Safety: free CSCS practice questions

Practise equipment, electricity, fire, ppe and safe movement. Try ten questions chosen from this topic's 50-question bank.

Unofficial practice. UK Trade Jobs is not affiliated with CSCS or CITB. These are our own questions, not the official CITB question bank. This is a study aid, not workplace instruction, a qualification or a substitute for training and supervision.

The CITB operatives test format

CITB states that the operatives test has 50 questions, lasts 45 minutes and requires 45 correct answers to pass. Its five knowledge areas are working environment, occupational health, safety, high risk activities and specialist. Format checked against CITB on 9 November 2026.

Our full practice paper uses ten questions per area. This is our study balance, not CITB’s question weighting or an exact reproduction of its question styles. The topic tests have ten questions and an optional nine-minute timer; they have no official pass mark.

Use CITB’s official test information and booking options and official revision materials. Check which test your card route requires before booking.

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Ten questions to study now

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  1. 1. An electrical tool has exposed damaged wiring. What should you do?

    1. Stop using it, keep others away and report it for competent attention
    2. Cover it loosely and continue
    3. Use it only with dry gloves
    4. Assume the inspection label overrides the damage
    Answer and explanation

    Stop using it, keep others away and report it for competent attention

    Visible damage needs action even when an earlier inspection was satisfactory.

    Read the source guidance

  2. 2. Who should repair faulty electrical equipment?

    1. Anyone with a screwdriver
    2. A person competent for that electrical work
    3. The next new starter
    4. A visitor who volunteers
    Answer and explanation

    A person competent for that electrical work

    Electrical repairs need appropriate competence and safe arrangements.

    Read the source guidance

  3. 3. What should you do if equipment seems electrically unsafe?

    1. Touch exposed parts to test them
    2. Try every switch repeatedly
    3. Keep clear and arrange safe isolation and reporting
    4. Continue until it completely stops
    Answer and explanation

    Keep clear and arrange safe isolation and reporting

    Avoid contact and have unsafe equipment dealt with safely.

    Read the source guidance

  4. 4. Does an RCD make all electrical work safe?

    1. Yes, it removes every electrical risk
    2. Yes, if it has a bright button
    3. Yes, for untrained repair work
    4. No; it is an additional precaution, not complete protection
    Answer and explanation

    No; it is an additional precaution, not complete protection

    An RCD cannot replace suitable equipment, maintenance and safe working methods.

    Read the source guidance

  5. 5. What should a pre-use electrical-equipment check look for?

    1. Damage or conditions that could make it unsafe
    2. Only whether it looks clean
    3. Only whether it is new
    4. Only the purchase price
    Answer and explanation

    Damage or conditions that could make it unsafe

    User checks help identify obvious defects before exposure.

    Read the source guidance

  6. 6. Why should equipment suit a wet work environment?

    1. Wet surfaces improve insulation
    2. Water can increase electrical risks
    3. All indoor equipment is waterproof
    4. A label always prevents water entry
    Answer and explanation

    Water can increase electrical risks

    Electrical equipment and controls must suit the environment.

    Read the source guidance

  7. 7. An extension cable is crushed beneath equipment. What should happen?

    1. Keep using it if power still flows
    2. Hide the damaged section
    3. Have it taken out of use safely and checked
    4. Stand on it to flatten it
    Answer and explanation

    Have it taken out of use safely and checked

    Continued operation does not establish that a damaged cable is safe.

    Read the source guidance

  8. 8. Why should electrical leads be routed away from damage?

    1. To increase their length
    2. To avoid reading instructions
    3. Only to improve appearance
    4. Damaged insulation can expose people to shock and fire risks
    Answer and explanation

    Damaged insulation can expose people to shock and fire risks

    Cable protection is part of maintaining safe equipment.

    Read the source guidance

  9. 9. What does a recent inspection label tell you about a tool damaged today?

    1. It does not establish that the tool is safe now
    2. That it must be used until the next date
    3. That damage cannot matter
    4. That reporting is unnecessary
    Answer and explanation

    It does not establish that the tool is safe now

    New defects require attention regardless of an earlier test or inspection.

    Read the source guidance

  10. 10. Before using unfamiliar electrical equipment, what do you need?

    1. Only a working socket
    2. Suitable instructions and competence for safe use
    3. A colleague's permission to experiment
    4. No preparation if it is portable
    Answer and explanation

    Suitable instructions and competence for safe use

    Safe use depends on suitable equipment, information and competence.

    Read the source guidance

Question bank 1.0.0: 250 original questions, 50 per topic. Guidance principally concerns Great Britain; check the applicable arrangements for your workplace. Public-sector guidance is attributed at each answer. Contains public-sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. No source organisation endorses this tool.

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