FREE PRACTICE TEST 49

CSCS Mock Test 49: 50 Questions

Practice the format people commonly call the “CSCS test”. The official assessment is the CITB Health, Safety & Environment Operatives test: 50 questions in 45 minutes with a 45/50 pass mark.

50 questions45 minutes45/50 targetInstant explanationsEnvironmental Controls And Spill Response

Important: This is an independent FastQual practice test, not an official CITB test or official CITB question bank. Use it alongside current official revision materials.

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Answered 0/50

Question 1 of 50Environmental & specialist awareness

What is the purpose of bunding around some fuel or chemical storage?

A. To keep containers warmerB. To contain leaks or spillsC. To provide seatingD. To improve ventilation

Correct answer: B. Secondary containment helps stop liquids spreading into soil or drainage systems.

Question 2 of 50Safety

What should you do if you find a fire door wedged open when it should be closed?

A. Paint a warning sign on itB. Leave it because it improves ventilationC. Lock the doorD. Remove the obstruction if safe and report the issue

Correct answer: D. Fire doors are part of compartmentation and should not be defeated unless designed to be held open safely.

Question 3 of 50Occupational health

What can prolonged exposure to high noise levels cause?

A. Stronger eyesightB. Improved balanceC. Better concentrationD. Permanent hearing damage

Correct answer: D. Noise-induced hearing loss can be permanent, so exposure should be controlled and hearing protection used where required.

Question 4 of 50Occupational health

What is a sensible action if you feel unwell from heat while working?

A. Wear extra layersB. Stop, move to a cooler area, hydrate and report symptomsC. Drink only energy drinksD. Keep working until the task is complete

Correct answer: B. Heat illness can worsen quickly; early cooling, hydration and reporting are important.

Question 5 of 50Environmental & specialist awareness

What should happen if you discover contaminated soil during excavation?

A. Wash it into a drainB. Spread it across the siteC. Stop or isolate as required and report it so the material can be assessed and managedD. Mix it with clean soil

Correct answer: C. Unexpected contamination should be assessed before further disturbance or disposal.

Question 6 of 50Working environment

If you see someone enter a clearly marked exclusion zone without authorisation, what is the safest response?

A. Remove the signsB. Warn them if safe to do so and inform the responsible supervisorC. Ignore them because they accepted the riskD. Follow them into the zone

Correct answer: B. Unauthorised entry should be challenged safely and reported so the hazard remains controlled.

Question 7 of 50Occupational health

What is the safest approach to reducing exposure to hazardous fumes?

A. Work fasterB. Use effective ventilation or extraction and follow the task controlsC. Rely on smell to decide if it is safeD. Hold your breath

Correct answer: B. Engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation can remove fumes at source.

Question 8 of 50Occupational health

Why is fatigue a safety and health concern?

A. It can reduce concentration, judgement and reaction timeB. It makes hearing protection unnecessaryC. It improves risk awarenessD. It only affects office workers

Correct answer: A. Fatigue can impair performance and increase the likelihood of mistakes and incidents.

Question 9 of 50Environmental & specialist awareness

Why is environmental incident reporting important?

A. It replaces spill responseB. It allows prompt control, clean-up and prevention of recurrenceC. Only to calculate wagesD. It is unnecessary for small sites

Correct answer: B. Reporting helps limit impacts and supports corrective action.

Question 10 of 50Occupational health

What is the purpose of face-fit testing for tight-fitting RPE?

A. To check that the specific mask can seal adequately to the wearerB. To measure hearing protectionC. To test the colour of the filterD. To replace training

Correct answer: A. Face-fit testing helps confirm that a tight-fitting mask is suitable for the individual wearer.

Question 11 of 50Environmental & specialist awareness

Why should site lighting be directed carefully at night?

A. To increase fuel useB. To provide safe illumination while reducing glare and nuisance to neighbours and road usersC. To replace barriersD. To make wildlife easier to attract

Correct answer: B. Lighting should support safe work without creating glare, distraction or unnecessary environmental impact.

Question 12 of 50Safety

If someone has a serious injury, what should you do?

