CSLB C-12 Earthwork and Paving (Trade Exam) — All Questions

Which document must every employer adopt in writing under the Cal/OSHA construction safety orders?

• a.A schedule of equipment rental prices by hour
• b.A forecast of the employer's yearly profit margin
• c.A summary of its competitors' safety records
• d.A written Code of Safe Practices for its work✓

Every employer must adopt a written Code of Safe Practices related to its operations and post it at each job site office or give it to each supervisor. An equipment rental schedule, a profit forecast and a summary of competitors' safety records have nothing to do with the safety order.8 CCR §1509(b), (c)

Which vehicles must have an automatic warning device that operates while backing?

• a.Vehicles that operate at night or in poor light on site
• b.Vehicles on public streets or highways, not job sites
• c.Haulage vehicles of 2-1/2 cubic yards or more✓
• d.Haulage vehicles that carry more than 20 cubic yards

The automatic warning is required on haulage vehicles of 2-1/2 cubic yards or more that haul dirt, rock, concrete or construction material, with a sound normally audible from 200 feet. Backing alarms are not limited to night work or to public streets, and a 20-cubic-yard limit is far above the 2-1/2 cubic-yard threshold.8 CCR §1592(a)

A grader is parked on an incline at the end of the shift. What is required?

• a.Brake set and the wheels chocked on the incline✓
• b.Key removed and the cab door locked overnight
• c.Transmission left in gear for the night
• d.Blade raised clear of the ground and the engine off

Parked equipment has its parking brake set, and equipment parked on an incline also has its wheels chocked or is otherwise prevented from moving by effective mechanical means. Gear, blade position and key removal do not hold the machine.8 CCR §1593(h)

At what sound level does the Cal/OSHA noise table permit an 8-hour daily exposure?

• a.70 dBA
• b.105 dBA
• c.90 dBA✓
• d.120 dBA

Table N-1 permits 8 hours at 90 dBA, and the permitted duration drops as the level rises (1 hour at 105 dBA). Seventy dBA is well below the limit, and 120 dBA would be permitted for only seconds.8 CCR §5096, Table N-1

How much drinking water must be provided per employee for a shift under California's heat standard when water is not plumbed?

• a.One gallon for the whole shift per employee
• b.One pint for the whole shift per employee
• c.Water on request, in the afternoon
• d.One quart per hour for the entire shift✓

The employer provides potable water in sufficient quantity at the beginning of the shift to supply one quart per employee per hour, or has effective replenishment procedures. A pint or a gallon for the shift does not match the hourly rate, and water is not limited to afternoon requests.8 CCR §3395(c)

Before maintenance is done under a raised dump body, what must be in place?

• a.A spare tire placed under the raised bed
• b.A spotter standing nearby to give warning
• c.The engine left running to hold up the hydraulics
• d.A permanently attached, locked-in-place positive support✓

Dump bodies must have a positive means of support, permanently attached and capable of being locked, and the locking device must be used whenever the body is raised for any work. Tires, hydraulic pressure and spotters cannot prevent a sudden drop.8 CCR §1595(b)

Which rule applies when fueling equipment?

• a.An extinguisher kept in the shop, away from the fueling area
• b.No refueling while running; 25-foot no-smoking sign✓
• c.Refuel while the engine runs, to save restart time
• d.Smoking allowed 5 feet from the fueling nozzle

Fuel tanks are not refilled while the engine is running, the fueling area carries a "NO SMOKING WITHIN 25 FEET" sign, and a fire extinguisher rated 6:BC or larger is accessible. An extinguisher in the shop is not accessible to the fueling area, refueling with the engine running to save restart time is prohibited, and smoking at 5 feet breaks the 25-foot rule.8 CCR §1594

Which scraper and bulldozer protection does Cal/OSHA require on covered earthmoving equipment above 20 brake horsepower?

• a.Neither, if the machine works on level ground
• b.ROPS and seat belts, with belt use required by the employer✓
• c.Seat belts, if the operator asks for them
• d.ROPS, when the machine works on public roads

ROPS and seat belts are required on scrapers, tractors, front-end loaders, bulldozers, motor graders and water wagon prime movers above 20 brake horsepower, and the employer requires belt use. Optional belts, public-road-only ROPS and a level-ground exception do not appear.8 CCR §1596(a), §1597(h)

A site disturbs 2 acres of soil. What does the State stormwater permit require?

