SSSTS Refresher: Will it Help My Career?
For site supervisors, it’s vital to maintain your competence in health and safety throughout your entire career. That’s why the SSSTS (Site Supervision Safety Training Scheme) exists. It’s a foundational certification for supervisors, providing all the necessary health and safety knowledge for such a role, and many employers will expect candidates to already hold the qualification. But when your certificate is due to expire after five years, you need to take the SSSTS Refresher in order to maintain your credentials, and update your health and safety knowledge, as well as your understanding of regulations.
So, will the Refresher course help your career? It depends on your role in the construction industry, but if you’ve already completed the SSSTS and your certification is due to expire, then yes, the Refresher will help your career.
In today’s blog, we’ll be discussing all you need to know about this course, including the importance of ongoing training in the construction industry, how the Refresher helps you stand out in the job market, the key skills you’ll be updating on the course, and more.
Why Ongoing Training Matters in Construction
The construction industry is a dynamic environment, one characterised by continuous innovation, evolving technologies, and, crucially, regular updates to health, safety, and environmental legislation. What was best practice five years ago might be outdated, or potentially even non-compliant, today. Ongoing training isn’t just a formality; it’s a necessity for all construction professionals, especially those in supervisory positions who are directly responsible for the safety and productivity of their teams. It ensures that skills remain sharp, knowledge is current, and practices align with the latest industry standards and legal requirements, ultimately fostering safer and more efficient working environments.
How the SSSTS Refresher Boosts Your Credentials
The Refresher plays a direct and significant role in boosting your professional credentials. Your initial SSSTS certificate has a five-year validity period. Successfully completing the Refresher course before this expiry date ensures that your qualification remains current and active. This means you continue to be recognised as a competent and up-to-date site supervisor, holding a valid CITB-endorsed certificate. This continuous validity is crucial for maintaining your eligibility for the CSCS Gold Supervisory Card, a highly sought-after credential that signals your professionalism and compliance to employers across the UK construction sector. By demonstrating commitment to ongoing training, you’re enhancing your professional profile.
Standing Out in a Competitive Job Market
The construction industry is highly competitive. Key qualifications and demonstrated commitment to health and safety can make you stand out in this job market, which is just one of the reasons why it’s important that your SSSTS certification doesn’t lapse while you’re working as a supervisor. If you hold an initial SSSTS or you hold a Refresher certificate, employers will see that you’re committed to keeping up to date with health and safety standards.
Key Skills You’ll Learn in the SSSTS Refresher
The Refresher focuses on updating and reinforcing critical health and safety management skills relevant to a site supervisor. You’ll be brought up to speed on all significant changes to health and safety legislation, and industry guidance that have occurred since your previous SSSTS qualification. The course revisits essential topics such as risk assessment, method statements, scaffolding safety, excavation safety, and working at height, but with an emphasis on current regulations and emerging best practices. Candidates will also engage with updated case studies and practical exercises, ensuring they can apply the latest knowledge effectively to real-world site scenarios, reinforcing their practical safety leadership capabilities.
Advancing from Supervisor to Site Manager
While the Refresher primarily focuses on supervisory responsibilities, it indirectly supports the advancement from a supervisor to a site manager. Maintaining your SSSTS shows a foundational commitment to safety management, which is paramount for any higher-level role. Many site manager positions require or highly prefer candidates to hold, at a minimum, a valid SSSTS, and often the Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS). The Refresher demonstrates your capacity for continuous learning and adherence to evolving industry standards, qualities highly valued in aspiring site managers.
Is the SSSTS Refresher Recognised by Employers?
The Refresher is highly recognised and respected by employers across the entire UK construction industry. Its recognition stems from the fact that it’s a CITB-endorsed qualification, demonstrating that the holder’s health and safety knowledge is current and compliant with the latest industry standards and legal requirements. Major contractors, developers, and even smaller firms rely on the SSSTS as proof that their supervisory staff are competent to manage health and safety on their sites. Without a valid Refresher, a supervisor might find themselves unable to gain access to many construction sites, which could greatly limit their work opportunities.