A. Give them foodB. Raise the alarm/get first aid and emergency help in line with site proceduresC. Move them immediately regardless of dangerD. Leave them alone to recover

Correct answer: B. Serious injuries require prompt first-aid and emergency response; unnecessary movement can worsen some injuries.

Question 13 of 50Safety

If you spill a flammable liquid, what is the safest response?

A. Control ignition sources, follow the spill procedure and report itB. Cover it with paperC. Ignore it if it evaporates quicklyD. Wash it into a drain

Correct answer: A. Flammable spills can ignite and spread; site spill and fire controls should be followed.

Question 14 of 50High risk activities

What should be considered before carrying out hot work such as welding or cutting?

A. Only the colour of the welding screenB. Whether the task is indoorsC. How quickly the job can be finishedD. Fire risk, combustible materials, permits and fire-watch arrangements where required

Correct answer: D. Hot work can ignite nearby materials and often requires formal controls and fire precautions.

Question 15 of 50Working environment

Why are site inspections carried out?

A. Only to prepare for client visitsB. To replace worker trainingC. To identify unsafe conditions and check controls are workingD. To decide who gets overtime

Correct answer: C. Inspections help identify defects, changing conditions and failures in existing controls.

Question 16 of 50Working environment

What should you do when you arrive at a construction site for the first time?

A. Attend the site induction and follow the site rulesB. Start work immediately if you know the tradeC. Only read the emergency noticeboardD. Wait in the welfare area until someone finds you

Correct answer: A. A site induction explains local hazards, emergency arrangements, welfare facilities and site-specific rules before work begins.

Question 17 of 50Safety

When is it appropriate to try to use a fire extinguisher?

A. If you can stand between the fire and the exitB. Only if you are trained, it is safe and you have a clear escape routeC. Whenever any fire is visibleD. Only after the fire alarm stops

Correct answer: B. Life safety comes first; extinguishers should only be used when trained and conditions are safe.

Question 18 of 50Occupational health

What should you do if you develop persistent numbness in your fingers after using vibrating tools?

A. Report the symptoms and seek occupational health or medical adviceB. Use the tool with one handC. Increase your daily exposure slowlyD. Ignore it until the next annual check

Correct answer: A. Early reporting of symptoms can prevent further exposure and allow assessment.

Question 19 of 50High risk activities

If work at height cannot be avoided, what should be prioritised?

A. Removing edge protection for accessB. Relying only on a worker's balanceC. Working fasterD. Collective protection such as suitable platforms and guardrails

Correct answer: D. Collective fall prevention protects everyone and is generally preferred before personal fall protection.

Question 20 of 50Occupational health

If a hearing-protection zone is marked, what should you do?

A. Ignore the sign if you are there brieflyB. Use headphones insteadC. Wear the specified hearing protectionD. Only wear protection when machinery stops

Correct answer: C. Mandatory hearing protection zones indicate that suitable hearing protection must be worn.

Question 21 of 50Occupational health

What can repeated skin contact with wet cement cause?

A. Hearing lossB. Vibration white fingerC. Dermatitis and chemical burnsD. Heat exhaustion only

Correct answer: C. Wet cement is highly alkaline and can cause irritant dermatitis and serious burns.

Question 22 of 50Working environment

Why should designated pedestrian routes be used around moving plant?

A. They are only for visitorsB. They are usually the shortest routeC. They help separate people from vehicle movementsD. They remove the need for high-visibility clothing

Correct answer: C. Segregating pedestrians from moving vehicles is a key control for workplace transport risks.

Question 23 of 50Safety

What should you do if you smell gas or suspect a gas leak?

A. Ignore it outdoorsB. Switch electrical equipment on to find the sourceC. Stop work, avoid ignition sources, move to safety and follow the emergency procedureD. Use a flame to test for gas

Correct answer: C. Suspected gas leaks require prompt isolation from ignition and emergency reporting.

Question 24 of 50Environmental & specialist awareness

Why should drains sometimes be covered or protected during spill-risk activities?

A. To stop rain completelyB. To prevent contaminants entering the drainage systemC. To increase drainage speedD. To store tools on top

Correct answer: B. Drain protection is an important part of pollution prevention.

Question 25 of 50High risk activities

Why are banksmen used for some vehicle movements?

