CSCS HS&E Test Study Guide - Construction Skills Certification

The CSCS HS&E test is a screening test, not a knowledge ranking. The pass mark is intentionally high - 90% on the Operative test (45 of 50). The questions are sourced from CITB's official revision materials, which are based on UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulations and HSG-series guidance.[1][2]

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) - the foundational law. Imposes duties on employers AND employees. Section 7 places a duty on every worker to take reasonable care for their own safety and others'.
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) - defines roles: Client, Principal Designer, Designer, Principal Contractor, Contractor, Workers. The Principal Contractor manages day-to-day H&S on a notifiable project.
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) - major injuries, deaths, dangerous occurrences must be reported to HSE; over-7-day injuries must be reported within 15 days.
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 - risk assessment + TILE (Task, Individual, Load, Environment) for any manual handling task that could cause injury.
• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (amended 2022) - PPE is the LAST resort, not the first.
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) - risk assess, control, monitor exposure, provide information and training.

1. Working at height - falls remain the single biggest cause of fatal injury in UK construction. Use the WAH hierarchy: avoid, prevent, mitigate.
2. Moving vehicles and lifting operations - segregate pedestrians from plant; never walk under a suspended load; banksmen direct drivers' blind sides.
3. Excavations and confined spaces - hidden services (cables, gas, water); risk of collapse; permit-to-work systems for confined spaces.
4. Hazardous substances and dust - silica dust from cutting, asbestos in old buildings, solvents in paints. Wear respiratory PPE rated for the substance.
5. Electricity - overhead lines, underground cables, site supplies. Use 110V CTE site supplies wherever possible (lower fatal risk than 230V mains).
6. Manual handling - UK construction has the highest rate of musculoskeletal disorders. Plan, lift correctly, use mechanical aids.

• Hard hat (BS EN 397) - required on virtually every UK site. Replace if dropped or struck.
• Safety boots (BS EN ISO 20345) - steel toecap + midsole protection.
• High-visibility clothing (BS EN ISO 20471) - Class 2 minimum on most sites; Class 3 for high-speed traffic environments.
• Eye protection - safety glasses for low-impact, goggles for chemicals/dust, face shields for grinding.
• Hearing protection - required when noise exceeds Lower Exposure Action Value (80 dB(A)). Mandatory above 85 dB(A).
• Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) - must be face-fit tested for tight-fitting masks. FFP3 filters silica dust; supplied air for asbestos and isocyanates.
• Gloves - task-appropriate (cut, chemical, vibration). Vibration gloves do NOT eliminate hand-arm vibration risk.

Before lifting any load, assess using TILE:

• Task - distance, frequency, posture required.
• Individual - physical capability, training, pregnancy or health conditions.
• Load - weight (HSE guideline 25 kg for men close to body, 16 kg for women, much less at arm's length), shape, sharp edges, contents shifting.
• Environment - floor surface, lighting, temperature, obstructions in the path.

• Work at Height Regulations 2005 - applies to any work where a person could fall a distance liable to cause injury (no minimum 2-metre rule). Hierarchy: avoid → prevent fall → mitigate consequences.
• Ladders and stepladders - for low-risk, short-duration tasks (typically <30 min). Always have 3 points of contact; check ladder before use; secure top and bottom.
• Scaffolds - must be erected by a competent person, inspected weekly and after weather, scaffold tag indicates last inspection date.
• Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs / cherry pickers) - require IPAF or equivalent training; harness with short fall-arrest lanyard inside the basket.
• Roof work - collective protection (edge protection, scaffolds, MEWPs) preferred over personal protection (harness).
• Fragile surfaces - never assume a roof is safe to walk on. Asbestos cement, fibre cement, glass, and old metal sheets are common fragile surfaces in UK construction.

• Always know the site emergency assembly point and fire alarm signal before starting work.
• Fire - RACE (Raise alarm, Call 999, Evacuate, Confine fire if safe). Do not use lifts; do not return for personal items.
• Fire extinguisher colours: red (water - Class A), cream (foam - Class A/B), blue (powder - A/B/C), black (CO2 - B and electrical), yellow (wet chemical - F).
• Injuries - stay with the casualty, send a runner for the first-aider, do not move the casualty unless they are in immediate danger.
• Spills - bund the spill if possible to prevent ground/water pollution; alert the site manager and follow the COSHH spill procedure.

1. Day 1: Read CITB's Operative & Specialist test revision booklet sections on Law and Health Hazards.
2. Day 2: Drill PPE, manual handling, and noise/vibration questions in tutorial mode.
3. Day 3: Working at height + access equipment + roof work.
4. Day 4: Hazardous substances, fire safety, and emergency procedures.
5. Day 5: Plant, vehicles, lifting operations, and excavations.
6. Day 6: Full-length 50-question mock test in exam timing. Aim for 95%+.
7. Day 7: Review every wrong answer; re-read the corresponding HSE guidance section. Confirm Pearson VUE booking and ID for test day.