CSCS Test Practice (CITB HS&E Operatives) 2026: Practice test 2

Practice test 2 of 5 for the CSCS Test Practice (CITB HS&E Operatives): 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Workplace safety
United Kingdom
120 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 25
At what daily noise exposure must your employer assess the risk and give you information and training?
- 70 dB(A)
- 100 dB(A)
- 60 dB(A)
- 80 dB(A)
Show answer
Answer: D. 80 dB(A)
Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, the lower exposure action value is 80 dB(A).
Question 2 of 25
At what daily or weekly noise exposure must your employer provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones?
- 80 dB(A)
- 75 dB(A)
- 95 dB(A)
- 85 dB(A)
Show answer
Answer: D. 85 dB(A)
The upper exposure action value is 85 dB(A). Above it, hearing protection and hearing protection zones are required.
Question 3 of 25
What is the noise exposure limit value that must not be exceeded, even with hearing protection taken into account?
- 87 dB(A)
- 90 dB(A)
- 85 dB(A)
- 80 dB(A)
Show answer
Answer: A. 87 dB(A)
The exposure limit value is 87 dB(A), and it takes account of the reduction from hearing protection.
Question 4 of 25
You are regularly exposed to noise above 85 dB(A). What must your employer arrange?
- Nothing, if you wear hearing protection
- Health surveillance, such as regular hearing checks
- A free pair of headphones for music
- A pay rise
Show answer
Answer: B. Health surveillance, such as regular hearing checks
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require health surveillance for workers regularly exposed above 85 dB(A).
Question 5 of 25
Your ears ring after a noisy shift. What could this be a sign of?
- Too much drinking water
- Good hearing
- Damage to your hearing from noise
- A cold coming on
Show answer
Answer: C. Damage to your hearing from noise
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) can be an early sign of hearing damage. Use hearing protection and report it.
Question 6 of 25
Cutting kerbs, blocks or paving with a cut-off saw can produce high levels of which harmful dust?
- Flour dust
- Silica dust
- Pollen
- Sawdust
Show answer
Answer: B. Silica dust
HSE warns that cut-off saws on paving, blocks and kerbs can produce very high levels of silica-containing dust.
Question 7 of 25
Which control reduces dust when using a cut-off saw on concrete or stone?
- Cutting faster so the dust has less time to spread
- Working with your back to the wind
- A water attachment connected to a pressurised water supply
- Cutting inside a closed van to trap the dust
Show answer
Answer: C. A water attachment connected to a pressurised water supply
Water suppression dampens dust at the point where it is made.
Question 8 of 25
What kind of extraction unit does HSE say to use for on-tool extraction of construction dust?
- Any fan that blows the dust away
- An H class or M class unit
- A household vacuum cleaner
- A leaf blower
Show answer
Answer: B. An H class or M class unit
On-tool extraction should use an H or M class extraction unit with the right flow rate and tight hose connections.
Question 9 of 25
Water or extraction is being used, but some silica dust remains. What else is needed?
- Nothing more is needed
- A cloth face covering
- Suitable RPE, such as an FFP3 mask
- A thin paper nuisance dust mask
Show answer
Answer: C. Suitable RPE, such as an FFP3 mask
Water does not capture all the silica, so RPE with an assigned protection factor of 20, such as FFP3, is still needed.
Question 10 of 25
Before using a tight-fitting dust mask, what must you have?
- A face-fit test, and you must be clean-shaven where the mask seals
- A short beard to help the edge of the mask seal to your face
- A mask one size bigger than your face so it is comfortable
- A certificate from an optician showing your eyesight is good
Show answer
Answer: A. A face-fit test, and you must be clean-shaven where the mask seals
Tight-fitting masks only work if they seal to the face, so users must be clean-shaven and face-fit tested.
Question 11 of 25
What is the best way to reduce dust when you need to split blocks?
- Cut them dry and sweep up the dust afterwards
- Cut several blocks at once to save time
- Use a block splitter instead of a cut-off saw
- Use a bigger and more powerful saw
Show answer
Answer: C. Use a block splitter instead of a cut-off saw
HSE says to prevent dust first, for example with lower-energy tools like a block splitter or by having materials cut off site.
Question 12 of 25
Why should you avoid dry sweeping dusty areas on site?
- It puts fine dust back into the air
- It is slower than other methods
- It wears out the brush too quickly
- It leaves the floor too clean and slippery
Show answer
Answer: A. It puts fine dust back into the air
Use a suitable vacuum or wet methods instead of dry sweeping to keep harmful dust out of the air.
Question 13 of 25
Which buildings could contain asbestos?
