SSSTS Refresher: 10 Questions Answered
The Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme Refresher (SSSTS Refresher) is a mandatory course for any supervisors whose SSSTS certificate is due to expire. Lasting just one day, the training ensures that supervisors are maintaining the knowledge they initially learned via the full course, and also provides them with any updates to best practices.
The SSSTS certification lasts five years, and it’s recommended that you get your Refresher training renewed in the final six months of that certification. This will mean you’ll definitely have time to get the course completed. Otherwise, your certification could run out, in which case you’d need to pay for, and take, the full SSSTS course again. There is no grace period.
In today’s blog, we’ll answer 10 of the most common questions asked about the course.
1. What is the SSSTS Refresher Course?
The Refresher, as with the full Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme, was developed by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). Its purpose is to update the knowledge of supervisors who already have the full certification. The training offers an intensive review of critical changes in legislation that have been implemented since the candidate acquired their initial certification.
Ultimately, the course ensures that a supervisor’s competence remains sharp and relevant for the years to come.
2. Why Does the SSSTS Refresher Matter for Supervisors?
The Refresher matters immensely because it directly relates to legal compliance and job security. A supervisor’s role carries significant legal responsibility under the CDM Regulations 2015. By completing the course, a supervisor demonstrates due diligence, proving to their employer and regulators that their knowledge is up-to-date. Without a valid, in-date certificate, a supervisor is technically not considered competent to manage site safety, which can lead to exclusion from major construction projects and severe corporate liability for the employer. The course is the professional’s commitment to maintaining continuous competence.
3. Who Needs to Take the Refresher?
Anyone who’s previously completed the full two-day course and wants to maintain their qualification must take the refresher. This typically includes site supervisors, foremen, and anyone with designated supervisory responsibilities on a construction site. It’s exclusively for those whose certificate is still in date. If your certificate has already lapsed, you are ineligible for the refresher and must retake the full two-day course.
4. When Should You Renew Your SSSTS Refresher?
You need to renew your qualification by taking the Refresher course within the five-year validity period of your current certificate. There’s no grace period. The optimal time to renew is within the final six to nine months of your certificate’s validity. Booking early creates a necessary buffer against unforeseen circumstances, such as illness, course cancellations, or urgent site commitments, ensuring you don’t risk losing your qualification. Don’t wait until the last minute.
5. How Long Does the Course Take?
The course is designed to be time-efficient, typically lasting one full day. This makes it manageable for busy professionals who need to minimise time away from site operations. The intensive, focused nature of the one-day course means that only the most crucial updates and changes are covered, ensuring you receive maximum information in minimum time. This format provides an efficient pathway back to compliance and certification for another five years.
6. What Do You Learn in the SSSTS Refresher?
The training focuses on key updates that have occurred since your initial training. You’ll learn about:
- Changes in Health and Safety Legislation: Including updates to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act and any new HSE guidance.
- Revisions to CDM Regulations 2015: Clarification on managerial duties and evolving roles (e.g., Principal Designer, Principal Contractor).
- Emerging Site Hazards: New risks associated with evolving technology, materials, and occupational health concerns (e.g., managing silica dust exposure and mental health awareness).
- Environmental Compliance: Updates on waste management and pollution prevention legislation (e.g., new site waste protocols).
- Case Studies: Reviewing major legal cases and incidents that have shaped current industry best practice.
7. What Happens If Your Certificate Expires?
If your certificate expires, even by a single day, you lose eligibility for the refresher course. This is a critical distinction. The consequence of letting your certificate lapse is that you must immediately retake the full two-day SSSTS course. This requires a greater time commitment, involves higher costs, and may result in a period where you cannot legally perform your supervisory duties on major construction sites. The industry is firm on this requirement to ensure competence is always certified and current.
8. How is the SSSTS Refresher Delivered?
The training can be delivered in two main formats:
- Classroom: Traditional, in-person training at an accredited training centre. This allows for direct interaction and networking.
- Live Virtual Classroom (Online): A tutor-led course delivered remotely via video conferencing. This offers maximum flexibility, eliminating travel time and cost while maintaining the mandatory interactive elements required by the CITB.
