OSHA 30 Construction — All Questions
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420 questions
How often must a portable fire extinguisher be checked?
- a.Only after it is completely used up
- b.Only when the whole site closes down for typical light-duty operations
- c.Periodically, with an annual maintenance check✓
- d.Never once it has been installed
Under 29 CFR 1926.150, portable extinguishers must be inspected periodically and maintained, including an annual maintenance check. Monthly visual checks confirm they are charged and accessible. Neglected extinguishers may fail in an emergency.29 CFR 1926.150
Which is a recognized control for the caught-in hazard of a rotating auger or drilling equipment?
- a.Reaching into it while it rotates
- b.Removing all guards for more speed
- c.Guarding and keeping clothing, hair, and hands clear✓
- d.Wearing loose sleeves near the auger when working away from the edge
Rotating augers and drills can catch clothing and limbs, a caught-in/between hazard. Under 29 CFR 1926.300, moving parts must be guarded and workers keep clear. Loose clothing and jewelry must be avoided near rotating equipment.29 CFR 1926.300
A powered concrete saw or grinder should have which feature to reduce struck-by from the blade?
- a.A cracked blade for flexibility
- b.No guard, for better visibility provided the weather stays clear
- c.A guard removed to save weight
- d.A blade guard positioned to protect the operator✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.300 and 1926.303, abrasive wheels and saws must have guards that cover the spindle end and protect the operator from the wheel. Cracked or damaged wheels must not be used. Guards contain fragments if a wheel shatters.29 CFR 1926.303
Before an abrasive grinding wheel is mounted, it should be:
- a.Inspected and ring-tested for cracks✓
- b.Dropped on the floor to test it during the earlier phases of work
- c.Soaked in a solvent bath
- d.Painted over any visible cracks
Under 29 CFR 1926.303, abrasive wheels must be inspected and ring-tested before mounting to detect cracks. A cracked wheel can shatter at speed, a severe struck-by hazard. The guard and proper speed rating are also verified.29 CFR 1926.303
Hand and power tools must be maintained in what condition?
- a.Broken but held together with tape
- b.With their guards removed for speed
- c.Any condition, as long as they power on as long as the tools look intact
- d.Safe condition, with damaged tools removed from service✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.300, all hand and power tools must be maintained in a safe condition, whether owned by the employer or the worker. Damaged tools are removed from service. Guards must be kept in place during use.29 CFR 1926.300
What is a key safety rule when using a powder-actuated tool?
- a.Point it at coworkers to check the aim
- b.Only trained, certified operators may use it, and not in explosive atmospheres✓
- c.Anyone may use it without any training
- d.Use it in flammable vapor for convenience for most residential-scale jobs according to older industry practice
Under 29 CFR 1926.302, powder-actuated tools may be operated only by trained, certified employees and must not be used in explosive or flammable atmospheres. The tool must be tested each day before use. Misfires and ricochets are serious struck-by hazards.29 CFR 1926.302
When a load is being hoisted overhead, workers on the ground should:
- a.Stand directly beneath to guide it by hand when only one worker is involved
- b.Sleep in the drop zone during breaks
- c.Sit under it to rest in the shade
- d.Stay clear and never stand under the suspended load✓
Workers must never stand under a suspended load because rigging can fail, a top struck-by hazard. Under 29 CFR 1926.1425, workers are kept out of the fall zone except for limited tasks. Tag lines control the load from a safe distance.29 CFR 1926.1425
Which is required for emergency-response readiness on many construction sites?
- a.Only a suggestion box for workers
- b.A single phone with no numbers posted under most routine jobsite conditions
- c.No emergency planning is necessary
- d.A way to summon aid and trained first-aid providers or nearby medical care✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.50, employers must ensure medical personnel are available for advice and that first-aid providers or nearby clinics respond when no infirmary is close. Emergency numbers must be posted. Prompt care reduces injury severity.29 CFR 1926.50
When must eyewash or quick-drenching facilities be provided?
- a.Where workers may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials✓
- b.Never on any construction site
- c.Only inside office break rooms
- d.Only for occasional site visitors as some contractors interpret the rule
Under 29 CFR 1926.50(g), suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body must be provided where workers may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials. They allow immediate rinsing after a splash. They must be within quick reach.29 CFR 1926.50(g)
Illumination must be provided in work areas so that:
- a.Energy is saved by working in the dark when the crew is short on time
- b.Workers can see hazards and perform tasks safely✓
- c.Only supervisors are able to see
- d.The site looks attractive at night
Under 29 CFR 1926.56, construction areas must have minimum illumination levels so workers can see to work and recognize hazards. Poor lighting contributes to slips, trips, and struck-by incidents. Different areas have different minimum foot-candle levels.29 CFR 1926.56
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What should a competent person do upon finding a hazardous condition in a trench?
