SSSTS Refresher Exam Questions and Answers

If you already hold a Site Supervision Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) qualification, keeping your knowledge current is a crucial part of maintaining your competence as a site supervisor. The SSSTS Refresher course is an opportunity to revisit essential health and safety principles, consider changes in legislation and industry guidance, and demonstrate that you understand your responsibilities when supervising construction activities. The assessment at the end of the course is designed to check your understanding of the key subjects covered during the training.

There’s no way to know exactly which questions are going to appear, but in the following blog, we’ll explain how the exam works, the topics most likely to appear, and how best to prepare.

How Does the Exam Work?

The assessment consists of 25 questions in total. There are 22 multiple-choice questions and three short written questions. The written questions can be worth between one and three marks each, depending on the question.

The exam is worth 30 marks overall, so candidates need to demonstrate a strong understanding of the course content, rather than relying on guesswork. You need to get 24 out of 30 marks, which is an 80% pass mark.

There are also four safety-critical questions in every exam. These are particularly important because you need to answer all four correctly. Getting enough marks overall will not be sufficient if one or more of the safety-critical questions are answered incorrectly.

You have 30 minutes to complete the assessment, so it’s important to manage your time carefully- particularly when it comes to the short written questions.

Which Topics are Covered?

The assessment is based on the subjects covered throughout the training. Rather than attempting to predict individual questions, candidates should concentrate on understanding the principles behind the topics.

Subjects can include the responsibilities of site supervisors, health and safety legislation, risk assessments, method statements, communication, monitoring standards and controlling hazards.

Other important areas include working at height, excavation work, lifting operations, plant and equipment, electrical safety, hazardous substances, workplace transport and emergency procedures.

The course also puts emphasis on the supervisor’s role. You should understand not only what a safe working practice looks like, but also what you should do when standards are not being followed.

What is the Pass Mark for the SSSTS Refresher Exam?

You need 24 out of 30 (80%) to pass.

It’s also essential to remember that there are four safety-critical questions in every assessment, and all four must be answered correctly. Candidates should revise the safety-related principles covered during the training, rather than focusing exclusively on achieving a certain percentage.

Types of Questions

There are two main question formats: multiple-choice questions and short written questions.

The multiple-choice section tests your knowledge by presenting a question alongside a selection of possible answers. Read each question carefully before picking an answer; some options may appear plausible despite not representing the safest or most appropriate course of action.

The short written questions require you to provide your own response. These questions can be worth one to three marks, so pay attention to exactly what the question is asking. If several points are requested, make sure your answer addresses each part.

Questions might test straightforward knowledge, but they can also require you to apply your understanding to realistic construction-site situations, so memorising isolated facts is less useful than understanding why particular control measures are required.

How to Prepare for the SSSTS Refresher Exam

The most effective preparation starts during the training itself. Pay close attention to explanations from the trainer, and make notes about subjects that you find difficult.

Review the course materials after each session and identify any areas where your knowledge needs improvement. Focus particularly on subjects relating to your responsibilities as a supervisor, and the hazards that could result in serious injury or ill health.

It can also be useful to think about how the principles covered during training relate to situations you encounter on construction sites. Connecting the information to practical examples can make it easier to remember.

Before the assessment, make sure you understand the terminology used throughout the course. You should also be comfortable explaining the purpose of important safety procedures rather than just recognising their names.

Revising Key Safety Principles 

One of the best ways to prepare is to revise the fundamental principles that underpin safe site supervision.

For example, supervisors should understand the importance of identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing suitable control measures. They should also understand the need to monitor whether those controls are actually working.

Communication is another important area. A supervisor needs to communicate effectively with workers, contractors and other people involved in construction activities. This can include giving instructions, raising concerns, and ensuring workers understand the hazards associated with their tasks.

You should also consider what action you would take if unsafe behaviour or working conditions were identified. Supervisors have an important role in preventing problems from becoming incidents.

Understanding Your Responsibilities

The course is designed around the responsibilities associated with supervising construction work, so preparation should include thinking about what’s expected from someone in a supervisory position.