• a.A license endorsement issued by CSLB
• b.Permit coverage and a SWPPP written by a QSD✓
• c.Coverage if the site will be paved afterward
• d.No coverage; sites over 10 acres are covered

Sites that disturb one or more acres need coverage under the construction general permit, and the SWPPP is developed by a Qualified SWPPP Developer. The 10-acre threshold is not in the order, paving afterward does not decide coverage, and CSLB does not issue the permit.SWRCB Order WQ 2022-0057-DWQ

Under the construction general permit, which person develops the SWPPP, and which implements it on site?

• a.The owner's accountant develops it for the permit
• b.The equipment operator develops it on site
• c.A QSP develops it; a QSD implements and inspects it
• d.A QSD develops it; a QSP implements and inspects it✓

The SWPPP and amendments are developed by a Qualified SWPPP Developer, while a Qualified SWPPP Practitioner implements it and performs the required inspections. The other assignments are not in the order.SWRCB Order WQ 2022-0057-DWQ §V

How far from a storm drain inlet, open drainage facility or watercourse must a temporary concrete washout be placed?

• a.No closer than 5 feet
• b.No closer than 15 feet
• c.No closer than 50 feet✓
• d.Immediately beside it

The State specification places washouts no closer than 50 feet from storm drain inlets, open drainage facilities, ESAs and watercourses. Five and 15 feet are too close, and beside the inlet defeats the purpose.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §13-9.03

How full may a concrete washout be filled?

• a.It may overflow slightly before disposal
• b.No higher than 75 percent of its capacity✓
• c.No higher than 50 percent of its capacity
• d.No higher than 100 percent of its capacity

The washout is not filled higher than 75 percent of capacity so that it cannot overflow in rain or when moved. One hundred percent and overflowing violate the rule, and 50 percent is stricter than stated.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §13-9.03

How does the State specification define a storm event?

• a.A forecast of 2 inches or more within 24 hours
• b.A 50 percent chance of 0.5 inch or more within 24 hours✓
• c.A National Weather Service hurricane warning
• d.Measurable rain during the work shift

A storm event is any weather pattern forecast to have a 50 percent or greater probability of precipitation and a quantitative precipitation forecast of 0.5 inch or more within a 24-hour period. Any rain, 2 inches and hurricanes are not the definition.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §13-1.01B

Where must flammable or hazardous wastes generated on the job site be placed?

• a.Stacked on the ground near the work area
• b.In covered containers apart from other debris✓
• c.In an open trench until the end of the job
• d.In the regular debris dumpster with the trash

Flammable or hazardous wastes go in covered containers separate from normal debris. The regular dumpster, the ground and a trench would mix or release hazardous material.8 CCR §1513(e)

What does Cal/OSHA require about dust on haul roads and in dusty operations?

• a.Control dust for visibility; respirators for operators✓
• b.Dust control only after neighbors complain
• c.A ban on all earthmoving in dry weather months
• d.Dust masks for pedestrians near the work, not for operators

Action must be taken to prevent dust from seriously reducing visibility, and in dusty operations equipment operators use adequate respiratory protection. Controlling dust only after complaints waits for a problem the order tells the employer to prevent, no ban on dry-season earthmoving exists, and masks for pedestrians do not replace protection for the operators who work in the dust.8 CCR §1590(b)

A closure is on a 25 mph street with a 12-foot lane shift. What is the minimum merging taper length using the manual's formula?

• a.12 feet
• b.300 feet
• c.63 feet
• d.125 feet✓

At 40 mph or less L = WS² ÷ 60 = 12 × 625 ÷ 60 = 125 feet. The 300-foot figure uses L = WS (the 45 mph and above formula), 63 feet is the shifting taper, and 12 feet is just the offset.California MUTCD 2026 Edition, Table 6B-4

Which are the four areas of a temporary traffic control zone?