- a.Add more spoil onto the trench edge
- b.Tell the workers to dig much faster
- c.Do nothing until the following month according to older industry practice
- d.Remove workers from the trench until it is corrected✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.651(k), when a competent person finds evidence of a possible cave-in, hazardous atmosphere, or other hazard, exposed workers must be removed until precautions are taken. Worker removal is immediate. Inspection has no value without action.29 CFR 1926.651(k)
When could a hazardous atmosphere require testing in an excavation?
- a.Only in trenches over 100 feet deep
- b.Only when the excavation is indoors
- c.Never, since trenches are open to air unless a supervisor decides otherwise
- d.In excavations over 4 feet deep where such an atmosphere could exist✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.651(g), atmospheres in excavations more than 4 feet deep must be tested where oxygen deficiency or hazardous atmospheres could exist, such as near landfills or where gases could enter. Ventilation and controls follow if needed. Heavier-than-air gases can pool in trenches.29 CFR 1926.651(g)
Which is a materials-handling control when using a powered industrial truck (forklift)?
- a.Give coworkers rides on the raised forks
- b.Let untrained workers operate the truck
- c.Do not exceed the rated capacity and keep the load low while traveling✓
- d.Carry loads as high as possible while driving for the majority of standard tasks
Powered industrial trucks must be operated within their rated capacity by trained operators, with loads carried low and tilted back. Under 29 CFR 1926.602, operators must be trained. Overloading and raised loads cause tip-overs and struck-by injuries.29 CFR 1926.602
Why must aisles and passageways be kept clear where mechanical handling equipment is used?
- a.To deliberately slow down the work
- b.To make the busy site look tidy
- c.To provide safe clearance and prevent struck-by and caught-between incidents✓
- d.To create room to store extra pallets based on the project's own schedule for typical light-duty operations
Under 29 CFR 1926.250, aisles and passageways must be kept clear and in good repair, with sufficient safe clearance where mechanical handling equipment operates. Blocked aisles force workers into the path of equipment. Clear routes reduce struck-by and caught-between risk.29 CFR 1926.250
A load chart on a crane provides which critical information?
- a.The available paint color options
- b.The current fuel price for the day
- c.The rated lifting capacity at various boom lengths and radii✓
- d.The operator's daily work schedule in the absence of a written program
The load chart shows the crane's rated capacity for different configurations of boom length, radius, and outrigger position. Operators must never exceed these values, per 29 CFR 1926.1417. Exceeding capacity leads to tip-overs and structural failure.29 CFR 1926.1417
Which OSHA subpart covers fall protection in construction?
- a.Subpart K
- b.Subpart X
- c.Subpart P
- d.Subpart M of 29 CFR 1926✓
Fall protection in construction is addressed in Subpart M, 29 CFR 1926.500 through 503. It sets the 6-foot trigger and the requirements for guardrails, nets, and personal fall arrest. Other subparts cover scaffolds and ladders separately.29 CFR 1926 Subpart M
Besides the 6-foot rule, fall protection is required at any height when working above what?
- a.A soft grassy lawn
- b.A shallow rain puddle
- c.A carpeted office floor
- d.Dangerous equipment✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(8), workers must be protected from falling into or onto dangerous equipment regardless of height. Otherwise the general construction trigger is 6 feet. Dangerous equipment includes machinery and impalement hazards.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(8)
A standard guardrail top rail must withstand a force of at least:
- a.20 pounds in any direction once the initial setup is complete
- b.5 pounds in any direction
- c.200 pounds applied downward or outward✓
- d.50 pounds in any direction
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(b), the top rail must withstand at least 200 pounds of force applied within 2 inches of the top edge, downward or outward. This ensures it can stop a worker who leans or falls against it. Midrails must resist 150 pounds.29 CFR 1926.502(b)
A guardrail midrail must be capable of withstanding a force of at least:
- a.1,000 pounds
- b.200 pounds
- c.10 pounds
- d.150 pounds✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(b), midrails, screens, and intermediate members must withstand at least 150 pounds applied in any downward or outward direction. The midrail sits about halfway between the top rail and the walking surface. It prevents workers from falling through the opening.29 CFR 1926.502(b)
Where midrails are used on a guardrail, they should be installed at approximately what height?
