CSLB General Building (B) — All Questions
← Back to practice20 questions
What does the acronym LOTO stand for in workplace safety?
- a.Load On Time Out
- b.Lockout/Tagout✓
- c.Line Operator Task Order
- d.Lift Over Turn Off
LOTO stands for Lockout/Tagout, a procedure to control hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance. It ensures equipment is de-energized and cannot be unexpectedly started. Each authorized worker applies their own lock so the equipment stays safe until work is done.
What is the primary purpose of a lockout/tagout program?
- a.To control hazardous energy so machines cannot start unexpectedly during service✓
- b.To lock the tool room at night
- c.To track employee attendance
- d.To label finished products
The purpose of lockout/tagout is to control hazardous energy sources so that equipment cannot be energized or started while workers service or maintain it. Hazardous energy includes electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, and stored energy. Unexpected startup or energy release causes many serious injuries.
Under lockout/tagout, who is allowed to remove a lock from equipment?
- a.Generally only the authorized worker who applied that lock✓
- b.Any worker who needs the machine
- c.The first person to arrive that day
- d.A customer
As a rule, only the authorized employee who applied a lock may remove it. This ensures no one is still working on the equipment when it is re-energized. Special documented procedures apply if that worker is unavailable and the lock must be removed.
What does GFCI stand for and what does it protect against?
- a.General Field Control Inspector; it inspects fields
- b.Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter; it protects against electrical shock✓
- c.Ground Force Cable Insulator; it insulates cables
- d.Gas Flow Control Instrument; it controls gas
A GFCI is a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter that protects workers from electric shock by quickly shutting off power when it detects current leaking to ground. It reacts to very small imbalances in current in a fraction of a second. GFCIs are required for many temporary power and outdoor circuits on construction sites.
On construction sites, what is one acceptable method to protect workers using temporary power from ground faults?
- a.Removing all grounding
- b.Using bare wires
- c.Using GFCI protection on receptacles or an assured equipment grounding conductor program✓
- d.Working in the rain
OSHA requires either GFCI protection on 120-volt temporary receptacles or an assured equipment grounding conductor program on construction sites. GFCIs are the more common and reliable choice. These measures protect against the shock hazards common with temporary wiring and portable tools.
What is the safest approach when working near overhead power lines?
- a.Touch them to test if they are live
- b.Lean ladders against them
- c.Spray them with water
- d.Maintain a safe clearance distance and assume all lines are energized✓
Workers should assume all overhead power lines are energized and maintain the required minimum clearance distance, which increases with voltage. Equipment such as cranes and ladders must be kept well away from lines. Contact with overhead lines is a leading cause of electrocution in construction.
What should you do before using an electrical cord or tool that appears damaged?
- a.Use it quickly before it fails
- b.Wrap it in cloth
- c.Use it only in dry areas
- d.Remove it from service and do not use it until repaired or replaced✓
A damaged cord or tool must be removed from service and not used until it is properly repaired or replaced. Frayed insulation, exposed conductors, or damaged plugs create shock and fire hazards. Inspecting cords and tools before each use is a basic electrical safety practice.
Why should the grounding prong on a three-prong plug never be removed?
- a.It makes the plug fit better
- b.It saves electricity
- c.The grounding prong provides a safe path for fault current, reducing shock risk✓
- d.It is purely decorative
The grounding prong provides a low-resistance path for fault current to flow safely to ground, reducing the risk of shock if a tool develops a fault. Removing or bending it defeats this protection. Tools with a missing ground prong should be taken out of service.
What is the correct action if a coworker is in contact with a live electrical source?
- a.Grab them immediately with bare hands
- b.De-energize the source or use a non-conductive object to separate them, then call for help✓
- c.Pour water on them
- d.Do nothing and wait
You should never touch a person who is in contact with a live electrical source with bare hands, because the current can pass to you. First de-energize the source if possible, or use a non-conductive object to separate the person from the source, then call for emergency help. Attempting a bare-hand rescue can create a second victim.
What is the role of PPE when selected as part of electrical safety?
- a.To protect the worker as a last line of defense when hazards cannot be otherwise removed✓
- b.To make workers look uniform
- c.To increase productivity
- d.To replace training
PPE, such as insulating gloves and arc-rated clothing, protects the worker as the last line of defense when electrical hazards cannot be eliminated or controlled by other means. It must be rated for the voltage and hazard involved. PPE supplements, but never replaces, de-energizing and safe work practices.
