Looking to get your ECS Card?

The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) is a system for verifying the qualifications and competence of people employed in an electrotechnical role to ensure they are appropriated qualified, skilled and safe to work on a construction site. Possession of an ECS card proves that the cardholder has recently completed the ECS HS&E Assessment and has up-to-date health and safety knowledge.

The ECS card is equivalent to the CSCS card used in general construction, but is specific to electrotechnical roles. Examples of roles in the scope of ECS include: electricians, network cabling installers, fire and security system installers, site managers and supervisors. 

The ECS HS&E test contains 50 multiple choice questions selected from a database of over 300 possible questions. The test must be completed within 30 minutes (effectively 36 seconds per question) and 43 questions must be answered correctly for you to pass. No guides or notes will be allowed while taking the test.

A fixed number of questions for each topic are randomly selected to make up the 50 question total. The breakdown and subjectmatter for each topic are:

General Health and Safety at Work – 6 questions

You should be familiar with the foundational aspects of workplace safety, including:

• The relevance and impact of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, alongside associated regulations and codes of practice.
• The legal duties your employer must meet under health and safety law.
• Your own legal responsibilities to safeguard both yourself and those around you.
• How health and safety regulations are monitored and enforced across workplaces.
• The authority and inspection powers of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
• The meanings and functions of common safety signs found in work environments.

Manual Handling Operations – 4 questions

You should understand the key principles of safe manual handling, including:

• What manual handling entails in a workplace context and the obligations employers have to prevent injury.
• The potential injuries that may result from improper handling techniques.
• The body parts most vulnerable to strain or damage during manual handling.
• How to assess whether a manual handling task is safe to perform.
• Key factors that must be considered in a manual handling risk assessment.
• The best practices and correct methods for lifting and carrying loads safely.

Reporting Accidents – 3 questions

You should be knowledgeable about proper accident and incident reporting procedures, including:

• When and why it is necessary to report incidents, injuries, occupational diseases, and hazardous events to the appropriate authorities such as the HSE.
• The importance of informing your employer about any accidents or injuries.
• The requirement to document all incidents, even minor ones, in the workplace accident book.
• Understanding which incidents count as reportable injuries, diseases, or dangerous occurrences under workplace law.

Personal Protective Equipment and Work – 4 questions

You should understand the correct use and responsibilities surrounding PPE, including:

• When personal protective equipment (PPE) is required and its role in protecting you.
• The employer’s duty to provide appropriate PPE at no cost.
• Your obligation to wear and use the PPE issued by your employer.
• The importance of proper maintenance and care of your PPE.
• The need to report missing or damaged PPE to a supervisor promptly.
• The potential risks of not using PPE correctly or at all.
• Recognizing the limitations of PPE as a safety control measure.

Health and Hygiene – 3 questions

You should grasp basic occupational health principles, including:

• The hazards posed by substances like asbestos and other toxic materials.
• Why personal hygiene is critical when working with potentially dangerous substances.
• Measures to minimize exposure to diseases carried by pests or vermin.
• The types of welfare facilities that must be available on construction or industrial sites.
• Methods to mitigate the effects of vibration and excessive noise, particularly from hand tools.

Fire and Emergency inc Fire Safety in Buildings – 9 questions

You should be aware of emergency and fire safety procedures, such as:

• What actions to take during a workplace emergency or evacuation.
• The different types of fire extinguishers, and which ones are appropriate for various fire classes.
• The importance of immediate first aid following a workplace accident.
• Understanding fire prevention principles, including fire-stopping in buildings and the role of the Building Safety Regulator.

Work at Height – 5 questions

You should understand safety measures for working above ground level, including:

• The importance of selecting the right access equipment for each specific task.
• That ladders or stepladders should only be used for short, low-risk jobs.
• The safety precautions necessary when using scaffolding, mobile platforms, safety harnesses, or fall protection systems.

Work Equipment – 4 questions

You should know how to safely work with tools and machinery, including:

• Only operating equipment if you are properly trained and authorized.
• The necessity of pre-use inspections to identify any faults or hazards.
• The importance of reporting any malfunctioning equipment and avoiding its use.
• The safe use of low-voltage power systems on site for portable tools.
• Ensuring the correct and safe use of extension leads and power distribution.

Special Site Hazards – 3 questions

You should be informed about unique workplace hazards and how to handle them, including:

• The essential precautions for entering confined spaces safely.
• The safety steps required during excavation to avoid contact with buried utilities or collapse.
• The risks involved in working near overhead power lines and how to manage them.
• The dangers posed by site vehicles to pedestrians and how to minimize those risks.
• Recognizing that young workers and those working alone may face increased risks and require additional protections.

Electrotechnical – 6 questions

You should understand key safety practices related to electrical work, such as:

• The physical effects of electric shock on the human body.
• The varieties of socket outlets typically used in construction environments.
• The importance of ensuring that only competent personnel work on electrical systems.
• The role of residual current devices (RCDs) in preventing electric shock.
• Safe practices for isolating electrical circuits before work begins.
• Knowing that live working should only occur under exceptional circumstances and with strict controls.
• Safety guidelines for handling optical fibres during installation or maintenance.

Environmental – 3 questions

You should be aware of environmentally responsible practices, including:

• The legal duties related to the handling, storage, and disposal of materials.
• Methods to reduce waste, promote recycling, and use resources efficiently.
• How to identify and classify hazardous or special waste.
• The correct procedures for handling and disposing of dangerous materials safely.
• The importance of sustainability when selecting materials and managing resources on-site.

Anyone applying for an ECS card should already have a related electrotechnical qualification and be familiar with the expectations of working on a site. As such, we recommend doing as many practice questions as possible in order to get a feel for the types of questions that get asked.