OSHA 10 Practice Test

1. A scaffold platform has tools and small materials stored near its edge, above an area where other workers walk below. What guardrail component is specifically intended to keep these items from falling off the edge?

• A. The top rail
• B. A toe board
• C. The midrail
• D. A vertical support post

2. A worker is climbing a straight ladder to access a second-floor work area while carrying a small tool bag on a belt. What ladder safety practice should they follow while climbing?

• A. Face away from the ladder while descending for better visibility
• B. Maintain three points of contact with the ladder at all times
• C. Climb quickly to minimize total time on the ladder
• D. Carry tools in both hands to keep the ladder steady

3. A worker is preparing to work near an unprotected edge on a partially framed floor of a building under construction. At what height above a lower level does OSHA generally require fall protection in construction work?

• A. 4 feet
• B. 6 feet
• C. 10 feet
• D. 15 feet

4. A worker sets up a straight extension ladder against a wall to reach a second-story window. What general rule describes the proper base-to-wall distance for a safely angled ladder?

• A. The base should be placed exactly two feet from the wall regardless of ladder length
• B. The base should touch the wall directly for maximum stability
• C. The base should be about one-quarter of the working ladder length away from the wall
• D. The base distance is irrelevant as long as the ladder is tied off at the top

5. Workers are erecting a tube-and-clamp scaffold that will reach several stories high. At what height above a lower level does fall protection generally become required for workers on a scaffold platform?

• A. 10 feet
• B. 15 feet
• C. 20 feet
• D. 4 feet

6. A carpenter is installing a guardrail system along an open-sided floor. What is the general height range OSHA specifies for the top rail of a standard guardrail?

• A. 24 to 30 inches
• B. 30 to 36 inches
• C. 48 to 60 inches
• D. 39 to 45 inches

7. A worker will be tying off close to floor level, where a standard six-foot shock-absorbing lanyard would let him fall most of the way to the ground before the system engages. What is the better equipment choice for this situation?

• A. The same shock-absorbing lanyard, since all fall-arrest lanyards perform identically regardless of anchorage height
• B. A self-retracting lifeline, which arrests a fall in a much shorter distance than a standard lanyard
• C. A longer lanyard, since more length gives the deceleration device more room to work
• D. No fall-arrest equipment, since being close to the ground makes tie-off unnecessary

8. A crew needs to work for several hours near the unprotected edge of a steep-slope roof, replacing damaged shingles. Which of these is an appropriate way to protect them from falling off the edge?

• A. Reminding workers verbally at the start of the task to be careful near the unprotected edge
• B. Working only during daylight hours so the crew can see the edge of the steep-slope roof clearly
• C. Keeping tools and shingle bundles organized so no one trips on debris while working near the edge
• D. A personal fall arrest system anchored to a rated point, or a guardrail system along the edge

9. To save time, a worker leans a closed stepladder against a wall like a straight ladder instead of fully opening and locking its spreaders. What is the problem with this setup?

• A. There is no problem here, since a stepladder is engineered to be just as strong and stable closed as it is fully open and locked
• B. A stepladder used in the closed, leaning position is unstable because it was not designed to be used that way
• C. The only real issue with this shortcut is that it looks unprofessional to other trades on the job site
• D. It becomes a problem only if the wall surface the ladder is leaning against happens to be smooth

10. Before climbing a stepladder to reach overhead ductwork, a worker notices one of the rungs is cracked and a hinge is loose. What should the worker do?

• A. Use the ladder carefully, keeping weight off the cracked rung while climbing to the ductwork
• B. Tape over the visible crack with duct tape and continue using the ladder for the rest of the day
• C. Remove the ladder from service and use a different, undamaged ladder or report it for repair
• D. Use the ladder only for very short tasks near the ground rather than the overhead ductwork job

11. A carpenter arrives at a second-floor deck where the perimeter has no guardrails installed and no one is tied off. Framing work is scheduled to start immediately. What should happen before any work begins at the open edge?

• A. Work can begin exactly as planned on the open-edge deck, since guardrails are treated as necessary only once the framing phase itself is fully finished
• B. A supervisor should mark the open edge with flagging tape and allow the framing crew to keep working past it
• C. Fall protection, such as guardrails, safety nets, or a personal fall arrest system, must be put in place before anyone works near the unprotected edge
• D. Workers can proceed near the edge as long as they estimate staying at least an arm's length back from it

12. An inspector reviewing a fabricated scaffold above ten feet notes it has a top rail and toe boards installed but nothing at mid-height. What is missing from a complete guardrail system on this platform?

