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CSCS Exam Cheat Sheet 2026

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CSCS HS&E Test — Exam Cheat Sheet Review the night before and morning of your test • passnova.co.uk/resources/cscs-cheat-sheet

1. Health, Welfare & Work

  • HSWA 1974 — duties on employers AND employees
  • MHSWR 1999 — employers must carry out risk assessments
  • Employees must: take care of themselves and others; cooperate with employers; not interfere with safety measures

3. Emergency Procedures — Fire

  • Fire triangle: Fuel + Heat + Oxygen. Remove one to extinguish.
  • Extinguisher colours:
    • Red = Water (not for electrical)
    • Blue = Dry powder
    • Black = CO2 (safe for electrical)
    • Cream = Foam
  • Evacuation: alarm → nearest exit → muster point → do not re-enter

4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Hierarchy of control — PPE is LAST:

  1. 1 Elimination
  2. 2 Substitution
  3. 3 Engineering controls
  4. 4 Administrative controls
  5. 5 PPE ← last resort
  • Employer must provide PPE free of charge
  • PPE Regs 1992 (amended 2022)
  • Dust masks: P1=low, P2=medium, P3=high (e.g. asbestos)

5. Manual Handling

  • Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
  • HSE guideline weight: 25 kg for men in ideal conditions (guideline only)
  • TILE assessment:
    • T = Task
    • I = Individual
    • L = Load
    • E = Environment

6. Working at Height (WAH)

  • Work at Height Regulations 2005
  • Applies anywhere a fall could cause injury — including excavations
  • Three-step hierarchy:
    1. Avoid working at height if possible
    2. Prevent falls (guardrails, edge protection)
    3. Minimise the fall/consequences (nets, harnesses)
  • Ladders: short-duration only; not for work requiring two hands

7. Hazardous Substances (COSHH)

  • COSHH Regulations 2002
  • 8 COSHH hazard types: Dust, Fumes, Vapours, Gases, Mists, Biological agents, Nanotechnology particles, Substances with OELs
  • Asbestos banned UK 1999. Still in pre-2000 buildings — licensed contractor required
  • Silica dust (cutting concrete/brick): lung disease risk — always use RPE

8. Electrical Safety

  • Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
  • Construction sites use 110V (not 230V) to reduce fatal injury risk
  • Min safe distance from overhead lines up to 33kV: 6 metres
  • Always isolate before working on electrical equipment
  • PAT testing = Portable Appliance Testing

On the Day

  • Bring photo ID (passport or driving licence) and National Insurance number
  • Arrive 10–15 minutes early
  • 50 questions, 45 minutes = 54 seconds per question
  • You can flag and return to questions before submitting
  • Result displayed immediately on screen

2. RIDDOR 2013 — Accident Reporting Timescales

Type of incident Report by
Specified injury (fracture, amputation, loss of sight) Immediately
Death Immediately
Dangerous occurrence (serious near miss) Immediately
Over-7-day injury (off work 7+ consecutive days) Within 15 days

The day of the accident does NOT count toward the 7-day period. RIDDOR reports go to the HSE.

Key Legislation Dates

Regulation Year
Health and Safety at Work Act1974
Electricity at Work Regulations1989
Manual Handling Operations Regulations1992
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations1992 (amended 2022)
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations1999
COSHH Regulations2002
Work at Height Regulations2005
RIDDOR2013

Last 5 Things to Review the Night Before

  1. RIDDOR timescales — specified injuries and dangerous occurrences = immediate; over-7-day = 15 days
  2. PPE is always last in the hierarchy of control
  3. Work at Height Regulations = 2005 (not 1992, not 1999 — 2005)
  4. COSHH 8 hazard types — especially dust, fumes, vapours, biological agents
  5. Fire extinguisher colours — especially black (CO2) for electrical fires

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