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Electrical Safety & Tools questions for the CSCS test

110V on site, cables, portable tools and buried or overhead services.

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Electricity kills, and construction adds buried cables, overhead lines and portable tools to the risk. The test covers why sites use reduced-voltage tools, how to check leads and tools, and how to work safely near live services.

What electrical safety covers in the HS&E test

  • Why 110V (reduced voltage) is standard for site tools, shown by the yellow plug
  • Pre-use checks on tools and leads, and the PAT / inspection regime
  • Cable routing to avoid trips and damage, and never running leads through water
  • Overhead power lines: goalposts, exclusion zones and safe clearances
  • Buried services: cable-avoidance tools, drawings and safe digging
  • Reporting damaged tools and never using one with a defect

Where people lose marks

Using a 230V tool on site where 110V is required because the lead reaches.

Assuming an overhead line is dead or insulated. All are treated as live.

Continuing with a tool that has a damaged lead or casing rather than taking it out of use.

Test yourself on electrical safety

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.

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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.
COSHH & Hazardous Substances
Dusts, chemicals, asbestos, silica and safe handling.
Fire & Emergency
Fire prevention, extinguisher types, alarms and evacuation.
Manual Handling
Lifting technique, assessing a load and mechanical aids.
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.
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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.