• A. A midrail or equivalent barrier between the top rail and the platform surface
• B. Nothing; a top rail paired with toe boards alone already satisfies a complete guardrail system on this platform
• C. A second top rail installed a few inches below the first rail, running parallel along the same edge
• D. An additional toe board added to the opposite side of the platform where no workers are currently stationed

13. A scaffold platform on a renovation project has planks laid across only part of its width, leaving a gap along one side where workers walk. What is the hazard with this arrangement?

• A. None, as long as the unplanked gap happens to run along the side of the platform away from the building
• B. Gaps of this kind are acceptable on any scaffold that stands under two working levels in overall height
• C. The gap only becomes a hazard once tools or spare materials are actually stored on that section of platform
• D. The open gap creates a fall-through hazard, so the platform should be fully planked or the gap guarded

14. A worker connects a pneumatic impact wrench to an air hose to remove lug nuts on equipment. What does OSHA's power tool standard require to keep the wrench's socket attachment from being ejected during use?

• A. Nothing extra beyond a snug hand grip on the tool, since impact wrenches are not classified by the standard as ejection hazards
• B. A safety clip or retainer securely installed on the pneumatic impact tool to prevent the attachment from being expelled
• C. A secondary air regulator installed between the compressor and the hose to slow the tool's rotation
• D. A tethered lanyard connecting the socket to the worker's wrist rather than to the tool itself

15. A tool crib supervisor is deciding whether a new bench grinder needs its wheel guard installed before it's issued to a crew for use on site. What does OSHA's hand and power tools standard require regarding guards on a tool designed to accept one?

• A. The guard must be in place while the tool is being used, since the tool was designed to accommodate it
• B. Guards are optional accessories that a crew may simply leave off whenever the work in front of them feels straightforward enough
• C. Guards are required only on tools that are battery powered, not on tools that are corded or run on pneumatic air pressure
• D. A guard only needs to be installed after a near-miss incident involving that specific tool has occurred

16. A carpenter is connecting a pneumatic nailer to a compressor before starting work on a framing crew. What does OSHA's power tool standard require regarding how the tool is attached to its air hose?

• A. The hose connection only needs to be taped in place as a visual reminder not to pull it apart accidentally during use on site
• B. No specific securing method is required as long as the compressor's pressure gauge is checked before starting
• C. The tool must be secured to the hose by some positive means to prevent it from becoming accidentally disconnected
• D. The tool must be zip-tied to the hose permanently so it can never be removed for maintenance or storage

17. A worker sets a straight extension ladder to climb onto a roof for a short inspection. How far must the ladder's side rails extend above the upper landing surface under OSHA's ladder standard?

• A. At least 6 feet above the upper landing surface, matching the general fall-protection trigger height
• B. At least 3 feet above the upper landing surface
• C. Exactly 1 foot above the landing surface, just enough to grip the top rung while stepping off
• D. The rails need not extend above the landing at all as long as the ladder is tied off at the base

18. A crew arrives on site and begins working from a scaffold that was fully erected and inspected the previous week. What inspection does OSHA's scaffold standard require before that platform is used again at the start of this shift?

• A. None; a scaffold that passed a formal inspection once when it was first erected does not need to be checked again for the rest of the entire job
• B. Only a quick check of the base plates and casters, since the platform decking and guardrails were already verified during erection
• C. An inspection is required only once a month on a fixed calendar schedule, regardless of how heavily the scaffold is used between checks
• D. A visual inspection for defects by a competent person before each work shift, and after anything that could affect its structural integrity

19. A crew is about to enter a utility excavation dug more than 4 feet deep in an area where old fuel storage tanks once stood nearby. What must happen regarding the excavation's atmosphere before anyone climbs in?

• A. Testing is unnecessary outdoors, since open excavations of any depth are simply assumed to ventilate naturally on their own regardless of history
• B. Testing is required only once a worker inside reports smelling something unusual during the shift
• C. The atmosphere must be tested for oxygen deficiency and hazardous gases before entry, given the excavation's depth and history
• D. A competent person's visual inspection of the walls is an adequate substitute for atmospheric testing

20. A crew has stacked scrap lumber and empty material crates directly in front of the wall-mounted fire extinguisher in a partially finished building. What does OSHA's fire protection standard require regarding access to firefighting equipment like this?

• A. Access only needs to be clear during the hours the crew is actively working with flammable materials
• B. Blocking access briefly is acceptable as long as a supervisor knows the equipment's location by memory
• C. Access to available firefighting equipment must be maintained at all times
• D. Access requirements apply only to extinguishers mounted outdoors, not to ones inside a building shell

21. A contractor is setting up a second-floor storage area for stacked building materials inside a building under renovation. What does OSHA's materials storage standard require the contractor to do regarding the floor's maximum safe load limit?

