all the questions and answers

the new knowledge questions on respiratory risks and the environment

the transcript from the Setting out film that supports the new behavioural
case studies.
There are now specialist tests in the following areas:
supervisory
demolition
plumbing or gas
highway works
specialist work at height
lifts and escalators

Health, safety and environment test

This revision book contains everything you need to know to book, prepare
for and sit the Health, safety and environment test for operatives and specialists
including:

For operatives and specialists

The CITB-ConstructionSkills Health, safety and environment test forms a key part
of the requirement to obtain a construction industry competency card.
The test continues to be a vital tool in helping the industry to improve its
health, safety and environmental standards.

No
C

No

No
JOB

PRI

tunnelling
heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR).

CITB-ConstructionSkills

There is also a revision DVD available, which offers the chance to work through the
whole question bank, watch the film and complete simulated tests.

Health, safety and

environment test

There are separate publications that support the Health, safety and environment
test for managers and professionals so please ensure that you are revising for the
right test.
For more information on the test, to book a test or to buy publications contact:

www.cskills.org/hsandetest

For operatives and specialists

0344 994 4488.

CITB-ConstructionSkills, CIC and CITB Northern Ireland are working as

ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for Construction.
(CITB-ConstructionSkills Registered Charity Number 264289)

GT 100/12

www.cskills.org

All the questions and answers for

tests taken from April 2012

ISBN 978-1-85751-343-1

Official
Publication

GE707

9 781857 513431

GT 100/12

Official
Publication

RRP 10.95

CSK-GT100-Op-COV.indd 1

05/12/2011 10:32

Introduction

Foreword 1
About the test 2
Preparing for a test 4
Booking a test 6
Taking a test 8

Contents

Introduction

A Legal and management

01 General responsibilities 12
02 Accident reporting and recording 17
03 Emergency procedures and first aid 22

B Health and welfare

04
05
06
07

Health and welfare 28

Respiratory risks 32
Noise and vibration 36
Hazardous substances 40

C General safety
08
09
10
11
12

Personal protective equipment 46

Electrical safety and hand-held tools and equipment 50
Safety signs and signals 56
Site transport safety 60
Fire prevention and control 64

D High risk activities

13 Manual handling 70
14 Working at height 74
15 Excavations and confined spaces 79

E Environment
16 Environmental awareness and waste control 86

CSK-GT100-Op-Intro.indd 1

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Contents

Introduction

Specialist activities

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

Supervisory
Demolition
Plumbing or gas
Highway works
Specialist work at height
Lifts and escalators
Tunnelling
HVACR Heating and plumbing services (HAPS)
HVACR Pipefitting/welding (PFW)
HVACR Ductwork (DUCT)
HVACR Refrigeration and air conditioning (RAAC)
HVACR Services and facilities maintenance (SAF)

92
107
115
126
135
144
153
169
178
187
196
205

Further information
Preparing for the case studies Setting out
Acknowledgements

217
223

ii

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High risk activities

CSK-GT100D-Op.indd 69

13

Manual handling

70

14

Working at height

74

15

Excavations and confined spaces

79

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Working at height

14

High risk activities

14.1

14.4

Which type of accident kills most

construction workers?

Which of the following is NOT true

when using podium steps?

A Falling from height

B Contact with electricity
C Being run over by site transport
D Being hit by a falling object
14.2
If you store materials on a working
platform, which statement is
correct?
A Materials can be stored unsecured
above the guard-rail height
B Materials must be stored so they
cant fall and the platform must be
able to take their weight
C Materials can be stored anywhere,
even if they pose a trip hazard or
block the walkway
D Materials do not need to be
secured if they are going to be
there for less than an hour

B Podiums can easily topple if you

over reach sideways
C Podiums are safe and cant topple
over
D Podiums are work equipment and
must be inspected every seven
days
14.5
A ladder should not be painted
because:
A the paint will make it slippery to
use
B the paint may hide any damaged
parts
C the paint could damage the metal
parts of the ladder
D it will need regular re-painting

14.3

14.6

Working at height is:

How many people should be on a

ladder at the same time?

A 1.2 m above the ground or higher

B 2 m above the ground or higher
C any height that would cause an
injury if you fell
D 3 m above the ground or higher

74

A The wheels must be locked

before you get on to them

A One
B Two
C One on each section of an
extension ladder
D Three, if it is long enough

Answers: 14.1 = A 14.2 = B 14.3 = C 14.4 = C 14.5 = B 14.6 = A

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14.10

You find a ladder that is damaged.

What should you do?

What is the best way to make sure

that a ladder is secure and wont
slip?

A Dont use it and make sure that

others know about the damage

A Tie it at the top

B Dont use it and report the damage

at the end of your shift

B Ask someone to stand with their

foot on the bottom rung

C Try and mend the damage

C Tie it at the bottom

D Use the ladder if you can avoid the

damaged part

D Wedge the bottom of the ladder

with blocks of wood

14.8

14.11

When using a ladder what should

the slope or angle of the ladder be?

