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Health and Safety

CITB Health & Safety Awareness (HSA) Course

Official CITB Site Safety Plus scheme. Nationally recognised certificate on completion, delivered through accredited providers.
From £125+VAT Cities 6

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About the CITB Health & Safety Awareness (HSA) Course

The CITB Health and Safety Awareness course, usually shortened to HSA, is a 1-day course developed by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) for anyone new to construction or about to set foot on a site for the first time. It is the entry point to the CITB Site Safety Plus scheme, the level below the SSSTS course for supervisors and the SMSTS course for site managers.

The course gives operatives a clear understanding of their own health and safety responsibilities, the common hazards found on a construction site, and the part each worker plays in keeping a site safe. It is recognised across the UK construction industry and accepted by main contractors as proof of basic site safety awareness.

HSA is also one of the accepted routes to the Green Labourer card. To get the card you take HSA, or the Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment course, alongside a pass in the Operatives CITB Health, Safety and Environment test. The CSCS Cards guide explains how the card, the qualification and the test fit together.

The day ends with a multiple-choice CITB exam of 25 questions, with a pass mark of 80 percent (20 out of 25). The certificate is valid for 5 years.

Many learners also prepare for the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test as the next step towards a CSCS card.

Who it's for

  • Operatives and labourers new to construction
  • Anyone about to work on a UK construction site for the first time
  • Workers who need a CSCS Green Labourer card to get on site
  • New starters and apprentices beginning a construction career
  • People returning to construction after time in another industry
  • Trades and support staff who need proof of basic site safety awareness
  • Anyone whose employer requires CITB Site Safety Plus awareness training
  • Workers preparing to progress later to SSSTS or a trade NVQ

Entry requirements

  • No formal qualifications or prior experience are needed
  • Suitable for complete newcomers to construction
  • A basic understanding of English to sit the multiple-choice exam
  • Photo identification on the day
  • For the Green card route, you also pass the Operatives CITB Health, Safety and Environment test
  • A willingness to take part, as the day is interactive

What you'll achieve

  • A CITB Health and Safety Awareness certificate valid for 5 years
  • An understanding of your own health and safety responsibilities on site
  • The ability to recognise common construction hazards and how they are controlled
  • Awareness of health risks such as dust, noise, manual handling and hazardous substances
  • An understanding of working at height and the safe use of personal protective equipment
  • Knowledge of how accidents are prevented and reported on site
  • One of the accepted routes towards a CSCS Green Labourer card, taken with the HS&E test
  • A recognised first step into the Site Safety Plus scheme and a construction career
  • The confidence to start work on a construction site safely from day one

What you'll learn on the CITB Health & Safety Awareness (HSA) Course

1
Health and safety law and your responsibilities
How health and safety law applies to you on site and what is expected of every worker.
2
Accident prevention and reporting
Why accidents happen on construction sites and the part you play in preventing and reporting them.
3
Health hazards on site
Recognising and controlling dust, noise, manual handling risks and hazardous substances.
4
Working safely at height
The basics of working at height and the controls that keep you safe.
5
Personal protective equipment
The PPE used on site, why it matters and how to use and maintain it.
6
Manual handling and occupational health
Lifting and handling safely and protecting your long-term health on site.
7
Fire safety and emergencies
Recognising fire risks on site and knowing what to do in an emergency.
8
Common site hazards and risk control
Identifying everyday site hazards and understanding how risk is controlled.

CITB Health & Safety Awareness (HSA) Course FAQs

It is a 1-day, entry-level construction safety course developed by CITB. It gives anyone new to a site a basic understanding of health and safety responsibilities, common hazards and how to work safely. It is the first course in the CITB Site Safety Plus scheme.
HSA is one of the accepted routes towards the CSCS Green Labourer card, but the course on its own is not the card. To apply for the Green card you also need to pass the Operatives CITB Health, Safety and Environment test. The card is then issued by CSCS.
The Health and Safety Awareness course runs over one day, typically from around 8am to 5pm.
Yes. The day ends with a CITB multiple-choice exam of 25 questions. You need 20 correct, a score of 80 percent, to pass.
The certificate is valid for 5 years.
HSA is for operatives and anyone new to site. SSSTS is the next step up, for first-line supervisors who are responsible for other people. If you are not yet supervising others, HSA is the right level.
Yes. CITB approves HSA for delivery as a live online course as well as in a classroom. The content, exam and certificate are the same.
No. There are no entry requirements. The course is designed for people with no previous construction training.
Yes. It is a recognised CITB Site Safety Plus qualification and is accepted across the UK construction industry as proof of basic site safety awareness.
Both HSA and the Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment course are accepted routes to the CSCS Green Labourer card. They cover similar ground at the same level; many workers take whichever their employer or a local provider offers.
Prices vary by provider, location and whether you choose a classroom or online place. Compare live dates and prices at the top of this page.
You sit the exam on the day, and the provider issues the CITB certificate shortly afterwards. The exact timing varies by provider, but most confirm your result quickly.
The course and the exam are delivered in English, so you need enough English to follow the material and answer the multiple-choice questions. Some providers can advise on the support they offer.
Yes. The course introduces the main site hazards, including working at height, manual handling, hazardous substances, noise and dust, and how each is controlled.

Guides and resources

CITB Site Safety Plus courses: the complete guide Read more SSSTS vs SMSTS: which course do you need? Read more CSCS cards explained: every card type Read more