Fire Prevention and Control
Fire triangle, hot work, flammable materials, housekeeping, alarms, escape, extinguishers and evacuation priorities.
How to prepare for the CITB Operatives test
Connect hazard recognition with safe action: stop, protect, follow the site system and escalate to the right competent person.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Fire prevention controls ignition, fuel and oxygen sources through storage, housekeeping, equipment and authorised hot-work arrangements.
Exam cue: Remove combustible waste and protect flammable stores from ignition.
Concept 2
Workers must know how to raise the alarm, use escape routes and assemble; escape takes priority over fighting a developing fire.
Exam cue: Keep routes, doors, alarms and firefighting equipment unobstructed.
Concept 3
An extinguisher may be used only when trained, the correct type is available, the fire is small and a safe exit remains.
Exam cue: Raise the alarm first and leave if smoke, heat, size or uncertainty makes intervention unsafe.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Using water on live electrical equipment or burning flammable liquid.
Guardrail: Do not solve a missing guard, isolation, barrier, competent plan or engineering control only with a warning or PPE.
Finishing hot work without the required fire watch or area check.
Guardrail: Do not solve a missing guard, isolation, barrier, competent plan or engineering control only with a warning or PPE.
Re-entering to collect tools or personal belongings.
Guardrail: Do not solve a missing guard, isolation, barrier, competent plan or engineering control only with a warning or PPE.
Memory anchors
Heat, Fuel, Oxygen
Break the fire triangle by controlling ignition, combustibles or oxygen where appropriate.
Alarm Before Attack
Warn others and secure escape before considering an extinguisher.
Exit Behind You
Only attempt a small fire if trained and a safe escape route remains.
Hot Work Is Controlled
Use authorisation, area preparation, suitable equipment and post-work checks.
Routes Stay Clear
Escape doors, corridors and assembly access must remain usable.
Out Means Out
Do not return until the authorised person or emergency service declares it safe.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
What is Pass Harbor?
Completely free exam prep for 247 UK exams.
- Practice questions
- Flashcards
- Study guides
- Mock exams
- No registration
- No paywall
- Start instantly
“No more expensive exam prep. Quality study tools should be accessible to everyone.”