CITB SMSTS Refresher

1. Health and safety law

The purpose of health and safety legislation and the different legislative requirements that must be followed to ensure this is achieved.

2. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act

The legal duties of the employer, self-employed and, to a lesser extent, employee, to promote health and safety awareness and effective standards of safety management by every employer.

3. Construction (Design and Management) Regulations

CDM Regulations that cover the management of health, safety and welfare on construction projects. What they are about, what they require, what needs to be done and by whom.

4. Health and safety policies

The key principles of a health and safety policy and the organisation’s arrangements for putting those policies in place. The key benefits of the policy, what it should contain and how it should be used.

5. Risk assessments and method statements

The importance of risk assessments in ensuring a reduction in workplace accidents. Identify the requirements of risk assessments and method statements to be suitable and proportionate to the site specific risks, fully understood and appreciated by the workforce.

6. Induction and training

The legal requirements for the provision of information and ensure it is tailored for the audience, understood by the audience and specific to the site. Meet the needs of employee training to maintain competence on site.

7. Effective communication

The importance of good communication on site with all employees, particularly during site induction, and ensuring safety critical information is conveyed.

8. Leadership and worker engagement

Principles of leadership and worker engagement to influence good working practices on site.

9. Inspection and audit

The importance of accurately monitoring, measuring and reporting on health and safety within the workplace. Use reliable information to show health and safety risks are being managed.

10. Statutory forms, notices and registers

Statutory and non- statutory forms, notices, signs and registers used within the construction industry and the keeping of records and other details.

11. Accident prevention, control, reporting and investigation

Why accidents happen, the human factors, trends, causes, impacts and preventative measures required, including reporting, and follow through. Factors to consider when developing construction phase plans, safe systems of work, assessing risk, undertaking site inspections and daily health and safety management.

1. Management of health

The importance of sustaining good health in the workforce and how to plan and maintain suitable practices to prevent the high costs that work-related ill health causes.

2. Welfare facilities

The importance of providing suitable welfare facilities and ensure they comply with the CDM Regulations.

3. Stress and mental health at work

The importance of a positive approach to managing mental health issues and reducing the costs to industry. 

4. Drugs and alcohol

Identify, manage and support individuals affected by drugs and alcohol and understand the legal framework that regulates it.

5. Control of substances hazardous to health

The importance of protecting the workforce from exposure to hazardous substances. 

6. Lead

The implications of lead in buildings, its effect, management and control.

7. Asbestos

The risks asbestos poses to health, and the legal requirements required to manage that risk.

8. Dust and fumes

The risks posed by inhalation of airborne particles, how to minimise that risk and protect the workforce. 

9. Noise

The risks that excess noise can place on the employee and the surrounding area, and how to mitigate and manage that risk.

10. Vibration

How exposure to vibration can have serious health risks. How to assess and control the risk of vibration through control methods.

11. Manual handling

How to reduce the risk of injury within the workforce, taking into account the task, environment and control measures.

1. Site organisation

The requirements to be considered when setting out a construction site.

2. Fire prevention and control and dangerous substances

Correct fire planning and dangerous substance control, including safe handling and storage. Procedures to manage hazards and risks.

3. Electrical safety

Dangers of working on or near to live electrical circuits and good working practices.

4. Temporary works

Requirements to manage temporary works and ensure they are planned, maintained and removed appropriately.

5. Plant and work equipment

The importance of control and management of plant and equipment on site. Effective planning, risk assessment, training and maintenance.

6. Mobile plant and vehicles

Effective planning and control of mobile plant and vehicles. Legal obligations of working with mobile plant on site.

7. Lifting operations and equipment

Legal requirements for lifting operations, equipment and accessories and the steps required to ensure risks are mitigated, planning is undertaken (including selection of equipment) and the correct training and maintenance obligations are met safely and efficiently.

8. Mobile workforce and driver safety

Legal framework and guidance that supports the management of health and safety for mobile, lone and out of hour’s workers, and the potential risks and how to control them. 

1. Work at Height Regulations 

Risks surrounding working at height and the plans that must be in place to ensure safety.

2. Safe working at height

Risks that exist from working at height (such as working platforms, scaffolds, ladders, flat and pitched roofs and any work being carried out near fragile materials, openings, holes and roof edges).

3. Common access equipment

Health and safety requirements when selecting and using common forms of access equipment.

4. Scaffolding

Key safety issues that relate to the use of scaffolds, how to manage scaffolding operations and how to assess suitability of erected scaffolds.

5. Fall arrest and suspension equipment

Fall arrest and suspension equipment.

6. Excavations

Planning excavations and a safe working practice considering all the elements of the excavation.

7. Underground and overhead services

Risk factors of working with underground and overhead services, including how to plan the work and manage risk.

8. Confined spaces

What a confined space is, how to risk assess it and how to work safely.