CSCS green card
CSCS topic

COSHH & Hazardous Substances questions for the CSCS test

Dusts, chemicals, asbestos, silica and safe handling.

Practise this in a free mock
Available on iOS and Android

Many construction materials can harm you slowly — dust you breathe today can damage your lungs years later. The test covers COSHH, the substances that cause the most harm on site, and the controls that keep exposure down.

What hazardous substances covers in the HS&E test

  • What COSHH covers and the idea of controlling exposure at source
  • Respirable crystalline silica from cutting stone, concrete and brick, and why water suppression or on-tool extraction is used
  • Asbestos: where it is found, why you stop work and report it, and never disturbing it
  • Hazardous chemicals, the safety data sheet and the label
  • Dust, fumes, cement burns and skin protection
  • RPE, LEV (extraction) and water suppression as controls

Where people lose marks

Dry-cutting paving or blocks because it is quicker. Dry cutting releases high levels of silica dust and is a classic wrong answer.

Carrying on when you suspect asbestos. The correct action is always stop, leave it, and report it.

Ignoring wet cement on skin. It is caustic and causes serious burns.

Test yourself on hazardous substances

Both free mocks draw from this area in the same proportion as the real paper — 50 questions in 45 minutes, with an explanation for every answer and a per-topic breakdown at the end.

Start a free mock test

The other thirteen areas

Working At Height
Ladders, scaffolds, MEWPs, edge protection and falling objects.
PPE
Head, eye, hearing, respiratory and hand protection, and when each is needed.
Safety Signs & Signals
Safety sign shapes and colours, and banksman hand signals.
General Responsibilities
Site rules, inductions, permits and your duties under the law.
Fire & Emergency
Fire prevention, extinguisher types, alarms and evacuation.
Manual Handling
Lifting technique, assessing a load and mechanical aids.
Electrical Safety & Tools
110V on site, cables, portable tools and buried or overhead services.
Accident Reporting & First Aid
Reporting, RIDDOR, near misses and first-aid basics.
Plant, Vehicles & Routes
Segregation, reversing, exclusion zones and safe routes.
Excavations & Confined Spaces
Collapse, buried services, atmosphere and safe entry.
Environmental Awareness
Waste, spills, pollution, protected species and nuisance.
Noise & Welfare
Noise and vibration exposure, and the welfare a site must provide.
Behaviour & Public Safety
Attitude, drugs and alcohol, and protecting the public.
Read the complete CSCS green card guide

Independent study material, not affiliated with or endorsed by CSCS or CITB. Always check the official CITB and CSCS websites for the current test and card requirements.