The SMSTS Qualification: What It Covers, Who Needs It and Why
3 November 2025
The Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) is one of the most recognised health and safety qualifications in the UK construction industry.
Delivered under the CITB Site Safety Plus framework, it provides essential knowledge for anyone responsible for overseeing, planning, organising, monitoring or controlling construction work.
For employers, booking SMSTS training ensures compliance with legal obligations and boosts safety standards across sites. For individuals, it provides a career-defining qualification that demonstrates competence, builds confidence, and opens up progression opportunities.
What Does the SMSTS Qualification Cover?
The SMSTS course goes beyond “tick-box” training and equips site managers and supervisors with the tools to manage safety in practice. Over the course of five days, delegates learn to identify, monitor, and control hazards in line with current legislation and industry best practice.
Key topics include:
- Health & Safety Legislation – understanding the Health and Safety at Work Act, CDM Regulations, and other key statutory requirements.
- Risk Assessment & Method Statements – how to assess risks properly and develop safe systems of work.
- Accident Prevention & Investigation – preventing incidents and dealing with them effectively if they occur.
- Management of Contractors – ensuring sub-contractors comply with site rules and legal duties.
- Hazard Awareness – from working at height and scaffolding, to confined spaces, fire safety, asbestos, electricity, and COSHH.
- Behavioural Safety & Leadership – developing the right culture on site to encourage safe working practices.
- Environmental Management – covering waste, sustainability, pollution, and best practice for protecting the environment.
At the end of the course, delegates complete an exam and assessment exercises, demonstrating their ability to apply the knowledge gained.
Who Needs the SMSTS Qualification?
The SMSTS qualification is specifically designed for:
- Site Managers – anyone with overall responsibility for a construction site’s operations and workforce.
- Project Managers – ensuring health and safety is considered in planning and delivery phases.
- Supervisors & Team Leaders looking to progress into site management roles.
- Business Owners & Directors in construction, especially SMEs, where leaders often hold direct site responsibilities.
In practice, most principal contractors and large construction firms require all site managers to hold the SMSTS qualification. It is also increasingly expected for supervisors stepping up into management, making it a valuable career move for individuals seeking progression.
Why is the SMSTS Qualification Important?
1. Legal Compliance
The law requires construction work to be properly managed, with health and safety at its core. Having SMSTS-qualified managers helps companies meet their obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the CDM Regulations 2015.
2. Improved Safety Standards
Accidents and incidents are costly — in human terms, financially and reputationally. SMSTS training gives managers the tools to create safer sites, protecting workers and reducing the risk of prosecution or enforcement action.
3. Professional Recognition
For individuals, the SMSTS qualification is a benchmark of competence. It demonstrates to employers and clients that you can manage safety effectively. It is also CITB-recognised and valid for five years, after which a two-day SMSTS Refresher course is required.
4. Competitive Advantage
For companies, employing SMSTS-qualified managers boosts credibility when tendering for projects. Many clients, particularly in the public sector, will only work with contractors who can demonstrate competent safety leadership.
5. Career Progression
SMSTS is often a minimum requirement for site management roles. Completing the qualification not only helps retain your position but can also unlock promotions and new opportunities across the construction industry.
The SMSTS qualification is far more than a certificate
SMSTS is a vital investment in safety, compliance and professional development. It ensures that those responsible for managing construction sites are equipped with the skills and knowledge to keep people safe, protect companies from legal and financial risk, and build a culture of responsibility on site.
Whether you’re an employer looking to safeguard your projects or an individual looking to advance your career, choosing the right training provider makes all the difference. That’s why many companies and professionals turn to RISK, a CITB Approved Training Organisation (No. 3456), with a proven track record in delivering SMSTS, SSSTS, and refresher courses with exceptional pass rates and outstanding delegate support.
