The construction industry accounts for around a quarter of all UK workplace fatalities despite employing only 5% of the workforce. Effective health and safety training is not only a legal requirement under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — it is the foundation of a safe, compliant and productive site. This training hub covers the full range of construction health and safety courses: CITB Site Safety Plus qualifications (SMSTS, SSSTS), NEBOSH Construction Certificate, CDM, asbestos, working at height, confined spaces, scaffolding, IPAF, PASMA, CPCS plant operations, NRSWA street works and Construction NVQs. Classroom, online instructor-led and e-learning options are available for operatives, supervisors and managers at every level.
Training areas
Construction Industry Training Board / Site Safety Plus
CITB Site Safety Plus qualifications are the industry standard for construction health and safety. SMSTS and SSSTS certificates are recognised by principal contractors across the UK and are required for site access on most major projects. Courses range from the one-day Health and Safety Awareness course for operatives through to the five-day SMSTS for site managers.
NEBOSH Construction Certificate
NEBOSH / Work at Height Regs 2005 / CDM 2015
The NEBOSH Construction Certificate is the most widely recognised construction health and safety qualification in the UK. It is designed for site managers, supervisors, safety officers and anyone with responsibility for managing health and safety on construction sites. It covers construction hazards and risks, working at height, excavations, CDM duties and health risk management.
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
CDM 2015 places legal duties on all duty holders in a construction project — clients, principal designers, designers, principal contractors and contractors. Every construction project, regardless of size or duration, must comply. Failure to meet CDM duties can result in HSE prosecution, project delays and unlimited fines. Training covers duty holder responsibilities, pre-construction planning, construction phase plans and health and safety files.
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
Asbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, killing around 5,000 people per year. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 require anyone who may disturb asbestos-containing materials during their work to have received adequate information, instruction and training. For construction workers this is not optional — asbestos is present in a significant proportion of buildings built before 2000.
Work at Height Regulations 2005
Falls from height are the leading cause of fatal injuries in the construction industry. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require all work at height to be properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people. Training covers risk assessment, equipment selection, use of MEWPs, scaffolding, ladders, harnesses and emergency procedures.
Confined Spaces Regulations 1997
Construction work frequently involves confined spaces — manholes, excavations, tunnels, tanks, ducts and service voids. The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 require a safe system of work for any entry, carried out by trained and competent personnel. The fatality rate from confined space incidents is exceptionally high, with many deaths occurring during amateur rescue attempts.
Construction Plant Competence Scheme / PUWER 1998
The Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) is the recognised standard for plant operators across the UK construction industry. CPCS cards are required by most principal contractors before operatives are permitted to operate plant on site. Categories cover appointed persons, slinger signallers, telescopic handlers, dumpers and rollers.
New Roads and Street Works Act 1991
Anyone working on or near the public highway must hold a current NRSWA (New Roads and Street Works Act) qualification. The Act requires operatives and supervisors to be trained and registered with the Street Works Qualifications Register (SWQR). Training covers excavation, reinstatement, signing, lighting and guarding, and traffic management.
Engineering Construction Industry / CCNSG
The CCNSG Safety Passport is mandatory for anyone working on engineering construction sites including oil, gas, petrochemical, power generation and process plant projects. It provides a baseline health and safety competency for site access and must be renewed every three years. The Leading a Team Safely course is available for supervisors requiring additional competency evidence.
Ofqual regulated qualifications
Construction NVQs are competence-based qualifications assessed in the workplace. They are required to obtain a CSCS card at supervisory, management and senior management levels and demonstrate practical competence rather than just knowledge. Qualifications range from Level 2 trade occupations through to Level 7 Construction Senior Management.
BS 5975:2019 / Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015
Temporary works — including excavation support, falsework, propping and cofferdams — represent a significant risk on construction sites. BS 5975 requires all temporary works to be overseen by a suitably qualified Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC). Training covers design principles, risk management, documentation and the roles of coordinator and supervisor.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 / HSG47
Striking buried services — gas, electric, water and telecoms — is one of the most common causes of serious injury and fatality in groundworks and construction. HSG47 recommends that all operatives carrying out excavation work are trained in the safe use of Cable Avoidance Tools (CAT) and signal generators (Genny) to locate buried services before breaking ground.
Who should attend
Why construction health and safety training matters
Legal duty
CDM 2015, the Work at Height Regulations, Control of Asbestos Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act all place explicit training obligations on construction employers and duty holders. Non-compliance carries unlimited fines, prohibition notices and prosecution.
Save lives
The construction industry has the highest number of workplace fatalities of any sector in the UK. Falls from height, being struck by moving objects, and contact with buried services are the most common causes. Training directly prevents these incidents.
Win more contracts
SMSTS, SSSTS, CCNSG and CPCS qualifications are required for site access and tender pre-qualification across most major construction programmes. Training ensures your workforce can meet contractor and client requirements.
Demonstrate due diligence
Following a site incident, documented training records are a key element of any legal defence. Courts and HSE inspectors expect to see evidence that risks were assessed and that workers received appropriate training.
Reduce delays & costs
HSE prohibition notices and site shutdowns following incidents cost far more than training. A well-trained workforce also works more efficiently, with fewer accidents, less downtime and lower insurance premiums.