• A. Nothing formal is required as long as the original architectural drawings for the floor are kept in the site trailer
• B. Verbally brief each worker once about the floor's capacity before they begin stacking any materials there
• C. Conspicuously post the maximum safe load limits of the storage area, expressed in pounds per square foot
• D. Post the load limit only if the storage area will be used for more than a single day during the renovation

22. A geotechnical evaluation classifies the soil on a utility job as Type C, the least stable classification under OSHA's excavation appendices. If the crew sloped the trench walls instead of shoring them, what maximum slope does the standard allow for Type C soil?

• A. One and one-half horizontal to one vertical, roughly a 34-degree slope from horizontal
• B. A vertical cut with no slope at all, since Type C soil is treated the same as stable rock
• C. One horizontal to one vertical, a 45-degree slope identical to the figure used for Type A soil
• D. Three horizontal to one vertical, a very shallow slope reserved for excavations over 20 feet deep

23. A framer builds a temporary wood stairway with five risers to reach a raised subfloor, and workers will use it throughout the job. At what point does OSHA require a stairrail system on a stairway like this?

• A. Once the stairway has four or more risers or rises more than 30 inches, whichever comes first
• B. Only once the stairway reaches a full story in height, regardless of how many individual risers it has
• C. Only when the stairway is the sole permanent means of access between two finished floors of the building
• D. Never for a temporary wood stairway, since stairrail requirements apply only to permanent steel stairs

24. A site is using hand signals to direct a mobile crane lifting a load into a spot the operator cannot see directly. Beyond simply raising a hand to give a signal, what must the person assigned as signal person actually demonstrate under OSHA's crane standard?

• A. Nothing beyond memorizing the same hand signals a highway flagger uses to direct passing vehicle traffic through a construction detour zone each day
• B. Competence in the standard method of hand signals and a basic understanding of the crane's dynamics, including swinging and stopping loads
• C. A commercial driver's license, since directing crane movement is treated as equivalent to directing vehicle traffic
• D. At least five years of general construction experience, regardless of any specific signaling training

25. A laborer needs to move a full compressed gas cylinder a short distance across the shop floor to the welding station. Under OSHA's welding and cutting standard, in what position must the cylinder generally be kept while being moved and while in use?

• A. Laid flat on a cart, since a horizontal position reduces the chance of the cylinder tipping over
• B. In an upright position at all times, except for the brief periods it is actually being hoisted or carried
• C. Upright only while the cylinder is connected to a regulator, with no requirement while it is simply being stored or moved around
• D. In whatever position best fits the available cart, as long as the valve protection cap stays threaded on

26. A crew sets up a non-self-supporting extension ladder against a wall to reach scaffolding 16 feet up. Roughly how far from the wall should the base sit to achieve the angle OSHA's ladder standard is built around?

• A. About one-half of the ladder's working length, producing a low, gently sloped climbing angle
• B. Exactly 2 feet from the wall regardless of how long the extended ladder happens to be
• C. About one-quarter of the ladder's working length, close to a 75.5-degree angle from the ground
• D. As close to the wall as physically possible, to keep the ladder nearly vertical while climbing

27. A worker finds an extension cord on site with a section of outer insulation worn away, exposing the inner wires. What should the worker do before continuing to use it?

• A. Continue using it as long as the exposed section faces away from foot traffic
• B. Wrap it once with tape and use it only for the remainder of the shift
• C. Remove it from service and have it repaired or replaced before further use
• D. Use it only in dry weather conditions to reduce risk

28. A contractor sets up temporary power on a job site for workers to plug in power tools. What is a common method OSHA recognizes for protecting workers from ground faults on these temporary circuits?

• A. Using only extension cords rated for indoor use
• B. Wrapping exposed wiring with electrical tape instead of replacing damaged cords
• C. Relying on workers to visually inspect cords before every single use as the sole protection
• D. Using ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) on temporary receptacles

29. In the 10-hour construction outreach course, the Electrocution Hazards topic is one of the Focus Four hazard areas covered. What is the minimum amount of dedicated time this topic must receive in the course?

• A. At least 3 hours
• B. There is no minimum time requirement for this topic
• C. Only the Fall Hazards topic has a minimum time requirement
• D. At least 30 minutes

30. An electrician needs a ladder to reach a panel located near energized equipment. Which type of ladder should generally be avoided in this situation?

