OSHA 30 (Construction) practice questions and exam guide

Which standard set applies to a residential framing crew?

1. 29 CFR 1910 General Industry
2. 29 CFR 1928 Agriculture
3. 29 CFR 1926 Construction
4. 29 CFR 1915 Maritime

Answer: C — 29 CFR 1926 Construction

Wrong-standard trick. Construction work falls under 1926, not General Industry 1910.

OSHA poster requirement is:

1. Optional
2. Mandatory display in workplace listing worker rights
3. For factories only
4. Only on Mondays

Answer: B — Mandatory display in workplace listing worker rights

A/C/D) Wrong. B) Correct — 'It's the Law' poster.

The OSHA Form 300A annual summary must be posted from:

1. January 1 to March 31
2. March 1 to May 31
3. Year-round
4. February 1 to April 30

Answer: D — February 1 to April 30

Off-by-one date trick. Feb 1 through April 30 each year.

The Construction Focus Four hazards are:

1. Falls, electrocution, lifting, repetitive motion
2. Chemical, heat, biological, fire
3. Falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, electrocution
4. Random

Answer: C — Falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, electrocution

A/B/D) Wrong. C) Correct — >60% of construction fatalities.

How does program evaluation and improvement function within a safety and health program?

1. It records the number of PPE items issued each quarter
2. It replaces the need for hazard identification once established
3. It checks whether controls work and drives improvements
4. It is performed only after a recordable injury occurs onsite

Answer: C — It checks whether controls work and drives improvements

C) Correct — periodic evaluation tests effectiveness and feeds improvements back into the program. A) Inventory counts are administrative data, not evaluation. B) Hazard identification is ongoing and cannot be retired. D) Waiting for injuries makes the program reactive.

A subcontractor claims its workers received training at a previous employer. What should the current employer do?

1. Accept the claim without review to avoid duplicating effort
2. Require every worker to repeat all training regardless of content
3. Refer the question to the controlling employer for a decision
4. Verify the training covers this site's hazards and fill gaps

Answer: D — Verify the training covers this site's hazards and fill gaps

D) Correct — the employer must ensure workers are trained on the hazards they will actually face here, filling any gaps. A) Unverified claims leave real gaps undetected. B) Blanket repetition wastes time and does not target gaps. C) Delegating the decision does not discharge the employer's own duty.

Before each use, who is responsible for a visual inspection of a harness and lanyard?

1. Only the site safety manager during weekly walks
2. The worker who will wear the equipment that day
3. Only the manufacturer's authorized service center
4. The general contractor's superintendent alone

Answer: B — The worker who will wear the equipment that day

B) Correct — users inspect their own equipment for wear, cuts, and damaged hardware before each use, in addition to any periodic inspections. A) Weekly checks do not catch damage that occurs between them. C) Formal service inspections supplement, not replace, daily user checks. D) Assuming the general contractor alone owns this duty is a multi-employer misconception.

Which is the LEAST acceptable way to protect a floor hole in an active work area?

1. Installing a secured cover rated for expected loads
2. Marking the hole's location with spray paint alone
3. Erecting a guardrail system around the entire opening
4. Using personal fall arrest for workers who must work at the edge

Answer: B — Marking the hole's location with spray paint alone

B) Correct — paint conveys information but provides no physical protection, so it is the weakest of these choices. A) A secured, load-rated cover is a recognized method. C) Guardrails are a standard passive solution. D) Arrest systems are acceptable when workers must be at the edge.

Steel erection (Subpart R) requires connectors to be protected from falls at heights of:

1. 6 ft
2. 10 ft
3. 15 ft
4. 30 ft

Answer: C — 15 ft

Wrong-standard trap. 15 ft under Subpart R; non-connectors covered at 6 ft.

Power line clearance for ≤50 kV:

1. 5 ft
2. 10 ft
3. 25 ft
4. 50 ft

Answer: B — 10 ft

A/C/D) Wrong. B) Correct.

For temporary power on a construction site, which two approaches are acceptable for protecting workers using cord-connected tools?

1. Double insulation labeling or a daily verbal reminder
2. Ground-fault circuit interrupters or an assured grounding program
3. Circuit breakers sized to the tool or a posted warning sign
4. Rubber gloves or a dedicated equipment operator on site

Answer: B — Ground-fault circuit interrupters or an assured grounding program

B) Correct — the standard recognizes GFCI protection or an assured equipment grounding conductor program as the two acceptable approaches. A) Labels and reminders are not either recognized approach. C) Overcurrent devices protect conductors, not people, from shock. D) PPE-first thinking that skips the required system-level protection.

Lockout/tagout (LOTO) is primarily governed by:

1. 29 CFR 1910.146
2. 29 CFR 1926.501
3. 29 CFR 1904
4. 29 CFR 1910.147

Answer: D — 29 CFR 1910.147

A is confined spaces; B is fall protection; C is recordkeeping; D correct.

Workers exposed to vehicular traffic must wear high-visibility apparel that meets:

1. No specific standard
2. Only Class I in all cases
3. OSHA 300 standard
4. ANSI/ISEA 107 Class II or III

Answer: D — ANSI/ISEA 107 Class II or III

Class II for moderate traffic, Class III for high-speed/low-light. Class I is for off-road only.

A hard hat is required in which of the following situations?

