A Complete Guide to the CITB SSSTS Course
Maintaining high standards of health and safety is essential in today’s construction industry. With growing regulatory demands and the need for effective on-site leadership, more organisations are seeking trained supervisors who understand how to manage people and safety compliantly.
The SSSTS course short for the Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme is a leading qualification approved by CITB and delivered by trusted providers such as SAMS.
This in-depth guide answers the question “What is SSSTS?” by explaining the purpose of the course, what it covers, and how it benefits both individuals and organisations across the UK construction sector.
What Is SSSTS?
The SSSTS qualification, or Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme, is a two-day training programme designed for workers who are taking on supervisory responsibilities on construction sites. It is accredited by CITB and is widely recognised across the industry as the minimum standard of training for site supervisors.
The course introduces delegates to the legal, moral and practical duties involved in supervising work safely. It focuses on helping participants understand essential health and safety legislation, improve their leadership and communication skills, and learn how to implement safe systems of work effectively.
After completing the course, delegates receive an official SSSTS certificate, which confirms their competency in supervisory safety responsibilities. Many supervisors also apply for an SSSTS card, which serves as portable proof of training that can be shown to employers, contractors and site managers.
What’s Involved in the SSSTS Course?
The SSSTS training course is typically delivered over two consecutive days and combines classroom-style learning with interactive discussions, case studies and practical exercises. When taken as an SSSTS online course, the format is adapted for remote delivery, but the content, assessments and certification remain the same.
The SSSTS course provides a structured introduction to several key areas of supervisory safety:
Understanding Health and Safety Legislation
Participants are introduced to the Health and Safety at Work Act and supporting regulations such as the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations. The course clearly explains the legal duties placed on employers, supervisors and workers, ensuring delegates understand their personal responsibilities and potential liabilities.
Learning How to Conduct Risk Assessments
Delegates are taught how to recognise workplace hazards, evaluate the risks they present, and put appropriate control measures in place. The course helps supervisors gain the confidence to contribute to or lead risk assessments on site, ensuring that activities are planned safely and executed responsibly.
Developing Supervisory and Leadership Skills
A strong emphasis is placed on leadership, communication and team supervision. Participants explore how to motivate workers, address unsafe behaviour and maintain high safety standards across their teams. Practical examples and scenarios demonstrate how effective communication can prevent accidents and improve site culture.
Delivering Toolbox Talks
The SSSTS course explains the importance of toolbox talks and teaches delegates how to plan and deliver them effectively. Delegates learn how short, regular safety discussions can reinforce good practice, introduce new control measures and ensure workers remain aware of the risks around them.
Understanding Behavioural Safety
Behavioural safety is a key component of modern site management. The course explores how attitudes, habits and team culture influence the safety of day-to-day operations. Delegates come away with a better understanding of how to encourage positive behaviour and reduce risk-taking on site.
Assessment and Certification
At the end of the course, participants complete a multiple-choice test and a short written project. These assessments ensure that delegates have understood the material and can apply it in real supervisory situations. Successful candidates receive their CITB SSSTS certificate, which is valid for five years.
Who Can Benefit from SSSTS?
How Individuals Benefit
The SSSTS training is ideal for anyone taking on responsibilities for managing people or monitoring safety on site. This includes new or aspiring site supervisors, team leaders, forepersons and experienced tradespeople looking to progress into management roles.
For individuals, gaining the SSSTS qualification demonstrates professionalism, competence and commitment to health and safety. It helps delegates stand out when applying for supervisory roles and builds essential knowledge that can support long-term career progression. Many workers take SSSTS as the first step before progressing to the more advanced SMSTS qualification.
How Organisations Benefit
Companies also gain significant advantages from investing in SSSTS training courses for their workforce. SSSTS-qualified supervisors can help reduce accidents, promote better working practices and maintain compliance with HSE legislation.
Many principal contractors and major construction firms now mandate that subcontractors provide at least one SSSTS-qualified supervisor for every team they bring onto site. This means organisations that invest in training are better positioned to win contracts and demonstrate their commitment to safe working.
Having trained supervisors also strengthens communication between management and operational teams, making it easier to implement safety procedures, roll out changes and maintain consistent safety standards across multiple sites.
What Does SSSTS Mean for Workers and Organisations?
For individual workers, completing an SSSTS course online or in the classroom provides the skills and confidence needed to take responsibility for safety on site. It gives them a solid understanding of their role within the wider safety structure of a project and equips them to lead others more effectively.
For organisations, SSSTS training means entrusting supervisory duties to staff who understand how to apply the law, manage risk and protect their teams. This leads to fewer accidents, reduced downtime, better regulatory compliance and increased trust from clients and contractors. The presence of SSSTS-qualified supervisors often contributes to a safer and more positive working environment for everyone involved.
Benefits of Gaining an SSSTS Qualification
One of the biggest advantages of the CITB SSSTS qualification is its strong industry recognition. Employers across the UK consider it a mandatory requirement for anyone in a supervisory role.
It also provides clear opportunities for career progression. Delegates who complete the SSSTS course often go on to undertake the SMSTS, or Site Management Safety Training Scheme, which prepares them for more senior management responsibilities.
The course also improves safety awareness. Delegates return to site with a deeper understanding of how to identify hazards, control risks and communicate expectations clearly. This leads to safer working conditions not only for them but for every member of their team.
From a compliance perspective, the SSSTS certificate also reassures employers that their supervisors meet industry standards. This helps companies avoid legal issues, maintain good standing with clients, and demonstrate due diligence in the event of an incident.
Finally, the availability of SSSTS courses online means that training is more accessible than ever. Workers can complete the course remotely, reducing travel costs, minimising downtime and providing maximum flexibility for busy schedules.
Take Your SSSTS Course with SAMS
SAMS delivers SSSTS training, including classroom-based courses and fully accredited SSSTS courses online. With experienced instructors, engaging course materials and a strong focus on real-world safety challenges, SAMS ensures that every delegate receives high-quality, industry-approved training.
Whether you are an individual looking to progress into a supervisory role or a business seeking to promote safer working practices across your sites, SAMS provides reliable, accredited SSSTS training courses to support your goals.