leaders in UK construction. It sits within the CITB Site Safety Plus scheme alongside SMSTS and the Health and Safety Awareness course, covering legal duties, risk assessment, and supervisor responsibilities under CDM 2015. Successful delegates receive a CITB SSSTS certificate valid for 5 years and qualify to apply for the CSCS Gold Supervisor Card.
Who it's for
Site supervisors responsible for day-to-day team management
Foremen and gangers leading trade teams on site
Team leaders moving up from operative roles
Subcontractor supervisors and trade leads
Senior tradespeople stepping into supervisory positions
Self-employed contractors supervising small teams
Anyone applying for the CSCS Gold Supervisor Card
SSSTS certificate holders whose qualification is approaching expiry (refresher route)
Entry requirements
No formal qualifications required
Suitable for those with site experience moving into supervision
A reasonable level of spoken and written English (the course is delivered and assessed in English)
Aged 18 or over
For online delivery: a reliable internet connection, webcam, and a quiet space to learn
Photo ID required on day 1 (passport or driving licence) for classroom courses
What you'll achieve
Official CITB SSSTS certificate, valid for 5 years
Recognition under the CITB Site Safety Plus scheme by every UK main contractor
Qualifies for CSCS Gold Supervisor Card application (with relevant trade qualification or experience)
Working knowledge of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and CDM 2015
Practical understanding of RIDDOR, COSHH, and risk assessment on a live site
Ability to apply method statements and supervise safe systems of work
Confidence to lead toolbox talks, site briefings, and team inductions
Stronger career positioning for site supervisor and foreman roles
Foundation for progression to SMSTS, IOSH Managing Safely, and NVQ Level 3 in Occupational Work Supervision
What you'll learn on the Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme
1
The supervisor's legal position
Where your authority starts and stops, the chain of command above and below you
2
Pre-start briefings
Running point-of-work briefings, checking PPE, confirming everyone understands the task
3
Dynamic risk assessment
Spotting changing site conditions, adjusting on the fly, when to halt work
4
Reading and briefing RAMS
Translating method statements into plain instructions your crew will actually follow
5
Toolbox talks and team engagement
Planning, delivering and recording talks that change behaviour, not just attendance
6
Walking the site
Daily inspection routines, what to photograph, what to log, what to fix immediately
7
Permits and safe systems of work
Hot works, confined spaces, isolations — issuing, checking and closing permits
8
Near-miss and incident reporting
First response on site, preserving the scene, RIDDOR triggers, writing a useful report
9
Challenging unsafe behaviour
Stopping shortcuts, handling pushback from experienced trades, escalating without conflict
10
Assessment and SSSTS certification
Multiple-choice exam, behavioural case study, CITB SSSTS certificate valid for 5 years
Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme FAQs
The Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme is a 2-day CITB-accredited course for first-line supervisors, foremen, gangers, and team leaders responsible for managing crews on a UK construction site. It sits within the CITB Site Safety Plus scheme.
SSSTS stands for Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme. It's developed and certified by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
SSSTS is a 2-day course for supervisors who lead a team or trade on site, while SMSTS is a 5-day course for site managers and project managers with overall site responsibility under CDM 2015. SSSTS focuses on supervising safe work; SMSTS focuses on planning and managing it.
The Health and Safety Awareness course is a 1-day course for operatives and is the entry-level Site Safety Plus qualification. SSSTS is the next step up — you need it once you're supervising other people, not just working alongside them.
Site supervisors, foremen, gangers, subcontractor leads, and senior tradespeople who are responsible for the day-to-day work of others on a UK construction site. Most main contractors require SSSTS for anyone signing in a team or running a work package.
The SSSTS course runs over two consecutive days, typically 08:00–17:00 each day. Some providers offer it as two separate days within the same week or as a weekend block.
Yes. Most providers deliver SSSTS as a live virtual classroom via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The content, assessment, and CITB certification are identical to the in-person version.
The course covers the supervisor's legal position, pre-start briefings, dynamic risk assessment, reading and briefing RAMS, running toolbox talks, daily site inspections, permits to work, near-miss reporting, and challenging unsafe behaviour.
There are no formal qualifications required, but delegates should have site experience and be moving into or already in a supervisory role. You'll need to be 18 or over, with a reasonable level of spoken and written English.
Assessment is through a multiple-choice exam, a short behavioural safety exercise, and ongoing tutor evaluation across the two days. You also need to take part in group discussions and toolbox talk practice.
The SSSTS pass rate is typically 98%, but you're expected to engage throughout the two days — it isn't a course you can pass by sitting quietly at the back.
Most providers offer a free or low-cost re-sit if you narrowly miss the pass mark. If you fail significantly, you'll need to re-attend the full 2-day course before re-sitting.
The SSSTS certificate is valid for 5 years from the date of issue.
Before your certificate expires, complete the 1-day SSSTS Refresher to renew for another 5 years. If your certificate has already expired, you must re-take the full 2-day SSSTS course.
Yes. SSSTS is often a stepping stone to SMSTS — there's no requirement to hold one before the other, but supervisors moving into site management roles typically take SMSTS within 12 months of stepping up.
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