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SMSTS is the safety course most main contractors ask site managers to hold. Find out if it applies to you.
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No law names SMSTS as a must. But the law does expect people in charge of a site to be competent in health and safety, and SMSTS is the most widely recognised way to show it. That is why most main contractors and many clients ask for it.
If you are responsible for planning, organising and controlling work on a site, you are likely to be asked for an SMSTS certificate.
| Role | Why it is asked for |
|---|---|
| Site manager | Runs the site day to day and the construction phase plan |
| Project manager | Plans work and controls risks across the project |
| Contracts manager | Oversees several sites and their managers |
| Senior supervisor | Steps up to run the site when the manager is away |
| Small builder or owner | Acts as principal contractor on smaller jobs |
The course covers the legal side of running a site, including CDM 2015, risk assessments and method statements, managing subcontractors, working at height, excavations, and how to respond when something goes wrong. It ends with an exam and a practical project.
For the full picture, read what to expect on an SMSTS course.
Supervising rather than managing? SSSTS may suit you better. Compare them in SMSTS vs SSSTS.
Many people book SMSTS too late, after they have already been offered a site manager role that starts next week. Courses fill up, so plan at least a few weeks ahead.
If you manage sites and also want a Black CSCS card, you will usually need a Level 6 NVQ in Construction Site Management as well. Read our guide to the Black CSCS card.
From the HS&E test to SMSTS and SSSTS, Coteca books CITB courses at centres across the UK and online.
See CITB coursesCall 0208 099 4324No. The law requires competence, and SMSTS is the most common way contractors check it.
No. The black card needs a management NVQ. SMSTS is often asked for alongside it.
Five years. A two-day refresher before expiry keeps it valid.
You can book it, but the course assumes you understand how a site runs. It is most useful once you have some experience.
We will give you best suited CSCS product. Apply Here
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