Free Practice Questions for SST

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Key Facts: SST Exam

14 h

Initial training duration (minimum face-to-face)

INRS Document de référence V8

24 mo

Certificate validity before mandatory MAC refresher

INRS SST Framework

Core competencies evaluated across 2 domains

Grille de certification INRS

4–10

Trainees per session for interactive pedagogy

INRS Training Standards

30 : 2

Adult CPR compression-to-ventilation ratio

INRS Guide des données techniques

R.4224-15

French Labour Code article mandating workplace first-aiders

Code du travail

The French SST (Sauveteur Secouriste du Travail) certification by INRS is a 14-hour face-to-face course for 4–10 participants with two terminal certification tests (individual practical scenario ~7 min and prevention oral ~5 min). All 8 competencies across emergency intervention and workplace prevention must be validated. The certificate is valid for 24 months (7-hour MAC refresher every 2 years). This 100-question English-language MCQ bank is a study adaptation of the INRS syllabus and does not replace mandatory practical and oral certification.

Sample SST Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the SST exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under Article R.4224-15 of the French Labour Code (Code du travail), in which workplace setting is an employer legally required to ensure at least one trained workplace first-aider (SST) is present?

A.In any commercial office with more than 5 employees

B.In each workshop where hazardous work is performed, and on construction/civil engineering sites employing at least 20 workers for more than 15 days involving hazardous operations

C.Exclusively in facilities classified for environmental protection (ICPE) with Seveso status

D.Only when requested in writing by the labor inspectorate (inspection du travail)

Explanation: Article R.4224-15 of the French Labour Code specifically mandates the presence of at least one workplace first-aider in each workshop where hazardous work is performed, and on construction/civil engineering sites (chantiers de BTP) employing at least 20 workers for more than 15 days where hazardous tasks are carried out.

2What is the official validity period of the French Sauveteur Secouriste du Travail (SST) certificate before requiring refresher training?

A.12 months (1 year)

B.36 months (3 years)

C.24 months (2 years)

D.Permanent with no mandatory renewal

Explanation: Under the INRS SST reference document (Document de référence du dispositif SST), the SST certificate is valid for 24 months (2 years). To maintain certification validity, the first-aider must complete a 7-hour refresher course called MAC SST (Maintien et Actualisation des Compétences) every 24 months.

3What is the minimum duration and recommended group size for an initial SST training course according to INRS standards?

A.14 hours of face-to-face training for a group of 4 to 10 candidates

B.7 hours of blended e-learning for up to 20 candidates

C.21 hours of practical workshops for an unlimited group size

D.10 hours of self-study followed by a 2-hour practical test

Explanation: According to the INRS Document de référence V8, the initial SST training course requires a minimum of 14 hours of face-to-face instruction for groups of 4 to 10 participants. This group size ensures that every trainee participates actively in practical simulation scenarios and oral evaluations.

4What are the two distinct, complementary domains of competence defined in the INRS SST certification curriculum?

A.Fire suppression and chemical spillage decontamination

B.Workplace ergonomics and psychological crisis management

C.Industrial machinery repair and occupational medical diagnosis

D.Intervening face-to-face in a workplace accident situation and contributing to occupational risk prevention in the enterprise

Explanation: The INRS SST framework is divided into two primary domains: Domaine 1 (Intervenir face à une situation d'accident du travail) covering emergency protection, examination, alert, and first-aid actions (Competencies 1 to 5), and Domaine 2 (Contribuer à la prévention des risques professionnels dans l'entreprise) covering risk analysis, hazard elimination, and prevention proposals (Competencies 6 to 8).

5When placing an emergency medical call in France for a critical health event at work, which national telephone number directly reaches the SAMU (Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente)?

A.18

B.15

C.17

D.114

Explanation: In France, dialing 15 directly connects the caller to the SAMU (Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente), where an emergency physician (médecin régulateur) coordinates medical dispatch and mobile intensive care units (SMUR). Dialing 18 connects to Sapeurs-Pompiers (fire/rescue), 17 to Police/Gendarmerie, and 114 is the emergency text number for deaf or hard-of-hearing persons.

6What is the primary purpose of the European emergency telephone number 112 in the context of workplace emergency response?

A.To provide a universal, toll-free emergency access number reachable across all EU member states from any landline or mobile phone

B.To connect directly to the company occupational health service (SPST)

C.To report non-urgent labor code violations to the regional DREETS

D.To request replacement first-aid kit supplies from the CARSAT

Explanation: The number 112 is the European emergency number available free of charge across all EU member states. In France, calls to 112 are routed to emergency dispatch centers (Pompiers or SAMU depending on local organization) and can be dialed from any mobile phone even without a SIM card or locked keypad.

7An employee who holds an active SST certificate undergoes MAC SST recertification. How long is the MAC SST session and what occurs if a candidate fails to demonstrate competence in one of the required areas?

