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PPE questions for the CSCS test

Head, eye, hearing, respiratory and hand protection, and when each is needed.

Practise this in a free mock
Available on iOS and Android

Personal protective equipment is your last line of defence, after the site has done everything else to remove the risk. The test checks that you know which PPE protects against which hazard, that you use it correctly, and that you report it when it is damaged.

What ppe covers in the HS&E test

  • The main types: head, eye, hearing, respiratory (RPE), hand, foot and hi-vis
  • Matching PPE to the hazard — the right glove, the right mask, the right eye protection
  • That PPE is the last resort in the hierarchy of control, not the first
  • Fit: RPE only works with a proper face fit and a clean shave at the seal
  • Checking PPE before use and reporting or replacing anything damaged
  • Who pays for PPE — your employer provides it free

Where people lose marks

Thinking a dust mask handles every dust. Fine silica dust needs the correct RPE with an adequate protection factor, not a nuisance-dust mask.

Wearing damaged or ill-fitting PPE rather than reporting it and getting a replacement.

Treating PPE as a substitute for removing the hazard. It comes after the other controls, not instead of them.

Test yourself on ppe

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.
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.
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.
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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.