SSSTS Mock Test

What is SSSTS?

The Site Supervision Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) is a health and safety course for construction site supervisors. It is endorsed by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and forms part of the organization’s Site Safety Plus (SSP) training series. The SSSTS is delivered by a range of learning providers across the UK.

In this article, we provide detailed information about the SSSTS. This includes discussing the structure of the course, the types of content it covers, the structure of its final assessment(s), and any cost considerations. As delegates emerge from the SSSTS course with new skills and capabilities, we’ll also reflect on how attending this training module could help you in your future career.   

Who typically attends this training course?

As it is specifically pitched at supervisors, you should refrain from attending this course unless you currently perform a supervisory role. The content covered will likely be too advanced for a trainee, labourer, or skilled worker, and not detailed enough to satisfy the requirements of a site manager.

Not yet a supervisor?

If you aspire to become a supervisor one day, you should notify your line manager as soon as possible. Without their input and support, it’ll take a lot longer to achieve your goal. It would help if you worked with your line manager to produce a personal development plan, asking them for honest feedback in the process. This plan will highlight the steps you’ll need to take on your learning journey, helping you to address any knowledge gaps and sharpen your skills in specific areas. It’s always good to agree on a timeframe for delivery. This often provides added motivation when you’re feeling a little low on energy and gives you a clear target to strive for.    

If you’re progressing well on this path, we would encourage you to provide cover whilst a current supervisor is on holiday. Although you’ll be able to learn what a supervisor does through training and personal observations, there’s nothing quite like experiencing the role for yourself. Clearly, you’ll need your line manager’s authorisation to do this. However, if your line manager is invested in your development and believes that you have the required capabilities, there’s no reason why you won’t be given this opportunity.

Already a supervisor?

Whether you’re an experienced supervisor or just starting out in this position, we would encourage you to attend this course. This is because it touches on every health and safety aspect a supervisor must consider. So, if you’re not already accustomed to compliance measures and your role in their enforcement, you can learn about this subject as you navigate through the course.

As you should only attend this course if you’re a supervisor, the overwhelming majority of course delegates are CSCS gold cardholders. Ownership of the gold supervisor card demonstrates that you have the skills and knowledge to perform competently as a construction site supervisor. To acquire a gold supervisor card, you must meet a challenging set of qualifying requirements. This includes attaining an NVQ Level 3 (or above) certificate, and passing the supervisory module of the CSCS specialists test (please note that your tutor, employer, or colleagues may refer to the CSCS test as the CITB Health, Safety, and Environment Test).

What topics will I study whilst attending this course?

As this is an advanced-level course, you’ll cover a considerable amount of detail. You’ll leave this course with a robust understanding of a range of health & safety protocols. You should also have a strong awareness of how to take decisive action to mitigate the risks posed by hazards. Furthermore, you’ll learn how to support your team in working in a safe and compliant manner.

As a consequence of these learnings, you should feel more confident in delivering your role.

We’ve provided a breakdown of the general topics that this course covers:

Site Supervisor job profile

Your tutor will talk through the types of behaviours and competencies a supervisor should routinely demonstrate.

As supervisors assume a position of authority on a construction site, they must be able to deliver clear and succinct instructions. Furthermore, supervisors need to know how to lead a team towards a common goal or objective. They must also feel comfortable giving feedback to underperforming team members, and recognising strong performance.  

Daily and weekly duties

Your tutor will highlight a list of daily and weekly duties a supervisor typically delivers. These duties provide a sense of routine and structure to the working week and ensure no essential activity is missed.

In most cases, this will involve performing safety checks on equipment and structures, conducting training, observing team members at work, and discussing ongoing risks with site management.  

Legislation

Your tutor will discuss the role and influence of relevant governmental legislation.

To help reduce the risk of injury in the workplace, supervisors must adhere to the guidelines set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974). Furthermore, supervisors should have a working understanding of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations, which were introduced in 2015 to improve safety standards across the construction industry.  

The importance of site supervisors

When learning about the above topics, you’ll quickly realise why the supervisor role is so important. Acting as the bridge between site management and general members of the workforce, supervisors bear an enormous amount of responsibility. They must take guidance from management, convey these instructions to the workforce, and ensure subsequent tasks are being carried out compliantly.

Ultimately, supervisors are the eyes and ears on the ground. Site Managers rely on these individuals to ensure the construction site is operating smoothly and workers look to them for support and guidance. Therefore, you’ll leave the course with a real appreciation of the value you add, and a clear understanding of how important you are to your employer.

Choosing your learning environment

Most learning providers offer both classroom-based and online SSSTS courses. Therefore, you’ll be able to choose the format of your course depending on personal circumstances. If you currently have a number of commitments outside of work, it might be worth conducting your studies remotely. As you won’t need to travel to a training centre to attend an online course, you’ll save a significant amount of time.

Although online courses offer more convenience, they do not facilitate the same level of social and professional interaction. Being able to engage in group discussions with like-minded individuals and pose questions directly to your tutor are key parts of the learning experience. Receiving your training in a classroom environment enables you to conduct these activities freely. Studying online still opens up opportunities for positive discussions with peers and tutors, but doesn’t quite produce the same results as communicating face-to-face.