A. To help control movements where the driver has restricted visibilityB. To inspect wagesC. To speed up reversingD. To replace vehicle brakes

Correct answer: A. A trained banksman can guide movements and help keep people out of danger zones.

Question 26 of 50Working environment

What should you do if you are asked to carry out a task you have not been trained or authorised to do?

A. Do it only if no supervisor is watchingB. Try it once to gain experienceC. Explain that you are not competent or authorised and seek instructionD. Ask another untrained worker to help

Correct answer: C. Workers should only undertake tasks for which they are competent, trained and authorised where required.

Question 27 of 50Environmental & specialist awareness

Why should fuel containers be stored in a suitable designated area?

A. To warm the fuelB. To keep them near drainsC. To make them easier to hideD. To reduce fire and pollution risk and allow spill containment

Correct answer: D. Suitable fuel storage helps prevent leaks, ignition and environmental contamination.

Question 28 of 50Safety

What is a permit-to-work system used for?

A. To issue wagesB. To control certain high-risk activities through formal authorisation and precautionsC. To replace competence requirementsD. To record lunch breaks

Correct answer: B. Permits help ensure specified precautions are in place before and during high-risk work.

Question 29 of 50Safety

Why should you never remove an electrical plug earth pin or defeat an RCD?

A. It can remove important protection against electric shockB. It makes tools too quietC. It changes the voltage colourD. It only affects battery life

Correct answer: A. Protective electrical features are safety controls and must not be bypassed.

Question 30 of 50Environmental & specialist awareness

What should happen to concrete washout water?

A. It should be spread across soilB. It is harmless once dilutedC. It should be poured into the nearest drainD. It should be managed in a designated system and kept out of drains and watercourses

Correct answer: D. Concrete wash water is highly alkaline and can pollute water and soil.

Question 31 of 50High risk activities

What is the safest position when a machine is slewing or turning?

A. Outside the machine's operating and crush zonesB. Directly behind the counterweightC. Between the machine and a fixed wallD. On the machine steps

Correct answer: A. People can be crushed between moving plant and fixed objects; exclusion zones are critical.

Question 32 of 50High risk activities

Who should operate an excavator, telehandler or similar plant?

A. Any worker over 18B. A labourer if supervised from a distanceC. A trained, competent and authorised operatorD. Anyone with a car licence

Correct answer: C. Plant operation requires competence and site authorisation appropriate to the equipment and task.

Question 33 of 50Occupational health

Why should you wash your hands before eating or smoking after handling hazardous materials?

A. To reduce accidental ingestion or transfer of contaminantsB. To improve grip strengthC. To prevent hearing damageD. To reduce vibration

Correct answer: A. Handwashing prevents hazardous substances being transferred to food, cigarettes or the face.

Question 34 of 50Working environment

What is a method statement mainly used for?

A. Setting out a safe sequence and method for carrying out workB. Ordering materials from suppliersC. Recording holiday entitlementD. Listing employee salaries

Correct answer: A. A method statement describes how a task will be carried out safely, often alongside a risk assessment.

Question 35 of 50Environmental & specialist awareness

What should you do if a chemical container is leaking?

A. Hide it in general wasteB. Carry it through the site by handC. Pour the contents into a drainD. Keep people away, follow the spill procedure and report it

Correct answer: D. Leaks should be controlled using suitable spill and hazardous-substance procedures.

Question 36 of 50Environmental & specialist awareness

What should you do with batteries and other potentially hazardous small items?

A. Throw them into firesB. Place them in the designated waste/recycling streamC. Put them in general food wasteD. Leave them outdoors

Correct answer: B. Batteries can contain hazardous materials and should follow the site's designated disposal route.

Question 37 of 50Environmental & specialist awareness

Why should spills be kept out of surface-water drains?

A. They reduce concrete strengthB. They always block toiletsC. They only affect drinking water on siteD. They may flow directly to watercourses and cause pollution

Correct answer: D. Many surface-water systems discharge to the environment, so pollutants must not enter them.

Question 38 of 50Working environment

What should you do if a floor opening is uncovered?

