CSCS Environmental Awareness and Waste Control Questions for Managers and Professionals

1. What two precautions should be taken to reduce the risk of water pollution when mixing concrete and cement on site?

A. It should be at least 5 m from a watercourse

B. It should be at least 10 m from a watercourse

C. It should be sited on an impermeable area

D. It should not allowed on site if water pollution is a possibility

E. It should only be used under the direct supervision of the site manager

Question 1 of 27

2. What should you do if you see a large volume of heavy material stored under a tree?

A. Nothing - materials can be stored anywhere

B. Ensure that the material is removed if the tree looks damaged

C. Ensure that the material is removed and tree protection fencing is placed around the tree to prevent further damage

D. Ensure that the tree is watered regularly until the materials are removed

Question 2 of 27

3. You become aware that an active bird’s nest has been destroyed on your site. Which of the following is a possible outcome?

A. A prohibition notice issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

B. Prosecution by the RSPB

C. A caution or prosecution by the police wildlife crimes officer

D. A visit from an RSPCA inspector

Question 3 of 27

4. Why is energy efficiency important?

A. To comply with UK legislation and carbon reduction targets

B. To help reduce climate change and the impact carbon emissions and other pollutants have on the environment

C. It can help to mitigate the rising costs of energy

D. All of these answers

Question 4 of 27

5. Which two of the following are environmental reasons for preventing concrete, screed or mortar washout water from entering watercourses or underground aquifers?

A. It can change the colour of the water

B. It will improve the flow of the watercourse

C. It will pollute the water and could harm water wildlife

D. It may be part of the conditions of contract and a client requirement

E. It can change the pH balance of the water

Question 5 of 27

6. What should the capacity of a spillage bund around a fuel storage tank be, in addition to the volume of the tank?

A. 10% (110% of the total content)

B. 50% (150% of the total content)

C. 30% (130% of the total content)

D. 75% (175% of the total content)

Question 6 of 27

7. When assessing pollution risk, before starting works on a construction site, which of the following is bad practice?

A. Seal up all drains and gullies on site

B. Inspect existing gullies, silt traps and oil separators

C. Locate and identify watercourses, surface water and foul water drains

D. Evaluate the risk of pollution entering existing drains and watercourses during the works

Question 7 of 27

8. Someone has turned up at the site and offered to take your surplus soil away for free. Which of the following is not a legal requirement?

A. They are able to complete a duty of care waste transfer note

B. They have got a clean driving licence

C. They are a registered waste carrier

D. They will take the soil to an authorised site

Question 8 of 27

9. Which two of the following should be undertaken to help improve a pollution incident response?

A. Only use biodegradable fuels

B. Practise the incident response by undertaking mock exercises

C. Always refuel using drip trays

D. Train workforce in the use of spill kits

E. Train one responsible person in the use of spill kits

Question 9 of 27

10. Which of the following does not help save energy and resources on site?

A. Ensuring the site connects to the electricity supply as early as possible to avoid running on fuel powered generators

B. Use of cheaper products and materials to reduce costs

C. Installation of more energy efficient site accommodation and adoption of low energy technology for site and task lighting

D. Use of alternative or recycled products for site set-up, logistics and enabling works

Question 10 of 27

11. The future use or energy performance of a building or structure can be affected if it is not built correctly. You notice a detail can’t be built as it has been designed. What should you do?

A. Substitute the detail with components which could work without consulting the person responsible for the design

B. Raise the issue with the person responsible for the design and await the architect’s instruction

C. Instruct the tradesperson to build the detail as best they can

D. Use your experience and build it as you think it should be done

Question 11 of 27

12. What duty of care documentation should you use for hazardous waste leaving your site?

A. None, as long as the carrier is registered and has a waste carrier’s licence

B. A waste consignment note that includes details of the disposal or treatment facility

C. A skip ticket that includes the vehicle registration number and waste carrier details

D. A waste transfer note with a written description of the waste and transferrer details

Question 12 of 27

13. A bird is discovered on a nest in an area where work is to take place. What should you do?

A. Scare it away

B. Cover it with a bucket

C. Protect the nest and seek specialist advice on how to proceed

D. Move it, do your work and then put it back

Question 13 of 27

14. The programme of works you are managing has run behind and you will need the site to be operational on a Sunday. The operations will be noisy and there are nearby residents. What action should you take before working?

