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100+ Free Safe Pass Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Safe Pass Exam

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

10

Official Modules

SOLAS

14 of 20

In-class Pass Mark

SOLAS

45 of 50

Online Renewal Pass Mark

SOLAS

4 years

Card Validity

SOLAS

1 day

Course Length

SOLAS

Safe Pass is the mandatory one-day SOLAS construction Safety Awareness Training programme required to work on most construction sites in the Republic of Ireland. It covers 10 modules: health and safety legislation and duties, accidents and emergencies, health and hygiene, manual handling, working at heights, excavations and confined spaces, electricity and underground/overhead services, PPE, site vehicles, and noise, vibration and dust. Candidates pass a multiple-choice assessment (14 of 20 in class, or 45 of 50 on the online renewal test) to receive a Safe Pass card valid for four years, after which it must be renewed. This free prep includes 100 research-based practice questions with explanations and an AI tutor.

Sample Safe Pass Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Safe Pass exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which piece of legislation is the main statute governing health and safety in Irish workplaces, including construction sites?
A.The Factories Act 1955
B.The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
C.The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
D.The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Explanation: The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 is the primary piece of occupational health and safety legislation in the Republic of Ireland and is enforced by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). It sets out the general duties of employers and employees.
2Which body is responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation on construction sites in Ireland?
A.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
B.SOLAS
C.The Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
D.An Garda Siochana
Explanation: The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the Irish state body responsible for enforcing occupational health and safety law, including carrying out inspections and issuing improvement and prohibition notices on construction sites.
3Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, what is a key duty placed on every employee?
A.To carry out the site safety inspections
B.To take reasonable care to protect their own safety and that of others, and to cooperate with the employer
C.To pay for their own personal protective equipment
D.To write the site safety statement
Explanation: Section 13 of the 2005 Act requires employees to take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts, and to cooperate with their employer on safety matters. Writing the safety statement and providing PPE are employer duties.
4What document must every employer prepare that sets out how safety and health will be managed in the workplace?
A.A method statement
B.A safety statement
C.A permit to work
D.A risk register only
Explanation: The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires every employer to prepare a written safety statement based on the identification of hazards and the assessment of risks. It specifies how safety, health and welfare will be secured and managed.
5On a construction project, which document outlines how the principal contractor will manage health and safety for the construction stage?
A.The safety file
B.The construction-stage safety and health plan
C.The Safe Pass register
D.The site diary
Explanation: Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, the project supervisor for the construction stage (PSCS) develops and updates the construction-stage safety and health plan, which sets out the safety arrangements for the project.
6An HSA inspector finds an activity that involves a serious risk of injury. Which enforcement notice can require that the activity stop immediately?
A.An improvement notice
B.A prohibition notice
C.A penalty notice
D.An advisory letter
Explanation: A prohibition notice is issued by an HSA inspector where there is a risk of serious personal injury, and it requires the activity to stop immediately until the risk is remedied. An improvement notice allows time to fix a less urgent contravention.
7What is the main purpose of carrying out a risk assessment before starting a task?
A.To assign blame after an accident
B.To identify hazards, assess the risks, and decide on control measures
C.To increase the cost of the job
D.To replace the need for training
Explanation: A risk assessment identifies the hazards present, evaluates the likelihood and severity of harm, and determines the control measures needed to reduce risk. It is a proactive process carried out before work begins, not after an incident.
8In safety terminology, what is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
A.They mean exactly the same thing
B.A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm; a risk is the likelihood and severity of that harm occurring
C.A risk is the equipment and a hazard is the person
D.A hazard only exists indoors and a risk only outdoors
Explanation: A hazard is any source or situation with the potential to cause harm (for example a trailing cable). The risk is the chance that harm will actually occur, combined with how serious it could be. Distinguishing the two is fundamental to risk assessment.
9Which of the following best describes a 'safe system of work'?
A.Working as fast as possible to finish early
B.A planned method of working that identifies hazards and sets out safe procedures and controls
C.Only using equipment that is brand new
D.Letting each worker decide their own method
Explanation: A safe system of work is a formal, planned procedure resulting from examining a task to identify hazards and define methods and controls that eliminate or minimise risk. It ensures work is carried out consistently and safely.
10What does promoting a positive 'safety culture' on a construction site mean?
A.Only managers care about safety
B.Everyone shares responsibility for safety and looks out for themselves and others
C.Safety is only important during inspections
D.Reporting hazards is discouraged to avoid delays
Explanation: A positive safety culture means that safe behaviour is valued by everyone on site, hazards are reported openly, and each worker takes responsibility for their own safety and that of colleagues. It reduces accidents by making safety a shared everyday priority.

About the Safe Pass Exam

Safe Pass is SOLAS's mandatory one-day construction Safety Awareness Training programme in Ireland. It covers 10 modules from health and safety legislation under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to working at height, excavations, electricity, PPE, site vehicles, and noise, vibration and dust. Candidates pass a multiple-choice assessment to receive a Safe Pass card valid for four years.