What is an arc flash?
- a.A sudden release of energy from an electrical arc that can cause severe burns✓
- b.A camera flash
- c.A type of light bulb
- d.A warning label
An arc flash is a rapid release of energy caused by an electrical arc, producing intense heat, light, and pressure that can cause severe burns and other injuries. Proper arc-rated PPE and safe work distances reduce the danger. De-energizing equipment before work is the best protection.
Which PPE is specifically designed to protect against electrical shock when handling energized conductors?
- a.Cotton work gloves
- b.Rated insulating rubber gloves✓
- c.Leather gloves alone
- d.No gloves needed
Rated insulating rubber gloves, often worn with leather protectors, are designed to protect against electrical shock when working on or near energized conductors. They must be voltage-rated for the task and tested regularly. Ordinary work gloves offer no shock protection.
Why is it dangerous to use electrical equipment in wet or damp conditions?
- a.It makes tools quieter
- b.It has no effect
- c.Water improves conductivity and greatly increases shock risk✓
- d.Water insulates the worker
Water is a conductor and dramatically lowers the body's resistance, increasing the severity of an electric shock. Wet conditions make ground faults far more likely to injure a worker. GFCI protection and keeping connections dry are essential in these environments.
What is the first step in a typical lockout/tagout procedure?
- a.Start the machine
- b.Remove all guards
- c.Leave the area
- d.Prepare for shutdown by identifying energy sources and notifying affected employees✓
The first step of lockout/tagout is preparation: identifying all energy sources and notifying affected employees of the planned shutdown. The equipment is then shut down, isolated, locked and tagged, and any stored energy released. Finally, the isolation is verified before work begins.
After applying locks and tags, what critical step verifies the equipment is safe?
- a.Assume it is off
- b.Paint the machine
- c.Skip verification to save time
- d.Attempt to start the equipment to confirm it will not operate (verify zero energy)✓
After isolating and locking out energy, workers must verify a zero-energy state, often by attempting to start the equipment to confirm it will not operate. Test instruments are used to confirm electrical circuits are de-energized. Skipping verification is a common and dangerous mistake.
What does 'stored energy' refer to in lockout/tagout?
- a.Energy in batteries only
- b.Backup generators
- c.Residual energy such as in capacitors, springs, hydraulics, or elevated parts that must be released or restrained✓
- d.Solar panels
Stored energy is residual or potential energy that remains after the main source is disconnected, such as in capacitors, compressed springs, pressurized hydraulics, or raised machine parts. This energy must be released, blocked, or restrained before servicing. Overlooking stored energy can cause unexpected and dangerous movement.
What should unqualified workers do around exposed energized electrical parts?
- a.Touch them to test
- b.Stay outside the limited approach boundary unless qualified and protected✓
- c.Stand as close as possible
- d.There is no concern
Unqualified workers must stay outside the established approach boundaries around exposed energized parts. Only qualified persons with proper training and PPE may approach closer under controlled conditions. Maintaining distance prevents accidental contact and arc-flash exposure.
Why must extension cords used in construction be rated for hard or extra-hard usage?
- a.To withstand the rough conditions of a job site without insulation damage✓
- b.To look professional
- c.To conduct more electricity
- d.To reduce cost
Construction extension cords must be rated for hard or extra-hard usage so their insulation can withstand abrasion, moisture, and rough handling on a job site. Cords rated only for household use damage easily and create shock and fire hazards. The rating is marked on the cord jacket.
What is the danger of overloading an electrical circuit or extension cord?
- a.Overheating that can cause fires and equipment damage✓
- b.It saves money
- c.Faster tool operation
- d.There is no danger
Overloading a circuit or cord draws more current than it is rated for, causing it to overheat and potentially start a fire or damage equipment. Cords should be sized for the load and length of the run. Daisy-chaining cords and power strips increases this risk.
Which of the following best describes a 'qualified person' for electrical work?
- a.Anyone wearing gloves
- b.A person trained and knowledgeable in electrical equipment operation and the hazards involved✓
- c.A new apprentice on day one
- d.A visitor to the site
A qualified person is trained and knowledgeable in the construction and operation of electrical equipment and installations and in recognizing and avoiding the associated hazards. Only qualified persons may perform certain energized electrical tasks. Proper training and demonstrated skill define this designation.