A. Inform the residents in writing that you will be working on Sunday and that it could be noisy

B. Apply for permission from the local environmental health officer under a Section 61 notice

C. Ensure the site operations are only done during daylight hours

D. Do not work - you can never work on a Sunday

Question 14 of 27

15. Under environmental law, which statement is true?

A. Only companies can be prosecuted if they do not follow the law

B. Only directors can be prosecuted if they do not follow the law

C. Only employees can be prosecuted if they do not follow the law

D. Companies and employees can be prosecuted if they do not follow the law

Question 15 of 27

16. You are aware that a job has resulted in some plasterboard off-cuts. Can these go in with the general waste?

A. Yes, because plasterboard is not hazardous waste

B. No, because plasterboard is hazardous waste

C. No, because plasterboard should not be mixed with other wastes

D. Yes, because the boards will only be a small proportion of the skip content

Question 16 of 27

17. What final element is missing from this simple four point pollution incident response plan? Stop - Contain - Notify - ?

A. Take action

B. Clean up

C. Review

D. Re-start work

Question 17 of 27

18. Which three of the following are possible pollution risks that could result from excavation activities?

A. Dust

B. Contaminated soils

C. Pumping out of silty water

D. Work at height

E. Disturbing protected species

Question 18 of 27

19. To prevent pollution to watercourses what would be the best solution to control surface water run-off from material stockpiles?

A. Installing silt fence around the stockpile

B. Channelling the water run-off directly into the foul water sewer

C. Directing the water run-off away from the watercourse to the nearest surface water drain

D. Making sure stockpiles are more than 215 m away from watercourses

Question 19 of 27

20. A skip-lorry driver hands you a copy of the hazardous waste consignment note with Section C (carrier’s details) signed. If you are responsible for the waste, what is the first thing you need to do with it?

A. Check that the details in Sections A, B and C are correct before you sign Section D (producer’s details)

B. Refuse to take the note as you do not need a copy

C. Take the note and file it for future reference

D. As the waste is on his truck it is not your responsibility to sign the note

Question 20 of 27

21. You are planning a site’s power set-up. Which of the following is the most energy efficient?

A. A combination of solar power and mains power

B. A gas powered generator

C. Mains electricity

D. A diesel powered generator

Question 21 of 27

22. Which two of the following will help to minimise dust from stockpiles of soil?

A. Have a supply of face masks suitable for nuisance dust

B. Regularly move or mix materials between stockpiles

C. Seed the stockpile

D. Avoid moving materials when nearby residents are at home

E. Damping down the materials with water

Question 22 of 27

23. What is the legal duty of the site manager when an invasive species of plant, such as Japanese knotweed, is discovered on site?

A. To inform the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of its presence

B. To leave it undisturbed as it is protected by law

C. To ensure it is transplanted to a part of the site where it will not be disturbed in the future

D. To prevent the spread of the plant in the wild

Question 23 of 27

24. Can waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) be disposed of with other wastes?

A. No, WEEE must be disposed of separately

B. Yes, in a general waste skip providing there are no more than three items

C. Only if it is put in scrap metal skips

D. Only if it is mixed with other hazardous waste

Question 24 of 27

25. If you find bats on site, which of the following statements is true?

A. You can disturb or destroy shelters or resting places of bats if they get in the way of building work

B. All bat species and their roosts are protected. You cannot disturb them without licensed mitigation

C. Bats are not a protected species so you can disturb or destroy their shelters or resting places

D. You can move the shelters or resting places of bats as long as you do it at night when they are out hunting

Question 25 of 27

26. A plant refuelling point is to be set up on a new site. Which of the following is the preferred method of fuel transfer?

A. Pumped system with a nozzle fitted with an auto cut-off device

B. Decanting from jerry cans using a funnel

C. Siphon the fuel by mouth

D. Gravity feed from a bulk storage tank

Question 26 of 27

27. A full 200-litre drum carrying this symbol has toppled over and the whole content has seeped into the ground. Which one of the following agencies should be informed?