Workforce Safety in Construction: Tips to Make Your Workplace Safe

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Workplaces in the construction industry can be dangerous- but only if you’re not taking the necessary steps to safeguard your site, and protect your employees. There are a number of ways you can ensure workforce safety, and it all starts with health and safety training. Here at CST Training, we offer a number of health and safety courses, each of which will provide your workforce with the skills and knowledge to work safely on your site. 

In today’s blog, we’ll be discussing the most popular of those courses, before providing a few more tips on ensuring workforce safety. 

Workforce Safety Courses with CST Training

If you’re deciding on health and safety training for your employees, your best bet will be Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) courses. Designed to boost health and safety awareness to the industry standard, there are five main workforce safety courses offered at CST Training. These include the Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS), the Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS), Temporary Works Supervisor and Temporary Works Coordinator, & Health and Safety Awareness (HSA). 

While the specifics of these courses will differ and they’re all aimed at different levels, each of the courses focus on the responsibilities involved in ensuring workforce safety. As for which job roles the courses are designed for…

The SMSTS is aimed at anyone who is responsible for tracking, preparing, managing, and is in any way in charge of groups of workers. The SSSTS, on the other hand, is aimed at site supervisors & managers, as well as those intending to move to those roles. Temporary Works Supervisor is aimed at anyone responsible for temporary works (scaffolding, for example), while the Coordinator equivalent is aimed specifically at senior management. Finally, the HSA course will provide your employees with all they need to know about relevant health and safety laws. 

Workforce Safety Refresher Courses

It’s also important to bear in mind that, for the most part, these health and safety certifications don’t last indefinitely. The SMSTS and SSSTS courses, for example, are only valid for five years. If your employees are holding these certifications, they must be aware that if they don’t renew their certifications within those five years, they’ll need to take the entire course again. The certifications can be renewed via Refresher courses, which will allow your employees to update their health and safety knowledge, particularly in terms of any updates that might have occurred in the last five years.

The Importance of Risk Analysis 

A more general factor when it comes to workforce safety is conducting risk analysis. Every construction site is different, meaning the risks will be different, too. In order to ensure workforce safety, thorough assessments of the site, and of the work you intend to do on the site, must be completed.

Secure Your Perimeter with Cameras

Securing your site’s perimeter has benefits for everyone, not just for your workforce. It will prevent children from accessing the site, and will deter unwanted trespassers. With a secure perimeter, your workforce will feel as protected as they need to be.

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