Site Safety Plus - Health and Safety Awareness (Open Course)

The Site Safety Plus (SSP) Health and Safety Awareness course offers a firm foundation for those considering a career, about to enter or already working within construction and civil engineering. Fully accredited by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the Site Safety Plus qualification is recognised by most of the major construction companies within the UK and aims to help new and prospective construction employees hone their health and safety knowledge.

• Experience: Delegates who are new to or are considering a career within the construction and civil engineering sectors
• Duration: One day
• Assessment: Multiple choice examination
• Teaching: Classroom-based learning which can be delivered in-house or at one of SOCOTEC’s training facilities across the UK

Health and Safety Awareness course – aims/objectives

The SSP Health and Safety Awareness course provides practical advice on site safety, helping delegates to identify and avoid a range of potential hazards that could occur while working on a construction site. Covering individual and employer responsibility for looking after themselves and those around them, delegates will gain an understanding of the actions required of them if they believe that an individual’s health and safety is at risk. Covering six modules in total, delegates will be trained in:

• The need to prevent accidents
• The importance of health and safety law – including the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1974
• How their role fits into the control and management of the construction site
• Risk assessments and method statements
• Performing safely and asking for advice
• How to report unsafe acts to prevent an accident

Health and Safety Awareness course structure

Delegates will be required to complete a multiple choice examination once they have covered all of the classroom-based content for the Health and Safety Awareness course. As well as 22 multiple choice questions, the Health and Safety Awareness test features three safety critical questions, the latter of which must be answered correctly in order for delegates to complete the course.

Please note that the minimum entry requirement for the CITB Health and Safety Awareness course is a good comprehension of spoken and written English. If you have any concerns relating to this, you can contact SOCOTEC using the enquiry form.  

Who is the Health and Safety Awareness course suitable for?

The SSP Health and Safety Awareness course is best suited to anyone who is considering or has recently started a career within the construction or civil engineering industries. It also serves as refresher training for those who would like to update their knowledge having recently rejoined these sectors for employment.

Health and Safety Awareness course outcomes

Once delegates have completed the CITB Site Safety Plus Health and Safety Awareness course, they will have a solid understanding of a range of health, safety, welfare and environmental hazards that have the potential to take place on a construction site. They will know exactly what is expected of them on site from a health and safety perspective, contributing to the overall safety of the site and their fellow workers.

Delegates will be awarded certification demonstrating their successful completion of the CITB Health and Safety Awareness course, which is valid for five years following the initial date of issue. To remain fully certified, the Site Safety Plus qualification must be retaken prior to the certification’s expiry date.

Following completion of the Health and Safety Awareness course, delegates will be able to progress onto the two-day CITB Site Supervision Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) course, which is available here.

Health and Safety Awareness course overview

During the Health and Safety Awareness course, delegates will cover the following subject matter:

• Everyday responsibilities
• Reporting and preventing accidents
• Introduction to health and welfare
• Manual handling
• PPE
• First aid emergency procedures
• Control and prevention of fire
• Electrical safety
• Hazardous substances
• Handheld tools and equipment
• Safety with site transport
• Vibration and noise
• Confined spaces and excavation
• Environmental awareness

On the day of the CITB Site Safety Plus Health and Safety Awareness course, delegates must provide valid photographic identification (either in the form of a passport or driving licence) and their National Insurance number in order to be eligible for the training.