CITB Health and Safety Awareness (HSA)

The CITB Health and Safety Awareness course, commonly known as CITB HSA, is a one day Site Safety Plus course for construction operatives and people preparing to work on construction sites.

This awareness-level course introduces the potential risks and hazards delegates may face on site. It explains how delegates can help protect themselves and others, outlines employers’ health and safety duties and explains what to do if someone’s health or safety may be at risk.

Our online CITB HSA course is delivered live through Zoom by a CITB Site Safety Plus tutor. Successful delegates receive a CITB Health and Safety Awareness certificate valid for five years.

The course can also be used as an approved route towards the Green CSCS Labourer Card when combined with the separate CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test for Operatives.

Who should attend the CITB HSA course?

This course is suitable for:

• Construction labourers
• New construction operatives
• People preparing to start work on a construction site
• Delegates who need an approved course for a Green CSCS Labourer Card application
• Existing operatives who need to refresh their health and safety awareness

The Green CSCS Labourer Card is only intended for people carrying out labouring duties. Skilled workers should apply for the CSCS card appropriate to their occupation instead of using a Labourer Card.

Using CITB HSA for a Green CSCS Labourer Card

CITB HSA is an approved alternative to the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment for Green CSCS Labourer Card applications.

To apply for a Green CSCS Labourer Card using the HSA route, you will need to:

1. Complete the CITB Health and Safety Awareness course.
2. Pass the separate CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test for Operatives within two years of your card application.
3. Apply for the Green CSCS Labourer Card directly through CSCS.

Completing the HSA course does not automatically issue a CSCS card. The CITB HS&E Test is a separate test and must be booked independently. 

The first Green CSCS Labourer Card issued to an applicant is valid for two years. A delegate who remains in a labouring role may then be able to renew for five years by providing evidence that they are working as a labourer.

Although the HSA certificate is valid for five years, CSCS currently requires recognised alternative courses with five-year validity to have been completed within four years of the card application.

Read our Green CSCS Labourer Card guide for more information.

What does the updated HSA course cover?

The updated course is organised into five modules.

Module 1: General rules, regulations and responsibilities

• General health and safety responsibilities
• Site inductions
• Hazards, risks and control measures
• Accident reporting and recording
• Behaviour and safety
• Lone working

Module 2: Health and welfare

• Health and welfare on site
• First aid and emergency procedures
• Personal protective equipment
• Asbestos
• Dust, fumes and respiratory hazards
• Noise and vibration
• Hazardous substances
• Manual handling

Module 3: General safety

• Safety signs and signals
• Fire prevention and control
• Electrical safety
• Work equipment and hand-held tools
• Mobile plant, vehicles and work equipment

Module 4: High-risk activities

• Working at height
• Excavations
• Confined spaces

Module 5: Environmental awareness

• Preventing environmental damage and pollution
• Correct waste management on construction sites

By the end of the course, delegates should have a better understanding of their responsibilities, common construction hazards and how they can contribute to a safer and healthier workplace.

HSA is awareness-level training. Attendance does not confer competence as an operative on site. Competence comes from a combination of education, training and experience and should be judged by an appropriate senior individual.

Online CITB Health and Safety Awareness course

The online HSA course is delivered live through Zoom. It is interactive, tutor-led training rather than self-paced e-learning.

Delegates will need:

• A computer or laptop suitable for joining Zoom
• A working webcam and microphone
• A reliable internet connection
• A quiet place from which to attend
• Photographic identification
• The ability to attend and participate throughout the course

Delegates attending remotely must remain visible by video at all times and have their microphone on for the duration of the course. The end-of-course examination is completed using an approved online assessment system.

Full attendance is mandatory. If a delegate cannot complete the course, they will normally need to restart the full course on another date.

Delegates joining remotely from outside Great Britain may be required to complete a declaration confirming that they are attending the course to work within the British construction industry.

Course workbook

Each delegate will receive their own copy of the mandatory CITB HSA course workbook in either digital or printed format, depending on the delivery arrangements.

The workbook follows the five course modules and contains the mandatory exercises used during the course. Delegates retain the workbook after completing the training so that it can be used for reference and continuing development.

This replaces the existing page wording about downloading the GE707 Safe Start handbook and reader application.

Entry requirements

There are no formal qualification requirements for attending the HSA course. The course is designed to be suitable for delegates with different levels of construction experience.

Delegates must:

• Have written and spoken English at construction-operative level
• Provide photographic identification
• Attend the full course
• Participate in the mandatory exercises
• Pass the trainer review
• Pass the end-of-course examination

Examples of suitable identification include a driving licence or passport.

Contact Essential Site Skills before booking if you need advice about English-language requirements or reasonable adjustments.

Delegates under 18 must provide any parental or guardian consent requested as part of the booking process.

Delegate numbers

For the HSA course, the minimum number of delegates per course is two and the maximum is 20.

For remote delivery, the minimum number is two and the maximum is 12.

These numbers are stipulated by CITB.