Gaining Confidence in Health and Safety Leadership
Taking the Refresher provides a significant boost to your confidence in health and safety leadership. Knowing that your understanding of legislation and best practices is entirely current empowers you to make informed decisions on site, challenge any unsafe behaviours, and confidently conduct toolbox talks or site inductions. This updated knowledge equips you to tackle new and emerging hazards with assurance, reducing anxiety related to compliance and responsibility. A confident supervisor is a more effective leader, fostering a stronger safety culture within their team, and ultimately contributing to a more secure and productive working environment for everyone.
When Should You Take the SSSTS Refresher?
You’ll want to book your Refresher within the last few months of your SSSTS certificate’s expiry date. Your certification is valid for five years, and to be eligible for the Refresher, you need to take the course within this window. If you don’t take the Refresher before the expiry date, you’ll need to take the full five-day SMSTS course again, rather than the two-day Refresher. This would, more than anything, be a lot less convenient, so it’s crucial that you have a Refresher slot (either in-person or online) booked before the expiry date.
Meeting Legal and Site Requirements
Beyond career benefits, the Refresher directly addresses legal and site-specific requirements. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), employers have a duty to ensure their workforce is competent and adequately trained. For supervisors, a current SSSTS certificate is a primary means of demonstrating this competence in health and safety management. Furthermore, many principal contractors have strict site rules that mandate valid SSSTS certification for anyone undertaking supervisory duties. Without it, you may simply not be allowed on site to perform your role, impacting project delivery and your employment.
How the SSSTS Refresher Supports Career Progression
The Refresher is a foundational element in a broader career progression strategy. By consistently renewing your SSSTS, you maintain the eligibility for crucial CSCS cards, which are essential for accessing supervisory roles. It also demonstrates a dedication to professional development, a quality highly valued by employers when considering individuals for promotion to more senior roles, such as Assistant Site Manager or even Site Manager. The updated knowledge gained keeps you at the forefront of safety management, a critical skill set that becomes even more important at higher levels of responsibility. It positions you as a reliable, safety-conscious, and current professional, ready for advancement.
Getting Noticed by Larger Construction Firms
Larger construction firms and major contractors typically have stringent compliance requirements and a strong focus on health and safety. For them, a current SSSTS certificate for all supervisory staff is often a non-negotiable prerequisite. By consistently maintaining your Refresher, you signal to these larger organisations that you meet their high standards for safety leadership and competence.
What Employers Expect After the SSSTS Refresher
After completing the Refresher, employers will expect you to immediately apply your updated knowledge and skills on site. They’ll anticipate a refreshed understanding of the latest health and safety legislation, including any new or amended regulations. They expect you to lead toolbox talks with confidence, ensuring your team is fully aware of current risks and control measures.
Planning Your Next Career Step
The Refresher should be viewed as part of a continuous career development plan. Once you’ve completed your Refresher, take time to reflect on your goals. Do you aspire to become a site manager? If so, research the SMSTS qualification and higher-level NVQs in Construction Site Management. Do you want to specialise further in safety? Explore qualifications like the NEBOSH National General Certificate. Your SSSTS provides a strong foundation, and the Refresher ensures that this foundation remains robust, enabling you to confidently plan and pursue your next career milestones in the dynamic construction industry.
Why the SSSTS Refresher is More Than a Certificate
The Refresher acts as validation of your commitment to industry standards in the field of health and safety. It empowers you to proactively prevent accidents, manage risks, and to create a positive culture of safety on construction sites.
Conclusion
The Refresher is an indispensable component of a successful career in construction supervision. It’s not just a formality, but a vital update that ensures your health and safety knowledge remains current, compliant, and effectively applicable to the dynamic challenges of a modern construction site.
By proactively taking the Refresher, you boost your credentials, stand out in a competitive job market, gain renewed confidence in your leadership abilities, and meet crucial legal and site requirements. It serves as a continuous stepping stone, supporting your progression towards more senior roles and ensuring you remain a highly valued asset to any construction firm, particularly larger ones.
If you still have any questions regarding the course, then do not hesitate to get in touch.
Phone – 020 3488 4472
