An SST card is a Site Safety Training card issued by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB). It proves that a construction worker or supervisor has completed mandatory safety training before working on certain NYC construction sites. The requirement comes from Local Law 196 of 2017, which was designed to reduce injuries and fatalities on large construction projects across the city.
Who Needs an SST Card
Not every construction worker in New York City needs one. The requirement applies specifically to workers on job sites that are large or complex enough to require a designated Construction Superintendent, Site Safety Coordinator, or Site Safety Manager. These tend to be major building projects rather than small renovations or minor alteration jobs.
If you work on one of these sites in any capacity, you need at minimum a Worker SST card. If you serve in a supervisory safety role, such as Site Safety Manager, Site Safety Coordinator, Construction Superintendent, Concrete Safety Manager, or designated competent person, you need a Supervisor SST card instead. The “competent person” role refers to someone the Construction Superintendent designates to be present at a job site whenever active work is happening.
Worker SST Card: 40 Hours of Training
A Worker SST card requires 40 hours of DOB-defined safety training. How you reach those 40 hours depends on which OSHA course you’ve completed within the past five years.
If you’ve taken the 30-Hour OSHA course, the path is straightforward:
- 30-Hour OSHA: 30 hours
- 8-Hour Fall Prevention: 8 hours
- 2-Hour Drug and Alcohol Awareness: 2 hours
If you’ve taken only the 10-Hour OSHA course, you’ll need additional classes to make up the difference:
- 10-Hour OSHA: 10 hours
- 8-Hour Fall Prevention: 8 hours
- 8-Hour Site Safety: 8 hours
- 4-Hour Supported Scaffold User and Refresher: 4 hours
- 2-Hour Drug and Alcohol Awareness: 2 hours
- General Electives: 4 hours
- Special Electives: 4 hours
The 10-Hour OSHA path involves more individual courses and takes longer to complete, so many workers find it worthwhile to take the 30-Hour OSHA up front if they haven’t already.
Supervisor SST Card: 62 Hours of Training
Supervisors need 62 hours of training, covering everything a worker learns plus additional coursework focused on managing safety at a site level. To qualify, you must have either completed the 30-Hour OSHA course within the past five years or already hold a valid Worker SST card. The required courses include:
- 30-Hour OSHA: 30 hours
- 8-Hour Fall Prevention: 8 hours
- 8-Hour Site Safety: 8 hours
- 4-Hour Supported Scaffold User and Refresher: 4 hours
- 2-Hour Drug and Alcohol Awareness: 2 hours
- 2-Hour Site Safety Plan: 2 hours
- 2-Hour Toolbox Talks: 2 hours
- 2-Hour Pre-Task Safety Meetings: 2 hours
- General Electives: 2 hours
- Special Electives: 2 hours
The supervisor-specific courses (Site Safety Plan, Toolbox Talks, Pre-Task Safety Meetings) focus on planning and communication skills that go beyond personal safety awareness. These reflect the supervisor’s responsibility for keeping an entire crew safe, not just themselves.
How SST Cards Are Issued and Verified
SST cards are issued through a DOB system called Training Connect, a web-based platform that centralizes all site safety training records. You don’t apply for the card yourself in most cases. Instead, DOB-approved course providers are required to use Training Connect to manage student records and issue official SST identification cards once you’ve completed your training.
Your card can be verified on the spot by anyone using the Training Connect phone app (previously called the SST Validator app). Site Safety Professionals are encouraged to use the app to confirm that every worker on their site who needs an SST card actually has a valid one. The app is also available to the general public, so general contractors and project managers can check cards before allowing someone on site. If your card shows as invalid or expired in the system, you can be turned away from work.
The OSHA 30 Requirement and 2026 Change
The 30-Hour OSHA course is the backbone of both the Worker and Supervisor SST pathways. It must have been completed within the past five years to count toward your card. One notable change is coming: beginning May 3, 2026, a 40-Hour Site Safety course will serve as an equivalent to the 30-Hour OSHA training. This gives workers and training providers an alternative pathway, though the practical impact for most people is simply one more option for satisfying the core requirement.
What Happens Without One
Working on a covered job site without a valid SST card puts both you and the site’s permit holder at risk of DOB enforcement actions. Site safety professionals who allow untrained workers on site can face violations, and the project itself can be shut down during inspections. For individual workers, not having the card effectively locks you out of many of the largest and highest-paying construction jobs in the city. If you’re planning to work on major NYC construction projects, completing your training and keeping your card current through Training Connect is a basic cost of doing business.