- a.About 60 inches above the surface when working away from the edge
- b.About 21 inches above the walking surface✓
- c.About 6 inches above the surface
- d.Level with the top rail itself
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(b), when midrails are used they must be installed midway between the top edge (about 42 inches) and the walking surface, roughly 21 inches high. Screens, mesh, or intermediate members may fill the gap instead. The goal is to prevent falls through the opening.29 CFR 1926.502(b)
A toeboard used for falling-object protection must be at least how tall?
- a.A full 12 inches high
- b.3.5 inches high✓
- c.A full 24 inches high
- d.One-half inch high
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(j), a toeboard must be at least 3.5 inches tall from the top edge to the walking surface, with no more than 0.25-inch clearance below. It keeps tools and materials from rolling off an edge. It must withstand at least 50 pounds of force.29 CFR 1926.502(j)
What is the anchorage strength requirement for a personal fall arrest system per attached worker?
- a.There is no strength requirement during the earlier phases of work as some contractors interpret the rule
- b.At least 5,000 pounds, or a design safety factor of two under a qualified person✓
- c.At least 500 pounds per worker
- d.At least 200 pounds per worker
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), anchorages for personal fall arrest must support at least 5,000 pounds per worker, or be designed and used under a qualified person's supervision with a safety factor of at least two. Anchorages must be independent of platform anchorages. A weak anchor defeats the system.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
A personal fall arrest anchorage must be independent of:
- a.The building structure itself as long as the tools look intact
- b.The ground surface far below
- c.The worker's own body harness
- d.Any anchorage used to support or suspend platforms✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), the anchorage for a personal fall arrest system must be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms. This keeps a platform failure from also failing the fall-arrest anchor. Anchor selection is critical to reliability.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
On a full-body harness used for fall arrest, the attachment point is generally located:
- a.On the wearer's left ankle
- b.At the front waist belt buckle for most residential-scale jobs
- c.At the center of the back near shoulder level (dorsal D-ring)✓
- d.On top of the hard hat
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), the attachment for fall arrest must be located in the center of the wearer's back near shoulder level, or above the head. The dorsal D-ring keeps the worker upright and reduces injury during arrest. Body belts are prohibited for fall arrest.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
Snaphooks used in a personal fall arrest system must be:
- a.Non-locking to save time
- b.Any spare keychain ring
- c.Self-closing, self-locking type✓
- d.Small plastic spring clips when only one worker is involved
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), snaphooks must be locking-type (self-closing and self-locking) and sized to prevent roll-out. Non-locking snaphooks can disengage under load. Connectors are inspected before each use.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
What is the maximum free fall distance allowed for a personal fall arrest system?
- a.A full 50 feet of free fall
- b.A full 20 feet of free fall under most routine jobsite conditions
- c.There is no free-fall limit
- d.6 feet, and never enough to hit a lower level✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), a personal fall arrest system must be rigged so a worker cannot free fall more than 6 feet or contact a lower level. Shorter free fall reduces arresting forces. Anchoring above the D-ring helps limit free fall.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
A personal fall arrest system must limit the deceleration distance to a maximum of:
- a.3.5 feet✓
- b.No limit exists
- c.A full 10 feet
- d.A full 20 feet
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), the system must limit maximum deceleration distance to 3.5 feet. Deceleration devices such as shock-absorbing lanyards extend to reduce forces on the body. This distance is part of the fall-clearance calculation.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
What must be done with a personal fall arrest system after it has arrested a fall?
- a.Lend it to another worker on site
- b.Keep using it for the rest of the shift
- c.Store it for reuse the following week
- d.Remove it from service immediately✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), fall-arrest components subjected to impact loading must be immediately removed from service and not used again until inspected and found undamaged by a competent person. Arrest forces can damage webbing and hardware. Reusing shock-loaded gear is dangerous.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
How often must personal fall arrest equipment be inspected?
- a.Only once every calendar year
- b.It never needs inspection
- c.Only when it is first purchased according to older industry practice
- d.Before each use, for wear and damage✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), personal fall arrest systems must be inspected prior to each use for wear, damage, and other deterioration, and defective components removed. Frequent inspection catches cuts, frays, and corrosion. Worn gear can fail during arrest.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
Why must an employer have a prompt rescue plan after a fall arrest?