• a.Entry, middle, exit and staging areas of the zone
• b.Advance warning, transition, activity, termination✓
• c.Work, rest, storage and office areas of the zone
• d.Flagger, cone, sign and barrier areas of the zone

The manual divides a TTC zone into the advance warning area, the transition area, the activity area and the termination area. The other lists name equipment or functions that are not the zone parts.California MUTCD 2026 Edition §6B.03

Flagger garments worn in the dark must have retroreflective material visible at what minimum distance?

• a.1,000 feet✓
• b.300 feet
• c.5,000 feet
• d.100 feet

The retroreflective material must be visible at a minimum distance of 1,000 feet, and the flagger's station must be illuminated. Three hundred feet and 100 feet are too short for a driver to react, and 5,000 feet is far beyond the stated distance.8 CCR §1599(e)

What is the minimum height of a traffic cone under the State specification?

• a.28 inches✓
• b.36 inches
• c.12 inches
• d.18 inches

The overall height of a traffic cone must be at least 28 inches, with a retroreflective sleeve during darkness. Twelve and 18 inches are too short to be visible, and 36 inches is the nominal height of larger cones but not the stated minimum.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §12-3.02B

A truck is parked in the buffer space of a work zone. What does the manual say about the buffer space?

• a.Temporary aggregate stockpiles are allowed there
• b.Idle equipment is best parked there between uses
• c.No work or storage of equipment, vehicles or materials there✓
• d.Traffic cones must fill it

The buffer space separates road users from the work space and provides recovery room for an errant vehicle, so neither work nor storage of equipment, vehicles or materials should occur in it. Stockpiling and parking idle equipment are the very uses it forbids, and the buffer space is kept open as recovery room rather than filled with cones.California MUTCD 2026 Edition §6B.06

A merging taper at a lane closure is calculated as 240 feet long. What is the minimum length of a shifting taper at the same location?

• a.120 feet✓
• b.50 feet
• c.240 feet
• d.80 feet

A shifting taper is at least 0.5 L, so 0.5 × 240 = 120 feet. The 240-foot figure is the merging taper, 80 feet is about one-third of L (the shoulder taper), and 50 feet is the downstream taper minimum.California MUTCD 2026 Edition, Table 6B-3

A crew works 30 working days on one project. What is the minimum number of tailgate safety meetings under the 10-working-day rule?

• a.30
• b.6
• c.3✓
• d.1

Meetings are required at least every 10 working days, so 30 ÷ 10 = 3. One meeting does not meet the interval, 6 would be every 5 working days, and 30 would be a meeting every day.8 CCR §1509(e)

Below what level of exposure to respirable crystalline silica does the Cal/OSHA construction silica standard not apply?

• a.50 micrograms per cubic meter, instantaneous peak
• b.25 micrograms per cubic meter, 8-hour average✓
• c.250 micrograms per cubic meter, 8-hour average
• d.2.5 milligrams per cubic meter, 8-hour average

The standard applies except where exposure will remain below 25 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour TWA, which is the action level; the PEL is 50. A 50-microgram instantaneous peak is the wrong averaging time, and 250 micrograms and 2.5 milligrams are far above the 25-microgram threshold.8 CCR §1532.3(a)

When must shade be present for outdoor workers?

• a.If workers request it in writing first
• b.When the temperature reaches 95°F or above
• c.When the outdoor temperature exceeds 80°F✓
• d.On the first day of a forecast heat wave

Shade must be present when the temperature exceeds 80°F, enough for the workers on rest or recovery periods to sit in normal posture without touching. The 95°F figure begins the high-heat procedures, a written request is not a condition for shade, and a first-day heat-wave rule does not exist.8 CCR §3395(d)

At 96°F, what rest period does the heat standard require for an employee?

• a.A ten-minute cool-down rest every two hours✓
• b.Extra drinking water in place of a rest period
• c.A five-minute rest once every eight hours worked
• d.A thirty-minute rest every four hours worked

At 95°F and above the employer ensures a minimum ten-minute net preventative cool-down rest period every two hours as part of the high-heat procedures. Water alone does not replace the rest period, and one five-minute rest in eight hours or a thirty-minute rest every four hours do not match the order.8 CCR §3395(e)

A crew of 12 works an 8-hour shift with no plumbed water. How much drinking water must be on hand at the start of the shift, at one quart per employee per hour?