When could you use a ladder as a

place of work?

14

14.7

Working at height

High risk activities

A If it is long enough

A 

45

B 

60

C If other people do not need to use

it for access

C 

75

D If you are doing light work for a

short time

D 

85

B If you can find a ladder to use

14.12
When you climb a ladder you must:

14.9

A have three points of contact with

the ladder at all times

Who should check a ladder before it

is used?

B have two points of contact with the

ladder at all times

A The person who is going to use it

C use a safety harness

B A supervisor

D have two people on the ladder at

all times

C The site safety officer

D The manufacturer

Answers: 14.7 = A 14.8 = C 14.9 = A 14.10 = A 14.11 = D 14.12 = A

CSK-GT100D-Op.indd 75

75

17/02/2012 17:55

Working at height

14

High risk activities

14.13

14.15

 ou need to use a ladder to get to

Y
a scaffold platform. Which of these
statements is true?

 ou need to reach the working

Y
platform of a mobile tower scaffold.
What is the right way to do this?

A It must be tied and extend five

rungs above the platform

A Climb up the tower frame on the

outside of the tower

B All broken rungs must be clearly

marked

B Lean a ladder against the tower

and climb up that

C It must be wedged at the bottom

to stop it slipping

C Climb up the ladder built into the

tower

D Two people must be on the ladder

at all times

D Climb up the outside of the

diagonal bracing

14.14

14.16

 ou need to use a mobile tower

Y
scaffold. The wheel brakes do not
work. What should you do?

A mobile tower scaffold must NOT

be used on:

A Use some wood to wedge the

wheels and stop them moving
B Do not use the tower
C Only use the tower if the floor is
level
D Get someone to hold the tower
while you use it

A soft or uneven ground

B a paved patio
C an asphalt road
D a smooth concrete path
14.17
 hen working in a mobile elevating
W
work platform (MEWP) where should
you attach your harnesses lanyard?
A To the control box
B To a point on the structure or
building you are working on
C To the MEWP handrail
D To the designated anchor point
within the platform or basket

76

Answers: 14.13 = A 14.14 = B 14.15 = C 14.16 = A 14.17 = D

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14.21

If you have to work at height in a

cherry picker over or near to deep
water, which following item of
personal protective equipment (PPE)
must you be wearing?

What is the best way to stop people

falling through voids, holes or fragile
roof panels?

A Wellington boots

A Tell everyone where the dangerous

areas are

C Full face respirator

B Secure in place covers that can

take the weight of a person and
add warning signage

D Full body harness

C Cover them with netting

B Life jacket

14.19
It is safe to cross a fragile roof if you:
A walk along the line of bolts

14

14.18

Working at height

High risk activities

D Mark the areas with red and white

tape
14.22
What does this sign mean?

B can see fragile roof signs

C dont walk on any plastic panels
D use crawling boards with handrails
14.20
 ou are working on a flat roof. What
Y
is the best way to stop yourself
falling over the edge?
A Put a large warning sign at the
edge of the roof
B Ask someone to watch you and
shout when you get too close to
the edge
C Protect the edge with a guard-rail
and toe-board
D Use red and white tape to mark the
edge

A Load-bearing roof. OK to stand on

surface but not any rooflights
B Fragile roof. Take care when
walking on roof surface
C Fragile roof. Do not stand directly
on roof but use fall protection
measures
D Load-bearing roof. Surface can be
slippery when wet
14.23
Who should erect, dismantle or alter
a tube and fitting scaffold?
A Anyone who thinks they can do it
B Anyone who has the right tools
C Anyone who is trained, competent
and authorised
D Anyone who is a project manager

Answers: 14.18 = B 14.19 = D 14.20 = C 14.21 = B 14.22 = C 14.23 = C

CSK-GT100D-Op.indd 77

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Working at height

14

High risk activities

14.24

14.26

 ou need to stack materials on a

Y
working platform. What is the best
way to stop them falling over the
toe-board?

 ools and materials can easily fall

T
from a scaffold platform. What
is the best way to protect the
people below?

A Fit brick guards or netting to the

edge

A Make sure they are wearing safety

helmets

B Put a warning sign on the stack

B Tell them you will be working

above them

C Build the stack so that it leans

away from the edge
D Cover the stack with polythene
14.25

C Use brick guards to stop any items

falling below
D Tell the people below to stop work
and clear the area

 scaffold guard-rail must be

A
removed to allow you to carry out a
survey. You are not a scaffolder. Can
you remove the guard-rail?
A Yes, if you put it back as soon as
you have finished
B Yes, if you put it back before you
leave site
C No, only a scaffolder can remove
the guard-rail but you can put it
back
D No, only a scaffolder can remove
the guard-rail and put it back

78

Answers: 14.24 = A 14.25 = D 14.26 = C

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