- a.To save electricity on the site
- b.To recover the lanyard quickly for reuse unless a supervisor decides otherwise
- c.To avoid extra injury paperwork
- d.To prevent suspension trauma from prolonged hanging in the harness✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), employers must provide for prompt rescue of workers or ensure workers can rescue themselves. Prolonged suspension in a harness can cause suspension trauma. A rescue plan must be in place before work begins.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
A positioning device system that lets a worker work hands-free on a vertical surface must limit free fall to:
- a.A full 10 feet
- b.2 feet or less✓
- c.No limit at all
- d.A full 6 feet
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(e), positioning device systems must be rigged so a worker cannot free fall more than 2 feet, with anchorages supporting at least twice the potential impact load or 3,000 pounds. Positioning devices hold a worker in place but are not fall arrest. A back-up system may still be needed.29 CFR 1926.502(e)
A safety net must be installed no more than how far below the working surface?
- a.30 feet✓
- b.A full 100 feet
- c.A full 300 feet
- d.Just 5 inches
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(c), safety nets must be installed as close as practicable under the surface but never more than 30 feet below. The greater the fall into a net, the greater the forces. Nets must also extend outward a required distance.29 CFR 1926.502(c)
The mesh openings of a safety net must not exceed:
- a.A full 2 feet on a side in the absence of a written program
- b.36 square inches, nor 6 inches on a side✓
- c.A full 10 square feet
- d.There is no size limit
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(c), safety-net mesh openings must not exceed 36 square inches nor be longer than 6 inches on any side, and the border rope must have at least 5,000 pounds breaking strength. Small openings keep workers and tools from passing through. Nets are drop-tested or certified.29 CFR 1926.502(c)
Safety nets must pass a drop test using what test weight?
- a.A 400-pound bag of sand from the highest work surface✓
- b.No drop test is required at all
- c.A 2-pound ball from ground level as a general rule of thumb on site
- d.A 5-pound weight dropped once
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(c), nets must be drop-tested with a 400-pound bag of sand 28 to 32 inches in diameter dropped from the highest surface, or otherwise certified by a qualified person. This verifies the net and supports can absorb a fall. Testing follows installation and major repairs.29 CFR 1926.502(c)
A cover over a hole in a floor or roof must be able to support at least:
- a.No particular load at all
- b.Exactly the load with no margin where the foreman signs off on it
- c.Twice the maximum intended load crossing it✓
- d.Half of the expected load
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(i), hole covers must support at least twice the weight of workers, equipment, and materials that may cross them. Covers must be secured against displacement and marked. Unsecured covers are a common fall hazard.29 CFR 1926.502(i)
Hole covers on a construction floor must be:
- a.Secured against displacement and marked HOLE or COVER✓
- b.Made from thin scrap cardboard
- c.Left loose so they move easily
- d.Painted to match and left unmarked once the initial setup is complete
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(i), covers must be secured against accidental displacement by wind, equipment, or workers, and marked with HOLE or COVER or otherwise color-coded. Clear marking warns workers not to remove them. Loose or unmarked covers cause falls.29 CFR 1926.502(i)
For low-slope roofs, a warning line system must be set back at least how far from the edge?
- a.6 feet from the roof edge✓
- b.Right at the very edge
- c.A full 50 feet from the edge
- d.Only 6 inches from the edge
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(f), warning lines on low-slope roofs must be erected at least 6 feet from the edge, with greater distances where mechanical equipment is used parallel to the edge. The line marks the boundary of the safe area. Work outside the line needs added protection.29 CFR 1926.502(f)
A safety monitoring system relies on what to protect workers?
- a.A competent person who watches and warns of hazards✓
- b.A smartphone app used all alone
- c.A video camera with no one watching when working away from the edge
- d.A single written sign posted nearby
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(h), a safety monitoring system uses a competent person to recognize fall hazards and warn workers acting unsafely. The monitor must be on the same surface, within sight and voice range, and free of other duties. It is allowed only in limited situations.29 CFR 1926.502(h)
A warning line combined with a safety monitoring system is generally allowed for work on:
- a.Vertical reinforcing-steel walls
- b.Low-slope roofs✓
- c.Steep roofs over 6 feet high
- d.Suspended swing-stage scaffolds
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(10), on low-slope roofs employers may use combinations such as warning lines with a safety monitoring system. Steep roofs require conventional fall protection. The allowed methods depend on roof slope and width.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(10)
For steep roofs (slope greater than 4 in 12), what fall protection is required at 6 feet or more?
- a.No fall protection is required
- b.Warning lines used entirely alone
- c.A safety monitor used entirely alone during the earlier phases of work
- d.Guardrails with toeboards, safety nets, or personal fall arrest✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(11), workers on steep roofs 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by guardrails with toeboards, safety nets, or personal fall arrest. Warning lines and monitors alone are not sufficient for steep roofs. Slope drives the requirement.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(11)
In residential construction, at what height is fall protection generally required?
