CITB Operatives Mock Test – Excavations and Confined Spaces – CSCS Mock Test | CSCS Revision

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The CITB Operatives mock test below covers all the questions you’ll face from the Excavations and Confined Spaces section of the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test in 2026.

There are 20 questions in this practice test and the pass mark is set at 18 out of 20, you will get a pass or fail result after submitting your answers.

Don’t forget to like, share, or comment if you found this CITB Operatives mock test on Excavations and Confined Spaces useful. Good luck!

1. An excavation should be battered back or stepped if ___.

Water is present at the bottom of the trench

There is a risk of the sides falling in, regardless of how deep it is

It’s more than 5m in depth

Buried services are present

Question 1 of 20

2. Which of these is most likely if you're digging and notice a strange smell coming from the soil?

The area has been excavated before

There might be buried services in the area

The soil could be contaminated

Nothing, this is normal

Question 2 of 20

3. Why is a person always positioned immediately outside of a confined space while work is taking place inside it?

To begin the rescue process in an emergency situation

To supervise work

To assess compliance with the method statement

To perform risk assessments

Question 3 of 20

4. If you’re working in a confined space and the gas alarm goes off you should:

Continue working and take breaks every 5 minutes to get fresh air

Exit the confined space immediately

Take the alarm off

Stop using any electrical tools but carry on working

Question 4 of 20

5. Why should workers be fully trained and competent before they’re allowed to enter a confined space?

The potential hazards of entering a confined space must be fully understood

Confined spaces don't provide breathable air

Only house-building sites have confined spaces

Flammable or explosive gasses are always present in confined spaces

Question 5 of 20

6. You have to work in an excavation, what is the main hazard while working?

Falling

Breathing in hazardous dust from the ground

Being crushed if the sides are not supported

Suffering from skin abrasions

Question 6 of 20

7. What could happen if oxygen levels in a confined space drops below 8 percent?

Dehydration among workers

Hearing issues among workers

Workers may become unconscious

A fire or explosion could occur

Question 7 of 20

8. Guard rails placed around the top of an excavation are meant to ___.

Prevent people from falling into the trench

Prevent the sides of the trench from collapsing

Stop toxic gas from forming at the bottom of the trench

Stop rainwater from running into the trench

Question 8 of 20

9. What do yellow service pipes carry in relation to underground service pipes?

Water

Gas

Electricity

Sewage and drain lines

Question 9 of 20

10. What substance is probably present in the air if workers notice the smell of rotten eggs?

Hydrogen sulphide

Oxygen

Carbon dioxide

Methane

Question 10 of 20

11. What should you do if you have to work in a confined space and realize your permit to work will expire before you can finish the work?

Leave the confined space before the permit expires

Give the permit to the next shift

Continue working until the job is finished

Ask your supervisor to adjust the date on the permit

Question 11 of 20

12. What should you do if you’re working in a deep trench and notice a lorry with its engine running above you?

Continue working – the lorry will move eventually

Put on ear defenders to block out the noise

Leave the trench immediately

Continue working – this is normal

Question 12 of 20

13. If you need to hand dig near any electrical underground services you must use __.

A metal shovel and rubber gloves

A full metal shovel

An insulated shovel or spade

A jack hammer

Question 13 of 20

14. What should you do if you’re working in a deep trench and you start to feel dizzy?

Get out immediately and take everyone who is working with you then report it

Get out then take a few minutes then go back in

Continue working and let the dizziness pass on its own

Sit down and take a few minutes to recover

Question 14 of 20

15. You have to work in a confined space and notice there is sludge at the bottom, what should you do before entering? (Choose 3 answers)

Find out what the sludge is

Ensure that the space is tested for gas

Ensure you are wearing a disposable dust mask

Toss an item into the sludge to determine how deep it is

Ensure you have the correct training

Question 15 of 20

16. What is the safest way of entering and exiting a deep excavation?

Via shoring or trench supports

Using ladders on the work-site

Via a fixed staircase

Via an excavator bucket

Question 16 of 20

17. Methane gas is very dangerous in confined spaces because: (choose 2 answers)

It could make you feel dehydrated

It could explode

It will limit the amount of oxygen you have available

It will block your vision

Question 17 of 20

18. What should you do if you notice the side supports moving around as you're working inside an excavation?

Nothing – this is normal

Make sure you and everyone else exit the excavation immediately

Keep working but monitor the situation carefully

Move further down and continue working

Question 18 of 20

19. What does it mean if you digging and find a run of coloured marker tape?

It is not safe to dig in this area

Buried human remains are present

The soil is contaminated

There is a buried service

Question 19 of 20

20. What is the main cause of death among workers in confined spaces?

A lack of oxygen

Temperatures that cause hypothermia

Too much oxygen

Methane

Question 20 of 20

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