CITB Tunnelling Safety Training Scheme ​(TSTS)

The CITB Tunnelling Safety Training Scheme (TSTS) is a one-day training course designed specifically for individuals working in the tunnel construction environment including shafts, portals, underground operations and surface works. This TSTS course equips delegates with the foundational health, safety and environmental awareness needed when operating in a tunnelling or underground construction setting.

Why choose TE Training Academy
At TE Training Academy, our CITB TSTS course is delivered by trainers with extensive tunnelling and underground construction backgrounds, especially aligned with your interests in tunnelling innovation, technology and major projects.
We emphasise practical relevance, linking regulatory and theoretical content to real tunnelling contexts for example shafts, TBM operations, support zones and underground plant management so delegates gain not only the certificate but the confidence to apply safe practices in actual site operations.
Our delivery is tailored for busy construction professionals: choose from classroom or virtual formats, flexible scheduling and cohort training aligned with project demands. By completing your Tunnelling Safety Training Scheme (TSTS) with us, you demonstrate to clients and supply-chains your commitment to safe tunnelling operations and industry best practice.

Who should attend
The Tunnelling Safety Training Scheme is ideal for:

• Operatives, technicians, plant operators and supervisors who work in tunnel construction, shaft work, underground services, or supporting surface operations.
• New entrants to tunnelling or experienced workers who have not yet completed a tunnelling-specific safety qualification.
• Personnel seeking to demonstrate awareness of the unique hazards present in a tunnelling environment and meet contractor, client or project site requirements.

Course duration and assessment
The Tunnelling Safety Training Scheme (TSTS) runs over one day including classroom/virtual tutor-led sessions, case studies and a multiple-choice assessment at the end.
On successful completion, delegates receive an official CITB TSTS certificate, typically valid for three years.

Eligibility & prerequisites
There are no formal entry requirements for the TSTS, although a good understanding of spoken and written English is required so delegates can engage fully with the training and assessment.
For delegates with less tunnelling experience, it is recommended that some site experience in a high risk construction environment is beneficial though not mandatory.

What You’ll Learn

By completing the CITB TSTS course, delegates will be able to:

• Understand how tunnels are constructed and the operations that take place during the construction phase across portals, shafts, shafts-to-tunnel transitions and underground drives.
• Recognise key health, safety and occupational health hazards in the tunnelling environment including confined spaces, ground instability, ventilation, underground plant, shaft operations, exclusion zones and emergency procedures.
• Apply principles of risk assessment and risk management tailored to tunnelling operations, including safe entry/egress, controlling underground plant, underground services and surface interface.
• Understand the role of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe working practice in tunnels, the impact of the environment (e.g., groundwater, geology, ventilation) and the broader context of tunnelling operation hazards.