• a.8 quarts (2 gallons)
• b.48 quarts (12 gallons)
• c.96 quarts (24 gallons)✓
• d.12 quarts (3 gallons)

12 × 8 = 96 quarts, which is 24 gallons. Twelve is one quart per person, 8 is one quart per hour for one person, and 48 is half the requirement.8 CCR §3395(c)

When must vehicles be checked for brakes, tires, horn, steering, seat belts and safety devices?

• a.At the beginning of every single working shift✓
• b.Once a year, at registration renewal
• c.After an accident or a breakdown
• d.When the operator reports a problem

All vehicles in use are checked at the beginning of each shift for service, parking and emergency brakes, tires, horn, steering, coupling devices, seat belts, controls and safety devices, and defects are corrected before the vehicle is used. A yearly or after-the-fact check is too infrequent.8 CCR §1593(d)

What does the noise order require when sound levels exceed the permissible exposure table?

• a.Feasible controls first; ear protection if they fail✓
• b.Hearing tests during the first month of exposure
• c.A warning sign at the machine
• d.Ear protection first, then engineering controls if needed

When levels exceed the table, feasible administrative or engineering controls are used, and if they do not bring sound within the table, the employer provides ear protection and requires its use. Hearing tests do not reduce the exposure, a sign alone does not control the noise, and putting ear protection ahead of feasible controls reverses the order.8 CCR §5096(b); §1521

What does Cal/OSHA require about first-aid kits on a construction project?

• a.A kit stored in the locked job-site office
• b.A kit is not required when a clinic is within a mile
• c.A kit if more than 100 employees are present
• d.A weatherproof container holding at least one kit✓

Every employer working on a construction project provides at least one first-aid kit in a weatherproof container, inspected regularly so expended items are replaced. Head-count thresholds, locked storage and nearby clinics are not exceptions.8 CCR §1512(c)

What size of fire extinguisher must be accessible to a fueling area?

• a.An extinguisher is not needed when fueling outdoors
• b.A small 1-pound extinguisher in the truck
• c.A water-type extinguisher kept near the fuel tank
• d.A dry chemical or CO2 extinguisher rated 6:BC or larger✓

A dry chemical or carbon dioxide extinguisher rated 6:BC or larger must be in a location accessible to the fueling area. Fueling outdoors does not remove the duty, a small unrated unit lacks the rating, and water on a fuel fire can spread it.8 CCR §1594(h)

Temporary covers for trenches in roadways must be designed to carry how much load?

• a.One-half of the maximum intended vehicle load
• b.Only the weight of pedestrians and light tools
• c.The maximum intended vehicle load
• d.At least twice the maximum intended vehicle live load✓

Temporary covers for conduits, trenches and manholes in roadways and vehicular aisles must carry at least 2 times the maximum intended vehicular live load and be installed to prevent displacement. The other loads are inadequate.8 CCR §1597(k)

A boom-type crane will work near a 30,000-volt overhead line. What is the minimum clearance for the boom?

• a.16 feet
• b.6 feet
• c.10 feet✓
• d.4 feet

For lines from 600 up to 50,000 volts, boom-type lifting equipment and storage must keep 10 feet; 6 feet is the general clearance for the same band, and 16 feet applies above 345,000 volts. Four feet is below any clearance.8 CCR §2946, Table 2

May a loader bucket be used to lift an employee to a work area?

• a.No, unless it has equivalent fall protection✓
• b.Yes, if the bucket is empty and held a foot off the ground
• c.It is acceptable at slow speed when the operator is careful
• d.It is acceptable when the engine is off and the bucket is chocked

Buckets, scoops, blades and similar attachments that lack equivalent fall protection may not be used as work platforms or to elevate or transport employees. Care, an empty bucket or a stopped engine do not substitute for the protection.8 CCR §1593(m)

A 0.7-acre driveway job is part of a 12-acre subdivision being built under a common plan of development. Is stormwater permit coverage needed?

