CITB Health Safety and Environment Test

The CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test has been developed to ensure that construction workers on building sites have a basic knowledge of health and safety and environmental matters relevant to their work. The test replaces the CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) test with a more detailed and updated syllabus which includes the environmental elements.

What is the significance of the CITB Health, Safety & Environment test?

Many risks and accidents can be associated when working in the construction industry. Many industrial accidents occur, resulting in personal grief, financial costs and negative publicity. Taking the HS&E test and passing it can help increase one’s working knowledge in areas concerning health and safety standards. The person who passed will be granted a CSCS card which can also be used as a form of identification when entering and leaving the construction site.

Who will take the test?

The test is intended to ensure essential knowledge of health, safety and environment matters among workers on building sites. Construction workers wanting to apply for a CSCS card will need to have taken the test within the previous two years, with exceptions for those who have studied and achieved a relevant NVQ or SVQ in the same period.

What is the HS&E Test?

The HS&E Test is a test taken to raise the standards across the construction industry and, at the same time, ensure that its workers have a minimum level of health, safety and environmental awareness before performing their work. The employers and its workforce can also use the test as a stepping stone to further knowledge of the industry. Therefore, there is a need to pass the test to obtain a construction industry competency card.

HS&E test may be booked online or via telephone. When booking for the test, specify the test type, chosen payment method, address details, and registration number.

The Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines 

Aside from the purposes mentioned above, the EHS Guidelines also contain various information regarding cross-cutting environmental, health and safety issues that can apply to all industry sectors. The guidelines cover 4 major topics with corresponding subtopics under it –

• Environmental – air emissions and ambient air quality, wastewater and ambient water quality, water conservation, hazardous materials management, waste management, energy conservation, noise and contaminated land.;
• Occupational Health and Safety – physical, chemical, biological & radiological hazards, general facility design & operation, special hazards environment, communication & training, etc.;
• Community Health and Safety –  water quality & availability, life & fire safety, disease prevention, emergency preparedness & response, etc.;
• Construction and Decommissioning – environment, occupational health & safety and community health & safety.

Other industry sectors should use the EHS Guidelines in relation to the relevant sector guidelines it belongs to.

What does the CITB Health Safety and Environment test involve?

The test is a multiple choice questionnaire which is usually taken online. Forty-five minutes are allowed to complete the 50 questions, and those wishing to acquire a CSCS card will need to get 47 out of the 50 correct.

The test includes 12 behavioural case study questions about behaviour on a building site and 38 knowledge questions. The knowledge questions have 6 specialist questions for the Specialist and Managers and Professionals test.

The three available tests are as follows:-

The Operative test

These include behavioural case study questions and questions on these five core knowledge areas:

• Legal and management
• Health and welfare
• General safety
• High-risk activities
• Environment

Specialist test

This includes the behavioural case study questions, the core knowledge areas and questions from one of the following specialisms:

• Supervisory
• Demolition
• Plumbing or gas
• Highway works
• Specialists work at height
• Lifts and escalators
• Tunnelling
• Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
• Heating and plumbing services
• HVAC Pipe fitting and welding
• HVAC Ductwork
• HVAC Refrigeration and air conditioning
• HVAC Services and facilities maintenance

Managers and professionals test

This includes the behavioural case study questions, five core knowledge sections and relevant specialist knowledge questions in the following activities:

• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
• Demolition
• Plumbing or gas
• Highway works

Take note that there is a corresponding fee on all HS&E tests.

Studying for the CITB Health Safety and Environment test

Students can prepare for the test by referring to learning materials produced by the CITB, available for purchase at bookshops and online, with various booklets relevant to specific study areas.
In addition to written material, there is also a film which can be downloaded from the CITB website. This looks at what employers are expected to do to ensure a safe working environment and how workers can also maintain and promote the same. This video should be watched before taking the test to understand and answer the behavioural case study questions. There are also timed practice CSCS tests available online.

Several health and safety training organisations offer training courses for construction workers who wish to take the CITB test.

How should one prepare for the HS&E test?

When preparing for the test, one should gather all the relevant revision materials/books related to health, safety and the environment. Various reference materials such as DVDs, mobile apps and question and answer books can be downloaded or bought online. One can also refer to the sample questions with answers that one can use when preparing for the test. Reading supporting publications and completing a training course can also be helpful to help answer the HS&E test. Further, watching the Setting Out film, a free video presentation which features safety preparations on the construction site, will be beneficial since most behavioural case studies questions will be based on the film.

Where can the test be taken?

There are 3 different test centres where one can take the test –

• Test centre operated by the delivery provider to whom the test was booked; or
• An independent Internet Test Centre (ITC) operated by colleges, training providers, or commercial organisations; or
• A corporate test event that the organisation can arrange at a suitable location for a group of candidates not less than 16.

When taking the test in any of the test centres, be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the test and bring the confirmation letter, or email sent and proper identification documents.

The CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test

There will always be a need for a constant check-up to determine whether each industry is properly complying with the guidelines prescribed by their respective sectors. Again, it is essential for whatever industry to ensure its worker’s level of health, safety and environmental awareness before going to the site. As a result of this concern, the Health, Safety & Environment Test or the HS&E Test was introduced.

What services are there for Welsh Speakers?

• All tests can be booked with Welsh voice-overs.
• The revision PC DVDs, PC Downloads^†, and mobile apps^† all include Welsh voice-overs.
• There is a dedicated Welsh booking line: 0344 994 4490.