The touchscreen test required in the UK before most construction workers can obtain a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card, validating baseline health and safety knowledge for working on a UK construction site. The Operative/Specialist version is the version most site workers and tradespeople sit, distinct from the Managers & Professionals or Supervisory versions aimed at higher-responsibility roles.
Who it's for
Construction workers, tradespeople, and site operatives in the UK who need a CSCS card to work on most construction sites — the HS&E test is a mandatory prerequisite for card issuance, alongside any relevant trade qualification.
What's covered
- General Responsibilities, Legal Duties & Accident Reporting (20%) — UK health and safety legislation basics, individual and employer responsibilities, and accident/incident reporting procedures
- Health & Welfare (30%) — personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling technique, and occupational health hazards such as noise, vibration, and hazardous substances
- Working at Height, Excavations & Site Safety (30%) — safe working at height, excavation safety, site transport, and general site hazard awareness
- Fire Prevention, Emergency Procedures & Specific Hazards (20%) — fire prevention and response, emergency procedures, and hazard-specific knowledge such as electrical safety
What to expect
The CITB HS&E test is a touchscreen, multiple-choice test covering health, safety, and environmental knowledge relevant to UK construction sites, with a required pass mark across all question categories (not just an overall average) — meaning a candidate must pass every category, not just the test as a whole. The test draws on official CITB revision materials (the GE 700 and related touchscreen test revision guides) and UK-specific health and safety legislation and site practice.
How to prepare
Because the test requires passing every category individually, candidates can't compensate for a weak category with strong performance elsewhere — focused review across all topic areas matters more than concentrating study time on a few favorite subjects. Reviewing official CITB revision materials directly is strongly recommended, since the test draws specifically on CITB's own published guidance and terminology.
Certification details
- Administering body: Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), UK, in partnership with the CSCS scheme.
- Eligibility: No formal prerequisites to sit the test itself, though a CSCS card additionally requires an appropriate, relevant construction qualification.
- Exam format: Touchscreen multiple-choice test with category-based pass requirements (a pass mark must be achieved in every category, not just overall).
- Validity: The HS&E test result is typically valid for a limited period (commonly around two years) for the purposes of applying for or renewing a CSCS card.