About the CSR Card and Health and Safety Test
The Construction Skills Register (CSR) is Northern Ireland's approved construction card scheme, administered by CEF (the Construction Employers Federation), separate from CSCS which operates in Great Britain. The two schemes have signed a mutual recognition agreement, so a CSR card is normally accepted on building sites in Great Britain and a CSCS card is normally accepted in Northern Ireland, but they are issued by different bodies and applied for through different routes.
To obtain a CSR card, you must pass the same CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test used for CSCS cards, sat at an approved test centre. The test covers six core areas:
- Health and Welfare: occupational health risks, asbestos awareness, hand-arm vibration, noise, dust, and welfare facilities on site
- Safety: personal protective equipment (PPE), working at height, manual handling, electrical safety, fire prevention, and emergency procedures
- Environment: waste management, pollution prevention, noise and dust control, and environmental legal duties
- Legislation: Health and Safety at Work legislation, CDM Regulations, COSHH, and RIDDOR
- Behavioural Case Study: scenario based questions testing judgement and decision making on site
- Specialist knowledge: additional questions relevant to your trade or role
The test consists of 50 questions to be completed in 45 minutes, with a high pass mark, most operatives need 45 out of 50 correct.
Important: Applying for a CSR card is a separate process from applying for a CSCS card, even though the underlying knowledge test is the same. Make sure you apply to CEF for the CSR card if you are working in Northern Ireland, rather than assuming a CSCS application covers you automatically.
Key CSR Card Facts to Know
- Issuing body: CEF (Construction Employers Federation), Northern Ireland's construction card scheme
- Equivalent scheme: CSCS operates the same function in Great Britain, the two schemes mutually recognise each other's cards
- Underlying test: the CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test, the same test used for CSCS cards
- Questions: 50 questions selected from the official CITB bank
- Pass mark: around 45 out of 50 for most operatives (90%)
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Behavioural case study: a distinct section testing judgement in realistic site scenarios
- Card renewal: CSR cards require periodic renewal, which typically means re-passing the HS&E test
CEF and CITB provide only a limited free sample test. Practice Tests UK fills that gap with realistic questions across all HS&E topic areas with step by step explanations for every answer.
| Feature | CITB Official Sample | Practice Tests UK |
|---|
| Practice questions | Basic sample only | 60+ questions |
| Answer explanations | Limited | Every question |
| Instant feedback | No | Yes |
| Drill by topic area | No | Yes |
Free sample: Try 5 free questions below. Use Drill Mode to target the areas you find hardest.
