There are many different training courses and programmes you can sign up for if you want to progress in your construction industry career but it’s important to choose the one that will help you advance quickly and efficiently.

Comparisons are often drawn between the NEBOSH Construction Certificate and the CITB Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS), as both are highly regarded by the sector. 

They both have their own merits so it’s down to you to decide which is most appropriate for you and your business. Here’s the lowdown on both.

NEBOSH Construction Certificate

If you’re serious about managing risk and advancing in health and safety roles in the construction industry, the NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction Certificate delivers a broad, in-depth and transferable base of knowledge.

The nationally recognised course content includes health and safety law, principles of risk management and construction-specific safety hazards. It’s a great choice for anyone keen to pursue a job in health and safety within the industry, such as an adviser, manager or health and safety officer.

Enrolling staff in this course allows organisations to improve their safety culture, minimising workplace risks and injuries, and ensuring compliance with construction (design and management) regulations.

Moral, financial and legal arguments for justifying health and safety improvements are also covered in the course and successful completion will enable you to successfully advise on duties held by businesses to manage construction risks.

Further course content includes:

– Managing change and procedures

– Excavation

– Demolition

– Mobile plant and vehicles

– Working at height

– Work equipment

– Musculoskeletal health and load handling

– Electricity

– Fire

– Chemical and biological agents

– Physical and psychological health

SMSTS

The SMSTS is a UK construction industry standard and focuses primarily on site management responsibilities and procedures, designed with site managers and supervisors in mind.

All relevant legislation affecting safe working in the construction, building and civil engineering sectors will be covered, with highlights including the need for workplace risk assessments, the implementation of necessary control measures and strong communication to develop a workforce health and safety culture.

Upon taking the course, you will be able to implement all relevant legislation that affects your daily business, be able to implement new guidance and industry best practice, and be clear about your duties and responsibilities related to health, safety, welfare and the environment.

Course certification is valid for five years. You will need to take a refresher course before the certificate date expires, or you will need to retake the full course.

Why not take both?

Of course, you’re not limited to just taking the NEBOSH course and you can really demonstrate how committed you are to pursuing a dedicated career in health and safety if you hold both the NEBOSH Construction Certificate and the SMSTS, the perfect combination of strategic health and safety expertise and practical site management knowledge.

By taking courses such as these, you’ll open up a wide range of different opportunities for further specialisation and professional development in the field of health and safety.

If you’d like to build your health and safety knowledge further, our NEBOSH General Certificate course is a great place to start. It’s designed for anyone looking to develop practical skills and gain a respected qualification in workplace safety, get in touch with the ACT team today.