A.MAC is 14 hours; the candidate must retake the entire initial training course from scratch within 3 months

B.MAC is 4 hours; the certificate is automatically extended provisionally for 1 year while remedial work is completed

C.MAC is 7 hours; if all competencies are not validated, the certificate is not renewed and the candidate cannot act as a certified SST until validation is achieved

D.MAC is a 30-minute written questionnaire; candidates with passing scores renew for 5 years

Explanation: Under the INRS reference document, MAC SST lasts a minimum of 7 hours for a group of 4 to 10 trainees. During the session, competencies are evaluated. If a candidate does not demonstrate the required skills across both domains, the certificate is not renewed. The person cannot act as an official certified SST until they validate the missing competencies.

8How does a current SST certificate relate to France's civilian Premiers secours citoyen (PSC), formerly called PSC1?

A.PSC includes all SST workplace-prevention competencies, but SST holders receive no civilian equivalence

B.The two certificates are entirely separate with no recognized equivalencies or overlapping techniques

C.SST holders must pass a separate 7-hour civil-protection exam to obtain PSC equivalence

D.A person whose SST certificate is current is deemed to hold the PSC unit; SST additionally covers workplace rescue organization and prevention

Explanation: The Arrêté of 5 December 2002 recognizes a person current in SST continuing training as holding the civilian first-aid unit. Since the Arrêté of 15 June 2024, Premiers secours citoyen (PSC) replaces the name PSC1 in regulatory texts. SST adds workplace rescue organization and occupational-risk prevention to the shared first-aid competencies.

9What is the first link in the 'rescue chain' (chaîne des secours) within an enterprise when an accident occurs?

A.Arrival of the external emergency physician (SMUR) on site

B.Immediate recognition, protection, and initial response by the witness or on-site SST

C.Convening an extraordinary meeting of the Social and Economic Committee (CSE)

D.Completing the employer accident report form (déclaration d'accident du travail)

Explanation: In the workplace rescue chain, the first and most critical link is the witness or on-site SST who detects the incident, suppresses or isolates persistent dangers (protection), rapidly examines the victim, initiates the internal/external alert, and delivers vital first-aid gestures before professional emergency services arrive.

10According to the INRS evaluation guidelines (Document de référence V8), how is the terminal certification of an SST candidate structured?

A.Two mandatory terminal evaluation tests: an individual practical scenario simulating a workplace accident (~7 min) and an oral/group interview on prevention and legal roles (~5 min)

B.A 50-question computer-based multiple-choice exam requiring an 80% passing score

C.Continuous formative evaluation without any terminal practical or oral assessment

D.A written risk assessment report reviewed by the departmental labor inspector

Explanation: The INRS SST reference document establishes that certification is based on two mandatory terminal evaluation tests (épreuves certificatives terminales): Test 1 is an individual practical simulation scenario (~7 minutes per candidate) evaluating intervention competencies (C2, C3, C4, C5), and Test 2 is an oral or group interview (~5 minutes per candidate) evaluating prevention competencies and legal roles (C1, C6, C7, C8). All 8 competencies must be validated.

About the SST Exam

The Sauveteur Secouriste du Travail (SST) certification is France's national workplace first-aid credential governed by the Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité (INRS) and the French National Health Insurance for Occupational Risks (Assurance Maladie - Risques Professionnels). Required in hazardous worksites under Article R.4224-15 of the French Labour Code (Code du travail), the certification equips workers with two complementary missions: intervening immediately and appropriately during workplace emergencies (Domaine de compétences 1: protect, examine, alert, rescue) and contributing actively to occupational injury prevention and hazard elimination (Domaine de compétences 2: risk characterization and prevention proposals). The official certification requires a mandatory 14-hour in-person training course followed by two terminal certification tests (a ~7-minute individual simulated accident practical scenario and a ~5-minute prevention oral). All 8 competencies must be acquired. SST certificates are valid for 24 months, renewable via a 7-hour refresher (MAC SST). This 100-question English-language practice bank is a study adaptation designed for knowledge mastery and theoretical review; it does not replace the mandatory practical hands-on training or in-person certification tests.

Exam sponsor: Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité (INRS) / Assurance Maladie Risques Professionnels. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Terminal certification comprises two tests conducted at the end of the 14-hour course: Épreuve 1 is an individual simulated accident practical scenario (~7 min) testing competencies C2 (protect), C3 (examine), C4 (alert), and C5 (rescue); Épreuve 2 is an individual or group oral interview (~5 min) testing C1 and C6 (rescue/prevention organization), C7 (risk characterization), and C8 (participating in prevention actions). Both tests are evaluated using the standardized national INRS grid.