• A. A wooden ladder
• B. A fiberglass ladder
• C. A metal ladder, since it conducts electricity
• D. Any ladder rated for the worker's weight is acceptable regardless of material

31. Before starting excavation work for a new footing, a crew supervisor needs to find out whether any underground electrical lines run through the work area. What should happen first?

• A. Digging can begin, since underground lines are the utility company's responsibility to mark, not the crew's
• B. The crew should have the area marked through a utility locate service before any digging begins
• C. A quick visual check of the surface is sufficient to rule out underground lines
• D. Only digging deeper than several feet requires checking for underground lines

32. A worker needs to use a corded power tool near a puddle of standing water on a job site after recent rain. What precaution most directly reduces the electrocution risk in this situation?

• A. Ensuring the circuit is protected by a GFCI and keeping cords and connections out of the standing water
• B. Wearing a hard hat rated for impact protection from objects falling near the wet work area
• C. Switching to a longer extension cord so the outlet feeding the tool sits farther from the puddle
• D. Using the corded tool only during the middle of the day, on the theory that the standing puddle may have partly evaporated by then

33. A worker is choosing a power tool for a task where the tool's casing might occasionally contact a grounded metal surface. What does a double-insulated tool provide in this situation?

• A. Complete immunity from any electrical hazard whatsoever, eliminating the need for GFCI or any other precaution
• B. Protection only when the tool is also plugged into a circuit with GFCI protection, and no benefit otherwise
• C. The exact same protection a worker gets from wearing rubber-soled boots, making the boots unnecessary to wear
• D. An added layer of protection by isolating the internal wiring, without needing a separate grounding conductor

34. A worker is transferring flammable solvent from a large drum into a smaller metal container on site. What precaution addresses the risk of a static spark igniting vapors during the transfer?

• A. Performing the solvent transfer as quickly as possible to limit how much vapor builds up above the liquid
• B. Bonding the drum and the receiving container together, and grounding them, before starting the transfer
• C. Using a plastic funnel during the pour, since plastic speeds up the transfer compared with a metal one
• D. Performing the transfer only inside an air-conditioned space rather than out in the open jobsite air

35. A crane operator is preparing to move a boom near overhead power lines on a job site. Without confirming the lines have been de-energized, what general practice should the crew follow regarding clearance from the lines?

• A. Maintain a substantial minimum clearance distance from the lines at all times, treating them as energized
• B. Move the boom as close as needed to complete the lift efficiently, since most overhead lines are fully insulated
• C. Only maintain clearance from the lines if they visibly appear to be sagging low or physically damaged
• D. Clearance distance from the lines only matters at the moment the crane is actively lifting a load

36. A crew is preparing to move an extension ladder to a new position, and overhead power lines run close to the path they plan to carry it. What should the crew do before moving the ladder?

• A. Carry the ladder quickly through the area beneath the lines so the crew's exposure time is minimized
• B. Lower the ladder flat to the ground and drag it under the overhead lines rather than carrying it upright
• C. Proceed with the move as normal, since aluminum is treated as the only ladder material anywhere capable of conducting electricity toward a worker
• D. Identify a route or a method that keeps the ladder and workers a safe distance from the energized lines, rerouting or de-energizing if needed

37. After completing lockout/tagout steps on a piece of equipment, a technician is about to begin the repair. What should the technician do immediately before making contact with the equipment?

• A. Begin work right away, since completing the lockout steps already confirmed the equipment was made safe
• B. Ask a coworker to confirm verbally, from across the room, that the correct breaker was switched off before the repair starts
• C. Test the equipment with an appropriate meter or tester to verify it is actually de-energized before touching it
• D. Check only whether the equipment's indicator light has gone dark before making physical contact with it

38. A maintenance worker needs to service a piece of electrical equipment that could unexpectedly re-energize while they are working on it. What procedure is designed to prevent this?

• A. Posting a verbal reminder to coworkers not to touch the equipment while it remains under power
• B. Wearing insulated gloves while the equipment stays energized and running normally throughout the repair
• C. Working as quickly as possible on the live equipment to minimize the worker's exposure time
• D. Lockout/tagout, which de-energizes and secures the equipment before work begins

39. A worker is looking for a place to temporarily store scrap lumber and notices an electrical panel with some open floor space in front of it. What is the concern with stacking materials there?

• A. There is no concern here at all as long as the panel's outer door stays latched shut while lumber is stored
• B. It is fine to stack the lumber there as long as the stored materials themselves are non-flammable
• C. It can block required clear access to the panel needed for safe operation or emergency shutoff
• D. It is only a problem if the panel happens to be labeled as a high-voltage enclosure on its cover

40. A worker believes their employer is violating a safety standard but is worried about losing their job if they speak up. Under OSHA's law, what protection applies to this worker?