1. Only when a crane is actively lifting on the site
2. Only when work is performed above six feet of height
3. Only when the employer's insurer requires it in writing
4. Where falling objects or overhead electrical hazards exist

Answer: D — Where falling objects or overhead electrical hazards exist

D) Correct — head protection is required where falling or flying objects or overhead electrical contact could cause head injury. A) Crane operation is one trigger among many. B) Confuses a fall protection trigger height with head protection. C) Insurance terms do not define the requirement.

A worker is fatally injured when a wall panel being set by a forklift swings and pins him against a stacked pallet. This event is BEST categorized as which of the Focus Four?

1. Struck-by, because the wall panel was in motion when it reached him
2. Electrocution, because powered lifting equipment was involved in the operation
3. Caught-in or between, because he was squeezed between two solid objects
4. Fall, because the panel was being carried at an elevation above him

Answer: C — Caught-in or between, because he was squeezed between two solid objects

C) Correct — the distinguishing feature of caught-in or between is that the injury results from being squeezed, pinched, or crushed between two objects rather than from the impact of a moving object alone. A) Struck-by involves injury from the impact itself, not compression between objects. B) No electrical contact occurred. D) No one fell to a lower level.

Machine guarding under 29 CFR 1910.212 protects against:

1. Caught-in/between and pinch-point injuries from moving parts
2. Electrocution only
3. Heat illness
4. Hearing loss

Answer: A — Caught-in/between and pinch-point injuries from moving parts

Machine guarding addresses moving-part hazards.

Before being issued a tight-fitting respirator, a worker must:

1. Sign a waiver
2. Buy their own
3. Wait 30 days
4. Pass a medical evaluation and fit test

Answer: D — Pass a medical evaluation and fit test

Medical evaluation + fit test mandatory.

A worker is chipping concrete overhead while another worker grinds nearby. Which eye and face protection is MOST appropriate?

1. Impact-rated safety glasses with side shields worn by themselves
2. Impact-rated glasses or goggles worn together with a full face shield
3. A full face shield worn by itself over the worker's normal street clothing
4. Prescription street glasses fitted with a shatter-resistant polymer lens

Answer: B — Impact-rated glasses or goggles worn together with a full face shield

B) Correct — a face shield is secondary protection and must be worn over primary impact eye protection for heavy chipping and grinding. A) Glasses alone leave the face unprotected against flying chips. C) A shield alone does not seal against particles that get underneath. D) Street eyewear is not rated for impact even if the lens resists shattering.

Silica PEL (8-hr TWA) for construction:

1. 100 μg/m³
2. 50 μg/m³
3. 25 μg/m³
4. 250 μg/m³

Answer: B — 50 μg/m³

A/C/D) Wrong. B) Correct — action level 25 μg/m³.

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) under GHS contains how many standardized sections?

1. 8
2. 12
3. 16
4. 24

Answer: C — 16

Off-by-one trap. 16 sections.

Which action on a stepladder is prohibited?

1. Fully opening the spreaders before climbing
2. Facing the ladder while ascending and descending
3. Placing the ladder on a firm, level surface
4. Standing on the top cap of the ladder to gain reach

Answer: D — Standing on the top cap of the ladder to gain reach

D) Correct — the top cap and, on most stepladders, the top step are not designed to be stood upon. A) Locking the spreaders is required setup, not a violation. B) Facing the ladder is correct climbing technique. C) Firm level footing is exactly what the standard expects.

Ladder rule — extension above landing:

1. 1 ft
2. 6 ft
3. 3 ft
4. Same as landing

Answer: C — 3 ft

A/B/D) Wrong. C) Correct — 3 ft extension. Prevents falls when transitioning.

Crane operator certification is required by:

1. Not required
2. 29 CFR 1926.1427 — through accredited certifier (e.g., NCCCO)
3. Only voluntary
4. State-level only

Answer: B — 29 CFR 1926.1427 — through accredited certifier (e.g., NCCCO)

A/C/D) Wrong. B) Correct — federally required since 2018.

Concrete masonry walls under construction must be braced until:

1. Permanently supported and able to support themselves and any anticipated loads
2. The mortar is dry to the touch
3. The end of the shift
4. The crew leaves the site

Answer: A — Permanently supported and able to support themselves and any anticipated loads

Bracing until adequate permanent support.

Name the six required elements of a GHS-compliant shipped container label.

Product identifier • Signal word • Hazard statements • Pictograms • Precautionary statements • Supplier name, address, and phone number.

Suspended scaffold?

All workers wear PFAS independent of scaffold. Counterweights secured. Trip-tested daily.

Give the height, strength, and opening requirements for a guardrail system.

Top rail 42 inches plus or minus 3 inches above the walking surface, withstanding 200 lb outward or downward • Midrail about 21 inches, withstanding 150 lb • Toeboard at least 3.5 inches high where objects can fall.

Name four rights workers have under the OSH Act.

Working conditions free of known serious hazards • Training in a language they understand • Access to their own medical and exposure records and the OSHA 300 log • File a complaint or request an inspection without retaliation.

Fall protection trigger height — construction?

6 feet (residential + commercial). Different from general industry (4 ft). Steel erection has separate rules (15 ft).

Spoil pile setback?

2 ft minimum from edge of excavation. Prevents fall-in + reduces edge load.