About the Health, safety and environment (HS&E) test

The CITB Health, Safety, and Environment (HS&E) test is an essential way for construction workers to demonstrate their ability to work safely. It also ensures they can trust that their fellow workers are safe on-site and not putting them at risk of injury.

For employers, having workers who have passed the CITB HS&E test assures that their workforce is safe and can continue to be safe at work. There are three types of HS&E tests.

If you already know which type of test to take, you can book and pay for the testhere.

Structure of Test

The HS&E test is made up of 50 questions covering five core knowledge areas:

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

Candidates have 45 minutes to answer 50 questions, including new question styles. The test also features behavioral case studies to assess a candidate's understanding of health, safety, and environmental issues, as well as their ability to behave safely on-site.

Types of HS&E Tests

There are three types of HS&E test:

  • Operatives
  • Specialists
  • Managers and Professionals.

About the Operatives HS&E test

The Operatives test ensures that workers have a basic level of health, safety, and environmental awareness before entering a site. It covers the five core knowledge areas mentioned above (see Structure of the test).

About the Specialist HS&E tests

These tests include questions on the five core knowledge areas, along with relevant questions in the chosen specialist fields. The Specialists test can be taken in the following topics:

  • Supervisory (SUP)
  • Demolition (DEM)
  • Tunnelling (TUNN)
  • Highway works (HIW)
  • Plumbing (JIB) (PLUM)
  • Lifts and escalators (LAEE)
  • Specialist work at height (WAH)
  • HVACR - ductwork (DUCT)
  • HVACR - pipefitting and welding (PFW)
  • HVACR - heating and plumbing services (HAPS)
  • HVACR - refrigeration and air conditioning (RAAC)
  • HVACE - services and facilities maintenance (SAF)

About the Managers and Professionals test

This test covers the same five core knowledge areas but also includes questions on the following topics:

  • Construction (design and management) regulations
  • Demolition
  • Highway works.

Not sure which test to take?Talk to one of our executives.Lines are open from 9am to 7pm (Monday to Saturday)