A. Prevent access and report it so suitable protection can be restoredB. Mark it with paint onlyC. Step around it and say nothingD. Cover it with loose cardboard

Correct answer: A. Openings should be physically protected or access prevented because a fall can cause serious injury.

Question 39 of 50High risk activities

What should you do if a lifting sling has visible cuts, severe wear or damage?

A. Wrap it with tapeB. Tie a knot in itC. Remove it from use and report itD. Use it for a lighter load without telling anyone

Correct answer: C. Damaged lifting accessories must not be used unless formally assessed and made safe.

Question 40 of 50Working environment

What is the best response if a task creates a hazard for people working nearby?

A. Only warn your own teamB. Assume they will notice itC. Work fasterD. Coordinate the work and put controls or segregation in place

Correct answer: D. Activities should be coordinated so one team's work does not expose others to uncontrolled risk.

Question 41 of 50High risk activities

What should you maintain when climbing a ladder?

A. Three points of contact where practicableB. Your body leaning far to one sideC. One foot onlyD. Both hands full of tools

Correct answer: A. Maintaining secure contact improves stability and reduces the chance of a fall.

Question 42 of 50Safety

Why is horseplay unacceptable on site?

A. It is only prohibited for apprenticesB. It is allowed during breaksC. It introduces unnecessary risk around hazards, tools and moving equipmentD. It only causes delays

Correct answer: C. Construction sites contain serious hazards; distraction and horseplay can lead to injury.

Question 43 of 50High risk activities

Why must demolition work be carefully planned?

A. Planning is only required for tall buildingsB. Structures can become unstable and hazards such as services and hazardous materials must be controlledC. Demolition is safe once windows are removedD. Only noise needs controlling

Correct answer: B. Demolition can create collapse, falling material, service, dust and hazardous-material risks.

Question 44 of 50High risk activities

What is the approximate safe setup rule for a leaning ladder?

A. One unit out for every one unit upB. As vertical as possibleC. About one unit out for every four units upD. Four units out for every one unit up

Correct answer: C. The common 1-in-4 setup gives a leaning ladder an angle of about 75 degrees.

Question 45 of 50Safety

Why should gas cylinders be stored upright and secured where required?

A. To make labels easier to read onlyB. To keep them warmerC. To prevent them falling and damaging the valve or becoming a projectileD. To increase gas pressure

Correct answer: C. A damaged cylinder valve can release energy violently, so cylinders should be secured and correctly stored.

Question 46 of 50Safety

What is the purpose of lock-off or isolation procedures?

A. To record working hoursB. To reserve equipment for one tradeC. To make equipment run fasterD. To prevent equipment being energised unexpectedly during work

Correct answer: D. Secure isolation helps prevent dangerous unexpected energisation or movement.

Question 47 of 50Working environment

Who should report a hazard that could injure someone on site?

A. Only the person who created the hazardB. Only a visiting inspectorC. Only the health and safety managerD. Anyone who notices the hazard

Correct answer: D. Everyone on site has a role in reporting hazards so they can be controlled promptly.

Question 48 of 50Occupational health

What does COSHH relate to?

A. Setting wage ratesB. Managing scaffold inspectionsC. Controlling vehicle parkingD. Controlling exposure to substances hazardous to health

Correct answer: D. COSHH requires hazardous substances and exposure routes to be assessed and controlled.

Question 49 of 50High risk activities

What is a major hazard of fragile roofs?

A. They always contain asbestosB. They cannot get wetC. A person can fall through the roof surfaceD. They attract lightning

Correct answer: C. Fragile materials may not support a person's weight and require specific access and fall controls.

Question 50 of 50Working environment

What should you do if a safety barrier has been moved and no longer protects an opening?

A. Put a warning note nearby and carry onB. Assume someone else will fix itC. Report it and make sure the area is secured before exposure continuesD. Wait until the end of the shift

Correct answer: C. Missing barriers can expose people to serious falls; the area should be secured and the defect reported promptly.

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Official format reference: CITB states that the Operatives HS&E test contains 50 questions, lasts 45 minutes and requires at least 45 correct answers. Check current CITB guidance.

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Updated 2026-08-19. Questions are original revision content designed around common construction health, safety and environmental principles.