• a.Yes, once the driveway has been paved with asphalt
• b.No; driveway work is exempt from the stormwater permit
• c.No; the job itself is under the one-acre threshold
• d.Yes; it belongs to a common plan over one acre✓

The order covers sites under one acre that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale that disturbs more than one acre. Size alone does not exempt it, driveways are not exempt, and coverage does not depend on whether the driveway is paved with asphalt.SWRCB Order WQ 2022-0057-DWQ

Within what time before a forecasted qualifying precipitation event must a QSP inspect areas of concern?

• a.Within 7 days before the event begins
• b.Within 72 hours before the event✓
• c.Within 1 hour before the event begins
• d.After the event has ended

A QSP inspects within 72 hours prior to a forecasted qualifying precipitation event (up to 120 hours ahead if extended National Weather Service data is available). Seven days is too early, and 1 hour or after the event does not allow corrections.SWRCB Order WQ 2022-0057-DWQ §V.D.2

How often must an inactive project be visually inspected by a QSP or trained delegate, at a minimum?

• a.Weekly, throughout the inactive period
• b.When work resumes after the winter shutdown ends
• c.Monthly, and before a forecast 0.5-inch rain event✓
• d.Once a year, in September before the wet season starts

An inactive project is inspected at least monthly and before a forecast event of that size. A yearly inspection, an inspection at resumption only, or a fixed weekly rule are not in the order.SWRCB Order WQ 2022-0057-DWQ §III.G.2

What is the State specification's definition of an inactive area?

• a.An area smaller than one acre in total size
• b.An area that has no equipment parked on it today
• c.An area located outside the project right of way
• d.An area where no soil-disturbing work has occurred within 15 days✓

An inactive area is one where soil-disturbing work has not occurred within 15 days. Size under one acre, an empty equipment lot and a location outside the right of way do not define an inactive area; the test is 15 days without soil-disturbing work.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §13-1.01B

Saw-cutting slurry reaches a storm drain on Monday at 2:00 p.m. By when must the report required by the State specification be submitted for a non-stormwater discharge?

• a.Within 7 days, by the following Monday
• b.Within 24 hours, which is Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.✓
• c.If a regulator asks for a report
• d.Within 24 hours, by Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.

A non-stormwater discharge is reported within 24 hours (the 48-hour period applies to the end of a storm event resulting in a discharge). A 7-day deadline and a report only on request are not the rule, and Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. counts 48 hours rather than 24.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §13-1.01C(1)

Within how long after a concrete washout becomes full must the waste be disposed of?

• a.Within 24 hours of filling
• b.Within 30 days of filling
• c.Within 2 business days of filling✓
• d.It need not be disposed of

Concrete waste is disposed of within 2 business days after the washout becomes full, at a plant licensed to receive it. Thirty days is too long, 24 hours is shorter than stated, and disposal is required.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §13-9.03

When must a concrete washout be covered?

• a.Before and during every storm event✓
• b.At night, when no concrete is placed
• c.It does not need a cover; it must stay open to dry out
• d.After it has become full

A washout must be covered before and during a storm event so rain does not carry washout waste off site. Covering only at night, leaving it open to dry and waiting until it is full all leave it exposed to rain.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §13-9.03

What is the minimum capacity of a portable temporary concrete washout and of a washout bin?

• a.At least 55 gallons (portable unit); at least 5 cubic yards (bin)✓
• b.At least 5 gallons (portable); at least 1 cubic yard (bin)
• c.At least 30 gallons (portable unit); at least 10 cubic yards (bin)
• d.At least 100 gallons (portable); at least 20 cubic yards (bin)

The specification requires a portable washout of at least 55 gallons and a roll-off bin of at least 5 cubic yards. Five gallons with 1 cubic yard is too small, and the pairs of 30 gallons with 10 cubic yards and 100 gallons with 20 cubic yards are not the stated minimums.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §13-9.02

Where do slurries from saw cutting, coring and grinding of concrete or asphalt go?

• a.Into the soil beside the work
• b.Onto the pavement to dry
• c.Into a concrete washout✓
• d.Into the nearest storm drain

The washout collects truck washout, slurries containing concrete or asphalt from saw cutting, coring, grinding and grooving, and mortar-mixing waste. Pavement, drains and soil would carry the alkaline slurry into runoff.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §13-9.03

A lane closure on a 45 mph road has a 12-foot lane shift. What is the minimum merging taper length?

