CITB Directors Role in Health & Safety

Course duration

One day

Course details

The CITB Directors’ Role in Health & Safety (DRHS) course equips company directors, board members, and strategic decision-makers with the tools to embed a proactive health and safety culture across their organisation. Recognised by BuildUK and delivered as part of CITB's Site Safety Plus suite, this one-day, interactive programme explores the legal, moral, and operational responsibilities of directors under health & safety legislation.

Who Should Attend The Course

Ideal for senior leaders in the built environment, including:

Company & Operations Directors
Senior / Principal Engineers, Project Managers
Principal Designers, Contracts Managers
Non-Executive and Company Secretaries
This course is for those who influence organisational strategy, policy, and culture through executive decision-making.

What You Will Learn

Participants will gain insights into:

Clarifying legal duties and implications under H&S law
Strategically managing risk at board level
Fostering cooperation, coordination & communication towards positive H&S culture
Identifying and empowering competent duty-holders
Applying the PDCA (Plan‑Do‑Check‑Act) model to embed continuous improvement

Includes interactive group discussions and scenario-based workshop exercises.

This course provides you with an understanding of how to implement the right health and safety culture in your organisation.

Each delegate will receive the CITB Mandatory Publications (eBooks for virtual courses and hardcopy for face-to-face courses):

Publication Book A – Legal and management: Construction site safety (GE700A)

Other supporting materials will be provided such as:

HSE HSG65 – Managing for health and safety.
HSE INDG275 – Plan, Do, Check, Act – An introduction to managing for health and safety.
HSE INDG417 – Leading health and safety at work

Course Format & Assessment

Duration: One-day (7.5 hours), with optional pre-course eLearning (~1.5 hrs)
Format: Trainer-led sessions supported by eLearning, discussions, exercises
Assessment: Personal review, group work participation, and an 80%+ pass mark in a 30-question exam (multiple choice and short‑answer format).

Certification & Validity

On completing the course, delegates receive a CITB Site Safety Plus Directors certificate, valid for five years. Regular renewal ensures ongoing compliance and leadership in H&S governance.

Entry requirements

Demonstrable strategic responsibility or director-level position
Awareness of key H&S legislation (e.g., HSWA 1974, CDM Regs 2015, MHSWR 1999)
Access to pre-course eLearning module is recommended
Competent level of English for executive discussions and workshops

You will also be required to provide photographic ID and your national insurance number at the beginning of the course.

Why Choose This Course?

Boardroom relevance: Tailored specifically for senior decision-makers
BuildUK endorsed: Recognised benchmark in the construction sector
Strategic focus: Emphasis on leadership, accountability & cultural impact
Interactive and pragmatic: Real-world scenarios and collaboration

Useful documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to complete the eLearning before the course?
A: Yes — most providers require completion of the pre-course DRHS eLearning before attending the full day.

Q: Who needs this course?
A: Directors, board members, principal project managers, and senior engineers with strategic responsibility in construction and civil engineering.

Q: What is the exam format?
A: A 30-question assessment (multiple choice and short answer), requiring an 80% pass. Those unsuccessful may retake once on the same or a future course.