This includes understanding how to implement site policies and procedures, communicate information to workers and monitor working practices. Supervisors also need to recognise when work is not being carried out safely, and take appropriate action.

Preparing for Scenario-Based SSSTS Refresher Questions

Scenario-based questions require you to apply your knowledge rather than just recall information. Read the scenario carefully and identify the main hazard or issue first. Then, consider the hierarchy of controls and the measures that could be used to reduce the risk. Think about what action would be reasonable for a site supervisor to take.

For example, if unsafe work is identified, the correct response is unlikely to be ignoring the situation or simply assuming that someone else will deal with it. Consider your responsibilities, the immediate risk, and the appropriate control measures.

The safest answer isn’t necessarily the one that sounds most convenient. Look for the option that demonstrates proper control of the hazard, and appropriate supervisory action.

Revising Health and Safety Legislation

A sound understanding of health and safety legislation is another useful part of your preparation. 

You don’t necessarily need to memorise every piece of legislation in detail. However, you should understand the purpose of the main requirements relevant to construction.

You should also understand the distinction between legal duties and site procedures. Construction organisations may have their own policies, but these operate alongside statutory health and safety requirements.

Consider how legislation affects everyday supervision, which include risk management, personal protective equipment, training, welfare facilities, reporting arrangements and safe systems of work. Understanding the purpose behind these requirements will make it easier to deal with questions that test practical application.

Risk Assessments and Method Statements

Risk assessments and method statements are central to controlling construction risks, so these should be key areas of revision.

A risk assessment identifies hazards, considers who could be harmed and evaluates the risks involved. Appropriate control measures can then be introduced to reduce those risks.

Method statements explain how particular work should be carried out safely. Supervisors need to understand the relevant documents, and ensure that work is being undertaken in accordance with the agreed safe system.

If conditions change, the existing arrangements might no longer be suitable. Supervisors need to recognise when work should be reviewed before continuing.

Working at Height and Other High-Risk Activities

High-risk construction activities deserve particular attention when preparing for the assessment. Working at height, excavations, lifting operations and interaction with construction plant can all present serious risks.

For working at height, consider the importance of planning the work, selecting suitable equipment and preventing falls. Excavation work requires attention to ground conditions, access, collapse risks and other hazards.

Lifting operations require appropriate planning, suitable equipment and competent people. Construction plant and vehicles also need to be managed carefully to reduce the risk of collisions, and contact with pedestrians.

Rather than attempting to predict the exact question, revise the principles that allow you to identify and control these hazards.

How the SSSTS Refresher Assessment Tests Your Knowledge

The assessment is designed to establish whether you’ve understood the subjects covered during the training, so a question might not always be phrased in exactly the same way as something discussed in class.

For multiple-choice questions, take the time to read every option before deciding. Avoid choosing an answer just because it uses terminology you recognise.

For written questions, answer directly and provide the specific points requested; if a question asks for several control measures, for example, make sure you provide enough distinct measures to demonstrate your understanding.

Remember that the exam is only 30 minutes. Spending too much time on one difficult question could leave you rushing later, so time management is key.

Staying Calm During the Exam

Good preparation can make the assessment far less stressful. Before starting, make sure you understand the instructions and have a clear idea of how you’ll approach the questions.

If you encounter a difficult question, read it again and identify exactly what it’s asking. Consider the relevant health and safety principle, and eliminate answers that are obviously not correct.

You should pay particular attention to the four safety-critical questions; all four must be answered correctly.

Conclusion: SSSTS Refresher Exam Questions and Answers

Preparing for the assessment isn’t about trying to predict the exact questions that will appear. Instead, concentrate on understanding the key health and safety principles covered during the training, and how they apply to your responsibilities as a site supervisor.

There are 25 questions in total, comprising 22 multiple-choice questions and three short written questions. The assessment is worth 30 marks, with 24 marks required to pass. 

You also need to answer all four safety-critical questions correctly.

If you still have any questions regarding the course, then do not hesitate to get in touch. 

Phone – 020 3488 4472

Email [email protected]