Therefore, you should think carefully about whether you want to conduct your studies remotely or in person. There are clear advantages to pursuing either approach, but make sure the option you choose meets your personal requirements.

Employer benefits

Hopefully, your employer will be comfortable with you attending this course during working hours. This is because developing your skills as a supervisor offers several benefits to your employer. As you become more proficient in your role, you’ll be able to deliver a better standard of work. You’ll likely share what you learn with colleagues and act as a source of inspiration for those eager to improve their skill set. By helping to make your site a safer place to work, you can reduce the risk of colleagues incurring an injury. This will have a positive impact on absence figures, ensuring payroll funds are spent productively and employee attendance is more consistent.

Furthermore, supporting staff members to attend training courses casts employers in a positive light. By allowing staff to focus on their personal development and growth, employers position themselves as caring, forward-thinking, and inclusive organizations. In turn, this makes them more attractive to job applicants and enhances their reputation amongst competitors.

What do I need to know about the SSSTS test?

The SSSTS is typically a two-day module. After covering the aforementioned topics, you’ll be required to sit two separate assessments. To attain an SSSTS pass certificate, you must successfully navigate both. Each of these assessments follows a slightly different format.

Assessment 1

The first assessment you’ll take contains 25 questions. Three of these questions require a lengthy written response, whilst the rest are presented in multiple-choice format.

When providing your written answers, you should aim to be as clear and concise as possible. Make sure you use any relevant terminology where appropriate. You should also try to include references to key learnings you’ve picked up during your training.

Many people assume multiple-choice questions are easy, as the correct answer is contained amongst the possible options. However, sometimes these types of questions require you to apply several calculations or involve working out complex scenarios. Therefore, they are often far from straightforward. Nevertheless, if you’re unsure about a specific question, you’ll have a one-in-four chance of guessing the answer correctly!

Candidates are given 30 minutes to complete this exam. This means you’ll have just over one minute per question to provide your responses. Although this is an adequate timeframe, you’ll still need to work through this assessment efficiently. To pass the first assessment, you must answer at least 20 (80%) of the 25 questions correctly. If you fail to do this but manage to score 18 points (70%) or above, you’ll be allowed to re-sit this assessment straightaway.

Assessment 2

In the second assessment, you’ll need to answer questions relating to a trainer-reviewed case study. Candidates are presented with various workplace scenarios based on realistic events, and required to outline what action they would take to address a series of issues. When answering these questions, you should draw on your personal experiences as well as the content covered throughout the SSSTS course.

Tips and considerations

All topics included in these two assessments will have been discussed at some stage during your training. Therefore, if you’ve actively participated throughout your course and listened to the information provided by your tutor, you should be in an excellent position to pass.

We would encourage you to answer every question in each of these exams. An educated guess could be the difference between passing and failing, so it’s always worth providing some sort of response!

Most delegates manage to secure a pass mark, but don’t allow yourself to become complacent! Please approach these tests like you would any other. Read all of the questions properly, apply reason and logic when considering your response, and double-check every answer given.

Upon successfully navigating both of these assessments, you’ll receive an official SSSTS pass certificate. Proof of this qualification will be automatically uploaded onto the CITB card checker platform. This means you’ll have a permanent digital record of your achievement to go along with a hard copy of your certificate. Either of these documents may be used as evidence to support a job application.   

How much does the SSSTS course cost?

The price of your course depends entirely on the learning provider you choose to deliver your training. It may also be impacted by the environment in which your training is being conducted, whether that be in a classroom or remote setting.

However, you should expect to pay somewhere between £250-£350 (inc. VAT) to attend this module. Make sure you research your learning provider before booking your course – the best option isn’t necessarily the cheapest.

Some construction companies are happy to cover employee training costs. Therefore, they might offer to fund your attendance on this course and others. However, there is a chance you’ll need to pay for this course yourself. It’s worth checking to see whether you’re eligible for a grant. These are available via both the CITB and the government and are allocated based on the candidate’s personal circumstances. To see whether you’re eligible to receive funding, click the following links: CITB/government.  

Keep your SSSTS certificate – attend refresher training

The validity of your SSTS certificate only lasts five years. If you want to retain your qualification, you’ll need to complete a refresher course towards the end of this period.

The Site Supervision Safety Training Refresher (RSSSTS) is a one-day learning module. It is a condensed version of the full SSSTS course and therefore touches on all the key themes originally covered. You’ll also learn about any updates to relevant governmental legislation, industry regulations, and universal best practices. To keep hold of your qualification, you’ll once again need to pass an assessment. However, this time, you’ll only need to navigate a multiple-choice test. 

If you don’t complete the SSTS refresher training before your certificate expires, you’ll need to attend the full course again. Therefore, it’s extremely important to be aware of the expiry date on your certificate.     

Again, the price of your training depends on the learning provider you choose. On average, it’ll cost you approximately £150-£250 (inc. VAT) to attend this course.