You are setting out a job near a wooden-pole line, and GS6 says to manage the risk within 10 m of it. Where is that 10 m measured from?

HSE guidance note GS6 measures the 10 m horizontally at ground level, from the spot directly below the nearest wire. Measuring from the pole is tempting, but the wires run between poles and the nearest one may be well away from any pole. The 10 m is a ground distance that triggers planning, not a height, and a field boundary has nothing to do with it.

From the base of the nearest pole, along the line of the wires

From the top of your ladder, straight up to the lowest wire

Across the ground, from the point below the nearest wire

From the boundary fence of the land that the line crosses

Short, unavoidable ground-level work has to go on beside an 11 kV line that cannot be switched off, and the 3 m exclusion zone has been set out. What else does GS6 say to allow for?

GS6 says no part of any equipment, ladders, poles and hand tools included, may be able to get into the exclusion zone, and that you should allow for error in your measurements and for movement, for example a ladder caught by the wind. The zone is a minimum (GS6 gives 3 m as the minimum extent for 11 kV and 33 kV lines), not a margin to work up to. The voltage sets the minimum zone but is not the only thing to allow for, and hand tools are named alongside ladders and plant.

Nothing, as the 3 m figure already builds in a full safety margin

Errors in measuring, and movement such as a ladder in the wind

Only the voltage, as that alone decides how big the zone must be

Only the reach of plant, as hand tools are allowed in the zone

On a site where nothing needs to pass under an overhead line, what is the 6 m figure in GS6 used for?

Where nobody and nothing has to go under the line, GS6 says ground-level barriers should keep people and plant 6 m from the nearest wire on each side, with nothing stored inside. The owner may advise a wider zone. The 11 kV exclusion zone is 3 m, planning starts at 10 m, and GS6 sets no 6 m working gap for a MEWP basket.

The exclusion zone for short work beside an 11 kV line

The point at which planning work near the line begins

The gap HSE allows between a MEWP basket and the wires

The width of the barrier zone each side of the line

Free mock exam

Working at height as an electrician — Working at Height Practice

Free topic-focused mock exam: all 30 questions on Working at height as an electrician, drawn from the wider Working at Height bank. 35-minute timer, 70% to pass, worked explanation on every question. Use this when you've taken the full mock once and want to drill the topics you got wrong.

Questions: 30
Time limit: 35 min
Pass mark: 70% · 21/30
Question bank: 30

Free, no sign-up. Retake as many times as you like — the questions are reshuffled, with the answer order changed.

Sample questions

01You are setting out a job near a wooden-pole line, and GS6 says to manage the risk within 10 m of it. Where is that 10 m measured from?
- AAcross the ground, from the point below the nearest wire
- BFrom the top of your ladder, straight up to the lowest wire
- CFrom the base of the nearest pole, along the line of the wires
- DFrom the boundary fence of the land that the line crosses
Why: HSE guidance note GS6 measures the 10 m horizontally at ground level, from the spot directly below the nearest wire. Measuring from the pole is tempting, but the wires run between poles and the nearest one may be well away from any pole. The 10 m is a ground distance that triggers planning, not a height, and a field boundary has nothing to do with it.
02Short, unavoidable ground-level work has to go on beside an 11 kV line that cannot be switched off, and the 3 m exclusion zone has been set out. What else does GS6 say to allow for?
- AErrors in measuring, and movement such as a ladder in the wind
- BOnly the voltage, as that alone decides how big the zone must be
- COnly the reach of plant, as hand tools are allowed in the zone
- DNothing, as the 3 m figure already builds in a full safety margin
Why: GS6 says no part of any equipment, ladders, poles and hand tools included, may be able to get into the exclusion zone, and that you should allow for error in your measurements and for movement, for example a ladder caught by the wind. The zone is a minimum (GS6 gives 3 m as the minimum extent for 11 kV and 33 kV lines), not a margin to work up to. The voltage sets the minimum zone but is not the only thing to allow for, and hand tools are named alongside ladders and plant.
03On a site where nothing needs to pass under an overhead line, what is the 6 m figure in GS6 used for?
- AThe gap HSE allows between a MEWP basket and the wires
- BThe exclusion zone for short work beside an 11 kV line
- CThe point at which planning work near the line begins
- DThe width of the barrier zone each side of the line
Why: Where nobody and nothing has to go under the line, GS6 says ground-level barriers should keep people and plant 6 m from the nearest wire on each side, with nothing stored inside. The owner may advise a wider zone. The 11 kV exclusion zone is 3 m, planning starts at 10 m, and GS6 sets no 6 m working gap for a MEWP basket.

Common questions

Is the Working at height as an electrician mock exam free?

Yes — 100% free, no sign-up needed. Questions are pulled at random from a substantial bank, with a worked explanation on every question after you submit.

Can I retake the mock exam?

Yes. Every attempt picks a different random selection and reshuffles the options, so each retake gives you genuinely new questions. No limit on retakes.

Does this count towards the real qualification?

No — this is independent practice material. To gain the actual qualification you need to sit the official assessment through an approved provider.