- a.6 feet or more above a lower level✓
- b.20 feet or more above a lower level
- c.Fall protection is never required
- d.Only above the second story
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13), residential construction workers 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by conventional fall protection. Alternative measures require a written, site-specific fall protection plan showing conventional systems are infeasible. The 6-foot trigger still applies.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13)
A written fall protection plan is permitted only for which work, and must be prepared by whom?
- a.All construction, with no author needed
- b.Leading-edge, precast, or residential work, prepared by a qualified person✓
- c.Office work, prepared by a receptionist
- d.Any work at all, prepared by any worker for most residential-scale jobs according to older industry practice
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(k), a fall protection plan is allowed only for leading-edge work, precast concrete erection, or residential construction where conventional protection is infeasible or creates a greater hazard, and it must be prepared by a qualified person. The plan is site-specific and current. It documents why conventional systems cannot be used.29 CFR 1926.502(k)
Workers on a walking surface with an unprotected edge 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by:
- a.Bright floor paint applied only when only one worker is involved
- b.Nothing, if they are careful
- c.A verbal reminder given once
- d.Guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1), each worker on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by a guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest system. These are the conventional systems. The choice depends on the task and site.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1)
Around the perimeter of a hoisting area where a worker could fall 6 feet or more, what is required?
- a.Protection only if the worker chooses under most routine jobsite conditions
- b.Protection only at 10 feet or more
- c.Guardrails or fall arrest, with a chain or gate across access openings✓
- d.No protection near hoisting areas
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(3), workers in a hoist area must be protected from 6-foot falls by guardrails or personal fall arrest. When a rail is removed to receive materials, a fall arrest system or gate must protect the worker. Hoist areas are high-exposure zones.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(3)
Workers must be protected from falling into holes, including skylights, more than 6 feet above a lower level by:
- a.A painted circle around it
- b.Covers, guardrails, or personal fall arrest✓
- c.A single caution sign only
- d.Nothing at all placed there as some contractors interpret the rule
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4), workers must be protected from falling through holes, including skylights, more than 6 feet above a lower level by personal fall arrest, covers, or guardrails. Skylights are treated as holes. Falls through skylights are frequently fatal.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4)
Formwork and reinforcing-steel work 6 feet or more above a lower level requires:
- a.Personal fall arrest, safety net, or positioning device systems✓
- b.No protection because rebar gives grip when the crew is short on time
- c.Only a pair of work gloves
- d.A safety monitor with no other system
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(5), workers on the face of formwork or reinforcing steel 6 feet or more above a lower level must use personal fall arrest, safety net, or positioning device systems. Rebar is also capped to prevent impalement. Height triggers protection regardless of handholds.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(5)
On ramps, runways, and other walkways, fall protection is required when a worker could fall:
- a.Only above 25 feet of height
- b.Only on the ground floor level according to older industry practice
- c.Never on any walkway at all
- d.6 feet or more to a lower level✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(6), each worker on a ramp, runway, or other walkway must be protected from falling 6 feet or more by a guardrail system. The 6-foot trigger is consistent across most construction tasks. Guardrails are the usual choice for walkways.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(6)
At the edge of an excavation 6 feet or more deep that is not readily seen, workers must be protected by:
- a.Guardrails, fences, barricades, or covers✓
- b.A single rope laid on the ground
- c.A shouted warning from a coworker
- d.Nothing, since the trench is obvious unless a supervisor decides otherwise
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(7), workers at the edge of an excavation 6 feet or more deep must be protected when it is not readily seen because of plant growth or other barrier, using guardrails, fences, barricades, or covers. Wells, pits, and shafts are similarly protected. This prevents falls into deep openings.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(7)
Who must the employer have train each worker exposed to fall hazards, and on what?
- a.A vendor, on product pricing
- b.Any worker, on company history for the majority of standard tasks
- c.A competent person, on recognizing and minimizing the hazards✓
- d.No one; training is optional
Under 29 CFR 1926.503, a competent person must train workers to recognize fall hazards and to use the fall protection systems correctly. Training covers the nature of the hazards, correct procedures, and the systems in use. It must be understandable to the worker.29 CFR 1926.503
When must workers be retrained in fall protection?
- a.When changes or inadequate understanding make prior training obsolete✓
- b.Only once every ten years
- c.Never once initially trained
- d.Only after a jobsite fatality based on the project's own schedule for typical light-duty operations
Under 29 CFR 1926.503(c), retraining is required when changes in the workplace or fall protection systems render prior training obsolete, or when a worker shows inadequate knowledge or skill. Retraining keeps competency current. It is triggered by conditions, not a fixed clock.29 CFR 1926.503(c)