CSCS Revision and CSCS Mock Test Questions – Working at Height
One of the sections in the Citb Health Safety and Environment test (CSCS Test), is on working at height. The phrase “Working at height” means when you are working anywhere where, if you had a fall, it would cause an injury. There are several rules you should follow to make sure that you are working safely. Go through the revision and look at the CSCS Mock test questions below to check what you know.
CSCS Revision – Ladders
In the CSCS Test you are bound get a question or two on the correct use of ladders. Heres some info to refresh your memory and help you pass the exam, it might seem basic in parts but believe me it’s relevent to what you will be asked.
There should only ever be one person on a ladder at a time.
The angle of the ladder should be 75 degrees or 1:4. Any other angles can be dangerous and lead to slipping or tipping.
If the ladder is damaged you must not use it. Make sure that other people know that the ladder is damaged and do not use it. Also be very careful if you are about to use ladders that have been painted over or covered with something (you should not paint ladders for this reason). It might be that the paint or any wrapping could be covering up a fault or damage that makes the ladders unsafe to use.
Whoever is going to use the ladder must make sure that the ladder is safe. It is no good assuming that it is all right or taking someone else’s word for it.
When a ladder is being used against a platform or roof, it should extend above the platform by about 5 rungs to be safe and it should also be tied off at the top. The area it rest against should be solid and not made of fragile material. Just tying it at the bottom to stop it slipping is not good enough! If you only tie a ladder off at the bottom it can still tip over from the top and cause serious injury. It is not good enough to have someone just stand with a foot on the bottom rung.
You should only use a ladder when you will be doing light work for a short period of time. Ladders are not a suitable platform to work from for extended periods. A scaffold should be erected if this is required.
Always have 3 points of contact with the ladder. i.e. 2 feet and 1 hand, or 2 hands and 1 foot, or 3 feet (only kidding about the last bit!, when I was young I wrote to my auntie and told her I had grown another foot since she last saw me – she sent me three socks for Christmas). There will not be a question about my auntie in the CSCS Test!
CSCS Revision – Scaffolding Rules
For the CSCS Test you will need to know some basic rules about scafolding.
Tube and fitting scaffolds may only be erected, dismantled or altered by trained, fully qualified and authorized people. Only a scaffolder is allowed to remove and replace guard rails. This should be obvious!
Improperly erected scaffolding is a danger to not only the people using it, but also anyone near it.
Do not use scaffolding on ground which is soft or uneven. If it sinks it could loose stability. You should always use a built in ladder to gain access to the scaffold and not clamber up and down the outside. This seems common sense but you still see it happening. The reason for the construction skills test is to make sure that you understand things like this.
You must not use a mobile scaffold if the brakes aren’t working properly. When in use the wheels should be locked off and when it is being moved it should be empty. Once again this should be obvious but…
If any materials are to be stored at height or on scaffolding, you must do everything that you can to protect the people working below. One of the best ways to do this is to install brick guards. These help to prevent items slipping or being knocked off.
You must make sure that the platform is strong enough to take the entire weight of the materials which are going to be stored on it. Also make sure that the materials are properly secured or tied down and that they can not be blown off if it gets windy and that they cannot get accidentally pushed off. Any of these would be dangerous to anybody working nearby.
When working on a fragile roof you must always use a crawl board or otherwise lay panels to strengthen the roof and make it safe enough to work on.
Fit guard rails wherever possible to protect the edges and fit toe-boards to stop any dropped equipment and materials (or roofers) from falling onto people below.
CSCS Revision – Harnesses
When working at height, If no other protection is in place such as an soft landing system or edge protection, you must wear a harness and lanyard and this must be fixed to a strong anchor point.
If you are working over water and there is a chance you could fall then in addition to the harness and lanyard you would need to wear a life jacket.
Free CSCS Mock Test Questions
The CSCS Card and CSCS Test is not about remembering the answers parrot fashion, you need to understand the safety rules and apply them when you are working. So, to check how much of this has sunk in, here are a few CSCS Mock Test questions. You will find very similar ones in the test.
Q1 The maximum number of people alowed on a ladder at one time is?
- It depends on the length.
- One person per section.
Q2 What do you do if you find a faulty ladder?
- Try to Mend it
- Report it at the end of the shift but don’t use it
- Don’t use it, Make sure the others know it is damaged.
- Use it if you can get round the damaged bit.
Q Tube and Fitting Scaffolds – who can alter them?
- Anyone who has been told to
- Someone with the correct tools
- Someone who is competent and has authority
Q What is the correct angle to use a ladder
- 45 Degrees
- 60 Degrees
- 66 Degrees
- 75 Degrees
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