CSCS Environmental Awareness 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on a large construction project?
- To identify and evaluate the likely significant effects of the project on the environment before work begins (Correct answer)
- To calculate the cost of restoring the site after construction is complete
- To measure the noise levels produced by construction equipment
- To determine how many workers are needed to complete the project
Correct answer: To identify and evaluate the likely significant effects of the project on the environment before work begins
An EIA identifies potential environmental effects before work starts so that mitigation measures can be designed into the project.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'contaminated land' in a construction context?
- Land where substances in or under the ground pose a risk to health, property, or the environment (Correct answer)
- Any land that has previously been built on
- Land that has not been used for farming in the past 20 years
- Land located within 100 metres of a watercourse
Correct answer: Land where substances in or under the ground pose a risk to health, property, or the environment
Contaminated land contains hazardous substances — such as heavy metals or hydrocarbons — that pose risks and require specialist remediation.
Question 3: What action should a site operative take if they notice diesel leaking from a generator onto bare soil?
- Stop the generator, contain the spill with absorbent material, and report it immediately (Correct answer)
- Allow the fuel to drain away naturally into the ground
- Hose the area down with water to dilute the fuel
- Continue working and note it in the site diary at end of day
Correct answer: Stop the generator, contain the spill with absorbent material, and report it immediately
Immediate containment prevents soil and groundwater contamination; reporting ensures proper cleanup and incident recording.
Question 4: Why is it important to segregate waste into separate skips on a construction site?
- Segregation enables more materials to be recycled and reduces disposal costs (Correct answer)
- It is faster to fill one large skip than several smaller ones
- Mixing all waste together makes it easier to weigh
- Segregation is only required for hazardous waste
Correct answer: Segregation enables more materials to be recycled and reduces disposal costs
Separating waste streams (timber, metal, concrete, plastics) maximises recycling rates and lowers landfill tax costs.
Question 5: Which of the following activities requires an environmental permit issued by the relevant authority?
- Discharging treated water from a construction site into a watercourse (Correct answer)
- Storing clean aggregates on site in a covered area
- Using battery-powered tools on site
- Painting site hoardings with water-based paint
Correct answer: Discharging treated water from a construction site into a watercourse
Discharging any water to a watercourse requires a permit from the environmental regulator (e.g., EPA or state authority) to control pollution.
Question 6: What is the main risk of allowing cement washout water to enter a storm drain?
- The highly alkaline water can kill aquatic life in connected watercourses (Correct answer)
- The cement may harden and block the drain, causing flooding on site
- It could reduce the pH of drinking water in the local area
- The washout water could corrode metal pipes within the drainage system
Correct answer: The highly alkaline water can kill aquatic life in connected watercourses
Cement washout is strongly alkaline (pH 11-13) and toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms if it reaches a watercourse.
Question 7: What does 'reduce, reuse, recycle' hierarchy mean for construction waste management?
- Preventing waste generation is preferred over reuse, which is preferred over recycling as a last resort (Correct answer)
- Recycling is the most important step and should always come first
- All three options are equally important and should be applied at the same time
- The hierarchy only applies to domestic waste, not construction waste
Correct answer: Preventing waste generation is preferred over reuse, which is preferred over recycling as a last resort
The waste hierarchy prioritises reducing waste at source first, then reusing materials, with recycling only when the first two options are not possible.
CSCS Environmental Awareness 3
What is the purpose of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on a large construction project?