- Only factories and power stations
- Only buildings built after 2000
- Any building built before the year 2000
- Only buildings built before 1950
Show answer
Answer: C. Any building built before the year 2000
HSE says asbestos can be found in any building built before the year 2000.
Question 14 of 25
You uncover material you think could be asbestos. What should you do?
- Break off a piece to check it
- Stop work straight away and tell your supervisor
- Sweep it up and put it in a normal skip
- Carry on, but wear a dust mask
Show answer
Answer: B. Stop work straight away and tell your supervisor
Do not disturb suspected asbestos. Stop, keep others away and report it so it can be checked.
Question 15 of 25
Which symptoms can be signs of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS)?
- A sore throat, a cough and a runny nose
- Ringing in the ears after a shift
- Tingling, numbness and fingers going white
- Itchy, red and watering eyes
Show answer
Answer: C. Tingling, numbness and fingers going white
Regular use of vibrating tools like breakers and grinders can cause HAVS. Report symptoms early.
Question 16 of 25
Leptospirosis (Weil's disease) can be caught from which source on site?
- Loud noise from breakers and saws
- Strong sunlight on bare skin
- Cement dust in the air
- Water or wet ground contaminated by rat urine
Show answer
Answer: D. Water or wet ground contaminated by rat urine
Cover cuts, wear gloves and wash your hands before eating, drinking or smoking to reduce the risk.
Question 17 of 25
Wet cement can cause which health problems?
- Skin burns and dermatitis
- Hand-arm vibration syndrome
- Hearing loss
- Broken bones
Show answer
Answer: A. Skin burns and dermatitis
Wet cement is alkaline. Wear gloves and suitable clothing, and wash it off your skin quickly.
Question 18 of 25
How can you protect yourself from the sun when working outside?
- Only cover up on cold or cloudy days
- Take your shirt off so your body stays cool
- Keep your top on, wear a hat or neck cover and use sunscreen
- Do nothing; the sun only affects your eyes
Show answer
Answer: C. Keep your top on, wear a hat or neck cover and use sunscreen
Ultraviolet light can cause skin cancer. Cover up and check your skin for changes.
Question 19 of 25
What is the first thing to consider when a job involves manual handling?
- Whether the lift can be avoided, for example with a lifting aid
- Who is the strongest and fittest person on the site
- How quickly you can lift it and carry it away
- Whether you can manage to carry it all by yourself
Show answer
Answer: A. Whether the lift can be avoided, for example with a lifting aid
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 say to avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable, then assess and reduce the risk.
Question 20 of 25
When assessing a lift, which four things should you think about?
- The task, the individual, the load and the environment
- The time, the weather, the cost and the day of the week
- Your age, your height, your shoe size and your pay
- The colour, the size, the price and the brand
Show answer
Answer: A. The task, the individual, the load and the environment
The TILE checklist helps you spot what makes a lift risky.
Question 21 of 25
When lifting a load by hand, where should you keep it?
- At arm's length in front of you
- Close to your waist
- Above your head
- Out to one side
Show answer
Answer: B. Close to your waist
Keeping the load close to your body reduces strain on your back.
Question 22 of 25
Which three things are needed for a fire to start?
- Heat, fuel and oxygen
- Sparks, metal and plastic
- Smoke, light and noise
- Water, sand and wind
Show answer
Answer: A. Heat, fuel and oxygen
Remove any side of the fire triangle and the fire cannot burn.
Question 23 of 25
Which extinguisher is safe to use on a fire in electrical equipment?
- Foam, cream label
- Water, red label
- Carbon dioxide (CO2), black label
- Wet chemical, yellow label
Show answer
Answer: C. Carbon dioxide (CO2), black label
CO2 does not conduct electricity. Never use water on an electrical fire.
Question 24 of 25
What is a water extinguisher (red label) suitable for?
- Fires in burning petrol or diesel
- Fires in materials like wood, paper and cloth
- Fires in electrical equipment such as a generator
- Fires in cooking oil or fat in a pan
Show answer
Answer: B. Fires in materials like wood, paper and cloth
Water works on solid materials but is dangerous on electrical, flammable liquid and cooking oil fires.
Question 25 of 25
You hear the fire alarm on site. What should you do?
- Stop work, leave by the nearest safe route and go to the assembly point
- Finish the task you are doing first, then leave the site
- Wait at your work area to see if there is any smoke
- Go back to the welfare cabin to collect your belongings
Show answer
Answer: A. Stop work, leave by the nearest safe route and go to the assembly point
Leave straight away and report to the assembly point so everyone can be accounted for.

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