The construction industry is set to benefit from an improved level of health and safety awareness in April 2012 when CITB-ConstructionSkills launches its new Health, Safety and Environment Test.

The CITB-ConstructionSkills’ Health, Safety and Environment Test will replace the current Health and Safety Test and will introduce a host of new updates to help raise standards in an ever changing industry, while retaining traditional health and safety elements.

New features of the test include:

•  A fully refreshed and updated question bank including the new universal hazard symbols
• Questions on respiratory risks and the hazards they can pose
• Knowledge questions on the environment
• Behavioural case studies which tests how a candidate would respond to health and safety situations to highlight safe working practices on site

In addition to the changes being made to the test itself, there are also updates being made to improve the level of security. From 2 April 2012, all tests will be delivered electronically in exactly the same format regardless of where the candidate chooses to take the test.

First introduced in 2001, this test has been a key example of how CITB-ConstructionSkills has been adding value to federations and employers.  In that time, it has become a standard setter for the industry, ensuring that everyone working in Construction and the Built Environment has a minimum level of health and safety knowledge and awareness.

The Health, Safety and Environment Test will be delivered by Pearson VUE who have test centre’s located across the UK and can be booked online at www.cskills.org/hsandetest or by calling 0344 994 4488 from 3 January 2012 for tests after 2 April 2012..  Revision materials for the new test can be purchased from 3 January 2012 at www.cskills.org/hsanderevision.  The cost of the test remains at £17.50.