What is Site Safety Plus?
Site Safety Plus is CITB's suite of health, safety and environmental training schemes for the UK construction industry. It runs from entry-level awareness training for new site workers, through supervisor and manager qualifications, up to director-level and specialist courses.
The schemes are the industry standard: most principal contractors require SSSTS for supervisors and SMSTS for site managers before you set foot on site in those roles. Certificates are generally valid for five years, after which a refresher keeps them current.
Below is every scheme, grouped by the role it's built for. Each links to a full course guide and a free mock test that matches the real exam's length, timing and pass mark.
Every Site Safety Plus scheme
Entry level — new to site
Health & Safety Awareness (HSA)
The one-day entry course for new entrants, labourers and apprentices, and the usual route to the CSCS Green Labourer Card. 30 questions, 83% pass mark.
Course guide · Free HSA mock testSite Environmental Awareness (SEATS)
One-day environmental training covering waste duty of care, pollution prevention, ecology and nuisance. 25 questions, 80% pass mark.
Course guide · Free SEATS mock testSupervisors
SSSTS — Site Supervision Safety Training Scheme
The two-day standard for foremen, gangers and team leaders. Covers supervisory duties, RAMS, inspections and toolbox talks. 25 questions, 80% pass mark.
Course guide · Free SSSTS mock testSSSTS Refresher
One-day renewal for existing SSSTS holders, focused on what has changed since your last course. Renew before your five-year expiry.
Course guide · Free SSSTS-R mock testManagers
SMSTS — Site Management Safety Training Scheme
The flagship five-day qualification for site and project managers: health and safety law, CDM 2015, risk management and leadership. 25 questions, 81% pass mark.
Course guide · Free SMSTS mock testSMSTS Refresher
Two-day update for existing SMSTS holders. Miss the five-year window and you must sit the full five-day course again.
Course guide · Free SMSTS-R mock testDirectors
DRHS — Director's Role for Health and Safety
One-day course for directors, owners and board members covering legal duties, governance, safety culture and the consequences of failure.
Course guide · Free DRHS mock testTemporary works
Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC)
Two-day course on managing temporary works under BS 5975: the register, design briefs, check categories and permits to load and strike. 22 questions, 78% pass mark.
Course guide · Free TWC mock testTWC Refresher
One-day renewal for existing coordinators, covering BS 5975 updates and lessons learned from temporary works failures.
Course guide · Free TWC-R mock testTemporary Works Supervisor (TWS)
One-day course for supervisors overseeing temporary works on site under the coordinator's direction. 20 questions, 76% pass mark.
Course guide · Free TWS mock testSpecialist
TSTS — Tunnelling Safety Training Scheme
Specialist training for tunnelling and underground construction: ground conditions, ventilation and gas, confined spaces, fire and self-rescue.
Course guide · Free TSTS mock testWhich course do I need?
Choose by your role
- New to construction? Start with HSA — it's the route to a CSCS Green Card.
- Supervising a crew? SSSTS is what most contractors require.
- Running a site? SMSTS is the manager-level standard.
- On the board? DRHS covers director-level legal duties.
- Working with temporary works? TWS to supervise, TWC to coordinate.
Already certified?
- Site Safety Plus certificates are generally valid for five years.
- Sit the matching refresher before your certificate expires — SMSTS, SSSTS and TWC all have one.
- Let it lapse and you normally have to retake the full course, which costs far more time and money.
- Not sure where you stand? Take the free mock test for your scheme.
Practise before you sit the real thing
Free mock tests for all eleven Site Safety Plus schemes — matched to the real exam's length, timing and pass mark.
Start a Free Mock Test