Time Limit

Maximum 2 hours total for the terminal certification tests of the group (approximately 12 minutes per candidate: 7 min practical + 5 min oral) following the 14-hour initial training course

Passing Score

Validation of all 8 core competencies across the 2 certification tests according to the national INRS evaluation grid

Exam / Certification Fees

No central certification fee or national tariff; training prices are set by habilitated providers or handled through an eligible employer's training arrangements

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

15%

SST Role & Enterprise Emergency Organization

Rescue chain, internal emergency procedures, French emergency numbers (15 SAMU, 18 Pompiers, 112 European emergency), and communication protocols

15%

Workplace Protection & Emergency Extraction

Suppressing or isolating persistent hazards, danger recognition, protecting rescuers and bystanders, emergency extraction (dégagement d'urgence) techniques

15%

Victim Examination & Alerting Protocols

Systematic assessment sequence (bleeding, choking, consciousness, breathing), structured alert message content, and transmission to internal/external responders

35%

Appropriate First-Aid Actions & Life Support

Heavy bleeding control (compression, tourniquet/garrot), severe airway obstruction (back slaps, Heimlich/chest thrusts), recovery position (PLS), CPR (30:2) and automated external defibrillation (DAE), burns, and trauma

20%

Workplace Prevention & Occupational Risk Analysis

Legal foundations (Code du travail R.4224-15, L.4121-1, L.4121-2), 9 general principles of prevention, hazard vs. risk characterization, danger-event-damage chain, and reporting preventive improvements

Preparing for the SST Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Validation of all 8 core competencies across the 2 certification tests according to the national INRS evaluation grid
Assessment: Terminal certification comprises two tests conducted at the end of the 14-hour course: Épreuve 1 is an individual simulated accident practical scenario (~7 min) testing competencies C2 (protect), C3 (examine), C4 (alert), and C5 (rescue); Épreuve 2 is an individual or group oral interview (~5 min) testing C1 and C6 (rescue/prevention organization), C7 (risk characterization), and C8 (participating in prevention actions). Both tests are evaluated using the standardized national INRS grid.
Time limit: Maximum 2 hours total for the terminal certification tests of the group (approximately 12 minutes per candidate: 7 min practical + 5 min oral) following the 14-hour initial training course
Exam / certification fees: No central certification fee or national tariff; training prices are set by habilitated providers or handled through an eligible employer's training arrangements Official sources

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SST: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master the SST response sequence: Protéger, Examiner, Faire alerter ou alerter, then Secourir, while following the enterprise's emergency organization.

2Memorize the examination hierarchy: Check for heavy bleeding first, then severe choking, responsiveness, and breathing before any secondary injuries.

3Know the exact CPR parameters: 30 chest compressions at 100–120 bpm at a depth of 5–6 cm, alternating with 2 rescue breaths, and early DAE/AED deployment.

4Understand the 9 General Principles of Prevention (Article L.4121-2): Always prioritize eliminating hazards at the source and collective protection over personal protective equipment (EPI).

5Structure alert messages concisely: Location, nature of incident, number and state of victims, actions already taken, and only hang up when instructed by dispatch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sauveteur Secouriste du Travail (SST) certification?

The SST is a recognized French national occupational qualification created by INRS and the Assurance Maladie - Risques Professionnels. It trains workplace personnel to deliver immediate first aid during accidents and act as front-line prevention contributors identifying occupational hazards.

How is the official SST certification assessed?

Certification is not an MCQ or written exam. Candidates take two terminal certification tests (épreuves certificatives) lasting no more than 2 hours total for the group: Épreuve 1 is an individual practical simulated accident scenario (~7 minutes per candidate) and Épreuve 2 is an oral or group interview on prevention and legal roles (~5 minutes per candidate). All 8 competencies must be acquired.

Is an employer legally required to have SSTs in the workplace?

Yes. Under Article R.4224-15 of the French Labour Code, employers must have at least one trained workplace first-aider in each workshop where hazardous work is performed, and on construction/civil engineering sites employing at least 20 workers for more than 15 days involving hazardous operations.

What are the 8 core competencies required for certification?

Domaine 1 (Intervention): C1 (Situate SST role in rescue organization), C2 (Protect), C3 (Examine), C4 (Alert), C5 (Rescue). Domaine 2 (Prevention): C6 (Situate SST role in prevention organization), C7 (Characterize occupational risks), and C8 (Participate in prevention actions).

How long is the SST certificate valid and how is it renewed?

The SST certificate is valid for 24 months (2 years). To maintain validity, certificants must complete a mandatory 7-hour refresher training course called MAC SST (Maintien et Actualisation des Compétences) before the 24-month expiration date.

Does this practice question bank replace the official SST training course?

No. This 100-question practice bank is an English-language study adaptation designed to help learners master the theoretical, procedural, and regulatory knowledge of the INRS framework. It cannot replace the mandatory 14-hour hands-on training or practical certification scenarios.

What is the difference between SST and PSC in France?

PSC (Premiers secours citoyen, formerly PSC1) is the public civic first-aid certificate. A valid SST certificate is recognized as equivalent to the PSC certificate, while SST also covers the worker's role in occupational-risk prevention and the employer's workplace emergency organization.

Which emergency telephone numbers must an SST know in France?

An SST must master four primary French and European numbers: 15 (SAMU — medical emergencies), 18 (Sapeurs-Pompiers — fire and rescue), 112 (European emergency number for all services), and 114 (national emergency SMS/text number for deaf or hard-of-hearing persons).