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The Operatives test
Labourers and most skilled trades. This is the test most people take for their first card. 50 questions in 45 minutes, and you need 45 right.
Facts checked 25 October 2026
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Who sits it
Labourers applying for the green card, and most trades applying for a blue or gold skilled worker card. If your trade has its own specialist test, you sit that instead. The CSCS card finder tells you which.
What it covers
Four sections, A to D. Practice any topic for free:
Working environment (section A)
- Duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 19747 questions
- Site induction and toolbox talks7 questions
- Risk assessments and method statements7 questions
- Permits to work7 questions
- Accident reporting and RIDDOR7 questions
- First aid and emergency procedures7 questions
- Fire prevention and response7 questions
- Waste and environmental responsibilities11 questions
- Pollution and spillages7 questions
Occupational health (section B)
- COSHH and hazardous substances7 questions
- Asbestos awareness7 questions
- Noise and vibration7 questions
- Respiratory risks and silica dust7 questions
- Manual handling11 questions
- Welfare facilities on site11 questions
- Mental health and wellbeing11 questions
Safety (section C)
- Personal protective equipment11 questions
- Safety signs and signals7 questions
- Working at height11 questions
- Scaffolds and guard-rails7 questions
- Excavations and confined spaces7 questions
- Electrical safety on site11 questions
- Housekeeping and site access7 questions
High risk activities (section D)
- Lifting operations and lifting equipment11 questions
- Plant and site transport8 questions
- Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs)7 questions
- Hot work and welding7 questions
- Demolition and dismantling11 questions
Languages
Questions are on screen in English. You can hear them read out in English, Welsh, Bulgarian, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian and Spanish. If your language isn't there, you can book a translator. See languages.
Where these facts come from
Rules change. Check with CITB before you book. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.