Both formats are equally valid and lead to the same official certificate, provided the provider is CITB-accredited.
9. Is the Refresher Course Easier Than the Original?
Many find the refresher course less challenging than the original two-day SSSTS, primarily because they already possess the foundational knowledge. It’s focused on updating and confirming existing knowledge, not teaching entirely new concepts. However, that doesn’t mean a guaranteed pass. The course is intensive, and the final exam still requires a solid understanding of the recent legislative changes. For experienced supervisors who engage actively and prepare adequately for the exam, the pass rate is high.
10. What are the Key Topics Covered in the SSSTS Refresher?
The core content focuses on regulatory updates and practical site application. Key mandatory topics include:
- Risk Assessment Management: Reviewing best practice for developing and implementing effective Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS).
- Scaffolding and Temporary Works: Updated legal requirements and common failure points.
- Demolition and Working at Height: New guidance and technical controls for high-risk activities.
- Occupational Health: Focus on long-term health risks like controlling respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust and managing manual handling regulations.
- Statutory Forms and Documentation: Ensuring supervisors know how to correctly use and interpret site documentation, registers, and inspection forms.
How the Assessment Works
The assessment is mandatory. It’s a multiple-choice examination based solely on the content covered during the one-day course, particularly focusing on the new regulatory updates. Candidates must achieve a minimum pass mark to receive their new certificate. The exam is structured to confirm that the supervisor has absorbed the critical information necessary to manage a compliant site for the next five years.
What to Expect from Your SSSTS Refresher Tutor
Your tutor will be an accredited, experienced construction professional. You should expect them to be highly knowledgeable about the latest legislation and capable of providing real-world context for every topic. They act as facilitators, guiding group discussions and ensuring all mandatory material is covered. They’re there to clarify complex legal points and answer specific questions relating to site application, making the training immediately relevant to your day-to-day supervisory challenges.
Can You Take the Refresher Online?
Like the original course, the course can be taken entirely online via a live, virtual classroom, which offers a highly flexible and convenient way to renew your qualification. This allows you to eliminate travel time and costs while still participating in a fully interactive, tutor-led session. The online certificate holds the same validity and recognition as the classroom version.
SSSTS Refresher Course Requirements
The primary requirement is simple: you must possess a current, valid SSSTS certificate. Additionally, candidates must have a suitable level of spoken and written English to understand the course material and complete the assessment. For online delivery, a reliable computer, webcam, microphone, and stable internet access are all mandatory.
How to Prepare for the Refresher Exam
Preparation is key. Although the course is shorter, the exam is challenging. Tips include:
- Review Your Old Manual: Briefly look over your original SSSTS manual (if available) to refresh core concepts.
- Focus on the Updates: Pay close attention during the course to the sections covering new legislation and CDM changes- this is where most of the exam questions will focus.
- Take Notes: Use your notes to create a quick study guide for the final exam.
- Attempt Mock Questions: Complete any mock or practice questions provided by your training organisation.
Benefits of Completing Your SSSTS Refresher on Time
Completing the course on time secures multiple benefits:
- Continuous Employment: Guarantees uninterrupted eligibility to work on major construction sites.
- Cost and Time Saving: Avoids the cost and time commitment of retaking the full two-day course.
- Up-to-Date Competence: Confirms your knowledge of the latest, most critical safety changes, protecting you from legal exposure.
- Professional Credibility: Maintains your standing with employers and professional bodies.
How the Refresher Supports Ongoing Compliance
The course supports ongoing compliance by directly addressing regulatory shifts. For example, if new legislation mandates increased dust monitoring, the course teaches the supervisor how to implement and document these new procedures correctly. By closing the knowledge gap created over five years, the course ensures that the supervisor is equipped to meet all current statutory requirements, thereby supporting the company’s continuous commitment to legal compliance.
Conclusion (SSSTS Refresher: 10 Questions Answered)
The training is a fundamental component of a site supervisor’s career. It’s a mandatory one-day course that must be completed before the initial five-year certificate expires.
If you still have any questions regarding the course, then do not hesitate to get in touch.
Phone – 020 3488 4472