• a.180 feet
• b.135 feet
• c.405 feet
• d.540 feet✓

At 45 mph or more L = WS = 12 × 45 = 540 feet. The 405 figure uses the WS²/60 formula at 45 mph (12 × 2,025 ÷ 60), and 180 and 135 are the 30 mph and 0.25 L figures.California MUTCD 2026 Edition, Tables 6B-3 and 6B-4

A merging taper is needed on a 30 mph street with a 10-foot lane shift. What is the minimum length?

• a.300 feet
• b.90 feet
• c.150 feet✓
• d.180 feet

At 40 mph or less L = WS² ÷ 60 = 10 × 900 ÷ 60 = 150 feet. Using L = WS gives 300, 180 is the figure for a 12-foot shift, and 90 is half of that.California MUTCD 2026 Edition, Table 6B-4

The calculated length L for a merging taper is 180 feet. What is the approximate minimum shoulder taper length?

• a.About 60 feet✓
• b.About 90 feet
• c.About 100 feet
• d.About 180 feet

A shoulder taper is at least 0.33 L, which is about 60 feet. The 90-foot value is the shifting taper (0.5 L), 180 feet is the merging taper, and 100 feet is the maximum for downstream and one-lane two-way tapers.California MUTCD 2026 Edition, Table 6B-3

What length range applies to a one-lane, two-way traffic taper?

• a.10 feet minimum, 20 feet maximum
• b.50 feet minimum and 100 feet maximum✓
• c.A length of at least L, the merging taper figure
• d.200 feet minimum, 500 feet maximum

The one-lane, two-way traffic taper is 50 feet minimum and 100 feet maximum, as is the downstream taper. The merging taper is at least L, so it is not the one-lane two-way figure, and 10 to 20 feet and 200 to 500 feet are not the ranges stated.California MUTCD 2026 Edition, Table 6B-3

On an urban street with a 40 mph speed limit, within what range should the nearest advance warning sign be placed from the work?

• a.40 to 80 feet
• b.1,500 feet
• c.400 to 800 feet
• d.160 to 320 feet✓

On urban streets the nearest warning sign is placed 4 to 8 times the speed limit in feet, so 4 × 40 = 160 to 8 × 40 = 320 feet. The other ranges use the wrong multiplier or the rural freeway distance.California MUTCD 2026 Edition §6B.04

What is required for flaggers controlling a one-lane, two-way operation?

• a.A whistle, with hand signals as backup
• b.A STOP/SLOW paddle, an emergency-only flag or an AFAD✓
• c.Hand signals alone, which are accepted as quicker
• d.A flashlight, used the same way in daylight

Flaggers use a STOP/SLOW paddle, a flag only for emergencies, or an AFAD, and hand movements alone are prohibited in a one-lane two-way operation except for emergency responders or uniformed officers. Hand signals alone, a whistle and a daylight flashlight are not the specified methods in this operation.California MUTCD 2026 Edition §6D.05

Which marking is required on traffic cones used during the hours of darkness?

• a.A yellow flasher on top of the cone
• b.A retroreflective sleeve✓
• c.A flashing red lamp on every cone
• d.Yellow paint

A traffic cone must have a retroreflective cone sleeve during hours of darkness, and the sleeve type must be the same on all cones in the project. A yellow flasher and a red lamp are lights the rule does not call for, yellow paint does not reflect headlights, and cones are not exempt at night.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §12-3.02B

How must the stripes on a barricade rail slope?

• a.Downward toward the work space, pointing traffic at it
• b.Horizontally across the rail, in alternating bands
• c.Upward in the direction road users are to pass
• d.Downward in the direction that road users are to pass✓

Barricades are placed so the stripes slope downward in the direction road users are to pass, with alternating orange and white retroreflective stripes. Stripes sloping toward the work space point traffic into it, horizontal stripes give no direction, and stripes sloping upward in the direction of passage point to the wrong side.Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §12-3.10C