Assessment

A 1-day SOLAS Safety Awareness Training programme followed by a 20-question multiple-choice assessment (14 of 20 to pass); the online renewal test is 50 questions in 45 minutes (45 to pass). This practice bank is 100 selected-response items across all 10 modules

Time Limit

1-day programme; 45 minutes for the online renewal test

Passing Score

70% (14 of 20 in class; 45 of 50 online)

Exam Fee

~€100-150 for the one-day course (varies by provider); renewal ~€93.84 including a new card (SOLAS (Further Education and Training Authority of Ireland))

Safe Pass Exam Content Outline

18%

Health & Safety Legislation & Duties

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, Construction Regulations, HSA enforcement notices, safety statements, risk assessment, safe systems of work, and safety culture

12%

Accidents & Emergency Procedures

Accident and near-miss reporting, HSA thresholds, fire triangle and extinguishers, evacuation, and first aid

9%

Health, Hygiene & Welfare

Welfare facilities, personal hygiene, cement and chemical hazards, asbestos, safety data sheets, and drugs and alcohol

8%

Manual Handling

Manual handling hierarchy, kinetic lifting technique, TILE factors, and prevention of back and musculoskeletal injuries

13%

Working at Heights

Falls from height, fall-protection hierarchy, ladders, scaffolds and tags, MEWPs, fragile roofs, and falling objects

10%

Excavations & Confined Spaces

Excavation collapse, shoring, battering and benching, underground services, confined-space atmospheres, and permits to work

9%

Electricity & Underground/Overhead Services

110V reduced low-voltage tools, RCDs, tool inspection, overhead lines, plant contact, and treating cables as live

8%

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE as a last resort, employer provision, and head, eye, foot, hearing and respiratory protection

8%

Site Vehicles & Transport

Pedestrian segregation, banksmen, reversing, plant operator competence, overturning, ROPS and seatbelts, and stop-blocks

5%

Noise, Vibration & Dust

Noise exposure action values, hand-arm vibration, silica dust and silicosis, dust control, and safety sign colours

How to Pass the Safe Pass Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70% (14 of 20 in class; 45 of 50 online)
  • Assessment: A 1-day SOLAS Safety Awareness Training programme followed by a 20-question multiple-choice assessment (14 of 20 to pass); the online renewal test is 50 questions in 45 minutes (45 to pass). This practice bank is 100 selected-response items across all 10 modules
  • Time limit: 1-day programme; 45 minutes for the online renewal test
  • Exam fee: ~€100-150 for the one-day course (varies by provider); renewal ~€93.84 including a new card

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Safe Pass Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus most on legislation and duties, working at height, and accident procedures, which carry the most questions
2Learn the Irish specifics: the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, the HSA, improvement vs prohibition notices, and the 'more than 3 days' accident reporting threshold
3Memorise the safety sign colours: red prohibition, yellow warning, blue mandatory, green safe condition
4Know the key control hierarchies: eliminate first and PPE last, and collective fall protection before personal harnesses
5Remember practical numbers: 110V centre-tapped tools, a roughly 75-degree (1-in-4) ladder angle, 7-day scaffold inspections, and noise action values of 80 and 85 dB(A)
6Complete all 100 practice questions and review every miss with the AI tutor before your course assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Safe Pass test and what is the pass mark?

The in-class Safe Pass assessment has 20 multiple-choice questions, and you need 14 correct (70%) to pass. The online renewal test taken at a Pearson VUE centre has 50 questions in 45 minutes, and you must answer 45 correctly to pass.

How long is a Safe Pass card valid for?

A Safe Pass card is valid for four years from the date of issue. Before it expires you must renew it, either by repeating the one-day course or by sitting the online renewal test at a registered Pearson VUE centre.

What topics does the Safe Pass programme cover?

It covers 10 modules: health and safety legislation and duties, accidents and emergencies, health and hygiene, manual handling, working at heights, excavations and confined spaces, electricity and underground or overhead services, PPE, site vehicles, and noise, vibration and dust.

Who needs a Safe Pass card in Ireland?

Anyone working on a construction site in the Republic of Ireland generally needs a valid Safe Pass card, as do many other people working in construction-related roles. It demonstrates that the holder has completed basic health and safety awareness training.

How much does Safe Pass cost?

The one-day Safe Pass course typically costs around €100-150 depending on the approved provider. The online renewal option costs about €93.84, which includes the fee for the new Safe Pass card, with a resit fee of around €29.84 if needed.

Is this free Safe Pass practice test useful preparation?

Yes. Our 100 practice questions cover all 10 official Safe Pass modules using correct Irish terminology and legislation, with a teaching explanation for every answer plus free daily AI tutor help. All content is free forever and updated for 2026.