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CSCS Working at Height Mock Test 2026

Practise working at height questions from the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test.

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Why working at height matters

Falls from height are the biggest single cause of fatalities and major injuries in UK construction (HSE). The Work at Height Regulations 2005 set the legal framework for any work where a fall could cause personal injury, and crucially, they apply at any height, not just above an arbitrary threshold.

The Regulations require a hierarchy of control. First, ask whether the work at height can be avoided altogether. If it cannot, prevent falls with collective protection such as guardrails, scaffold or a mobile elevating work platform. Only as a last resort should you fall back on personal protection, harnesses and lanyards, to minimise the consequences of a fall that still happens.

Hierarchy of control: Avoid, Prevent, MinimiseA pyramid with three bands. The top green band reads Avoid work at height. The middle yellow band reads Prevent falls, collective protection. The wider orange base band reads Minimise consequences, personal protection. A downward arrow on the right indicates decreasing preference.AVOIDPREVENTcollective protectionMINIMISEpersonal protection (last resort)MOREpreferredLESSpreferred1.2.3.
Work at height hierarchy of control, Avoid, Prevent, Minimise.

Specific equipment standards include guardrails of at least 950mm in height, a 150mm toe board and an intermediate rail; ladders set at 75° (a 4:1 ratio of vertical to horizontal); and short-duration use of ladders only, 30 minutes or less per position. The CITB Health, Safety and Environment test also has a Specialist Work at Height variant for trades that work at height as a primary task.

5 sample questions

Each question mirrors the format of the CITB test: one stem, four lettered options, one correct answer. Click Reveal explanation to see the answer and a short rationale.

Q1. At what height does the Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply?

  1. A.Above 2 metres
  2. B.Above 1.5 metres
  3. C.Any height where a fall could cause injury
  4. D.Above 6 feet
Reveal explanation

Correct answer: C. Any height where a fall could cause injury

There is no minimum height threshold. The regulations apply at any height where a fall could cause personal injury, even one step from a kerb counts if the consequence is harm.

Q2. What is the correct angle for placing a ladder against a wall?

  1. A.60 degrees
  2. B.75 degrees (4:1 ratio)
  3. C.90 degrees
  4. D.45 degrees
CSCS ladder 75° angle 4:1 ratio diagramA wall on the right with a ladder leaning against it at 75 degrees. Dimension lines show 4 units up for every 1 unit out from the wall base.75°4 units up1 unit out4 : 1 ratio
Correct ladder angle: 75° (4:1 ratio, one out for every four up).
Reveal explanation

Correct answer: B. 75 degrees (4:1 ratio)

A ladder should be set at 75°: one unit out from the wall for every four units up. Too steep and it can tip backwards; too shallow and the feet slip out.

Q3. What is the maximum recommended duration for working from a ladder?

  1. A.2 hours
  2. B.30 minutes
  3. C.1 hour
  4. D.No time limit
Reveal explanation

Correct answer: B. 30 minutes

Ladders are intended for short-duration tasks of 30 minutes or less. For longer work you need a stable platform, a podium, tower scaffold or MEWP.

Q4. What is the minimum height of a guardrail on a working platform?

  1. A.750mm
  2. B.850mm
  3. C.950mm
  4. D.1100mm
CSCS guardrail 950mm height diagramA working platform with a top guardrail at 950mm, an intermediate rail in the middle, and a 150mm toe board at the platform edge. A simple worker silhouette stands on the platform.950mm min.150mmTop guardrailIntermediate railToe board
Guardrails must be at least 950mm high, with a toe board and an intermediate rail.
Reveal explanation

Correct answer: C. 950mm

Guardrails must be at least 950mm above the working platform. A 150mm toe board and an intermediate rail are also required so a worker cannot fall over, under or through the edge.

Q5. According to the work at height hierarchy, what should you consider first?

  1. A.Use personal fall protection
  2. B.Use a harness
  3. C.Avoid work at height altogether
  4. D.Add guardrails
Reveal explanation

Correct answer: C. Avoid work at height altogether

The hierarchy is AVOID → PREVENT (collective protection like guardrails and scaffold) → MINIMISE (personal protection like harnesses, as a last resort).

Common mistakes

Three misconceptions show up regularly in test responses and on real sites. If any of these match your assumptions, take the time to unlearn them before you sit the real test.

Mistake 1: “I only need fall protection above 2 metres.”

Correct: There is no minimum height threshold under the Work at Height Regulations 2005. If a fall could cause injury, at any height, you need a safe system of work.

Mistake 2: “A harness is always the safest option.”

Correct: A harness is personal protection, the last resort in the hierarchy. Collective protection (guardrails, fixed scaffold, MEWP guard rails) comes first because it protects everyone on the platform, not just the worker wearing the harness.

Mistake 3: “Ladders are fine for all jobs.”

Correct: Ladders are only suitable for short-duration tasks (≤30 minutes) and for access. For longer or more demanding work use a podium, tower scaffold or mobile elevating work platform (MEWP).

Access equipment comparison: ladder, tower scaffold, MEWPThree side-by-side schematic icons. Left: a simple ladder, labelled short tasks under 30 minutes, access only. Middle: a tower scaffold, labelled medium duration, stable platform. Right: a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP), labelled long duration, large area.Ladder≤30 min · accessTowermedium · platformMEWPlong · large area
Choosing the right access equipment for the duration of the work.

Related CSCS topics

Working at height interacts with several other syllabus areas. Build your knowledge by practising these topics too:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Correct answer: C. Any height where a fall could cause injury. There is no minimum height threshold. The regulations apply at any height where a fall could cause personal injury, even one step from a kerb counts if the consequence is harm.

Correct answer: B. 75 degrees (4:1 ratio). A ladder should be set at 75°: one unit out from the wall for every four units up. Too steep and it can tip backwards; too shallow and the feet slip out.

Correct answer: B. 30 minutes. Ladders are intended for short-duration tasks of 30 minutes or less. For longer work you need a stable platform, a podium, tower scaffold or MEWP.

Correct answer: C. 950mm. Guardrails must be at least 950mm above the working platform. A 150mm toe board and an intermediate rail are also required so a worker cannot fall over, under or through the edge.

Correct answer: C. Avoid work at height altogether. The hierarchy is AVOID → PREVENT (collective protection like guardrails and scaffold) → MINIMISE (personal protection like harnesses, as a last resort).

CSCSMockTest.uk is not affiliated with CSCS, CITB or any official certification body. Information here is drawn from the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and HSE guidance (verified 30 May 2026) and is provided for general guidance only, always confirm the current requirements at hse.gov.uk before sitting the real test.