• A. The worker must first resolve the issue directly with the employer before OSHA can get involved
• B. The worker loses whistleblower protection if they file the complaint anonymously
• C. The worker is protected from retaliation for filing a safety complaint or reporting a hazard
• D. The worker can only be protected if the hazard has already caused an injury

41. A worker completes the 10-hour construction outreach course and is waiting on the training provider to send the official completion card. Within what timeframe should the provider generally issue that card after the course ends?

• A. Within 90 days of course completion
• B. Within 24 hours of course completion
• C. There is no expected timeframe for issuing the card
• D. Only within the same calendar year the course was taken

42. A worker who earned their construction 10-hour completion card several years ago wonders whether it needs to be renewed or if it has expired. What is true about this card?

• A. It expires after a set number of years and must be renewed
• B. Construction 10-hour and 30-hour cards do not expire
• C. It expires only if the worker changes employers
• D. It must be renewed annually regardless of employer

43. A crew includes several workers whose primary language is different from the one safety training is normally delivered in. What is expected of the employer regarding how that training is provided?

• A. Training can be delivered only in the trainer's preferred language, since translation is the worker's responsibility
• B. Training and instructions need to be delivered in a language and vocabulary the workers can actually understand
• C. Written materials in English are sufficient regardless of what workers can read
• D. Language differences are irrelevant as long as workers can operate the equipment

44. A worker is assigned a task they reasonably believe could cause death or serious injury, and there isn't enough time for OSHA to inspect and address it through normal channels. What is this situation called, and what may the worker generally do?

• A. An imminent danger situation, in which the worker may refuse the task under specific legal conditions
• B. A minor hazard, which the worker must complete on schedule while filing a written complaint afterward
• C. A recordable incident, a classification that only governs how the resulting injury gets logged later
• D. A jurisdictional dispute, which must first be resolved by the state labor board before work continues

45. A training provider wants to compress the entire 10-hour construction outreach course into a single long day to finish faster. Is this allowed under the course's structure?

• A. No, the 10-hour course must be spread across a minimum number of calendar days rather than compressed into one
• B. Yes, the trainer may schedule the full 10 hours back to back within a single calendar day if the class agrees to it
• C. Yes, but a single-day, single-session format is permitted only when the entire class is delivered online
• D. No, the course structure requires the full class to be spread across at least a full seven-day calendar week

46. A masonry contractor uses a process that isn't specifically addressed by any OSHA standard, but employees are regularly exposed to a serious, well-documented hazard from it. Which principle allows OSHA to still address this hazard?

• A. The General Duty Clause, requiring employers to furnish a workplace free of recognized serious hazards
• B. The multi-employer worksite doctrine, which assigns hazard responsibility only to whichever contractor holds the site permit
• C. The Hazard Communication Standard, which covers labeling and safety data sheets for chemical hazards only
• D. State-plan preemption, under which a state OSHA plan removes federal enforcement authority entirely

47. Several different subcontractors are working on the same building site under one general contractor. If the general contractor's supervisor notices a serious hazard created by a subcontractor's crew, what is generally true about responsibility?

• A. The general contractor owes no duty to act because its own employees did not create the hazard
• B. Only the subcontractor whose crew physically created the hazard can be cited for it, regardless of who controls the site
• C. The general contractor can be held responsible for failing to correct a hazard it controls or should have detected
• D. Responsibility for a hazard on a multi-employer site is assigned only after the project's final walkthrough inspection

48. A new worker is told to just watch what other crew members do instead of being told what chemicals they will be working near. Which OSHA principle is being violated?

• A. The worker's right to know about chemical hazards through labels and safety data sheets
• B. The multi-employer worksite doctrine, which only assigns duties between contractors on the same site
• C. The imminent danger provision, which lets a worker refuse a task posing a threat of death or serious harm
• D. The recordkeeping requirement that governs how a workplace injury gets entered on the OSHA 300 log

49. A worker finishing the 10-hour construction outreach course asks whether they need to pass a written exam to receive their completion card. What is actually true about this requirement?

• A. Yes, a passing score on a standardized final exam set by OSHA is required by the program before any card can be issued
• B. Yes, but only the two hours of elective topics are tested, not the six hours of required topics
• C. No, OSHA does not require a test to earn the card, and any quiz given is left to the trainer's discretion
• D. No, but a background check administered by the training provider replaces the exam requirement instead

50. A supervisor tells new hires that OSHA rules only apply to large companies with many employees. Is this an accurate description of OSHA's coverage of private-sector construction work?

• A. Yes, coverage begins only once an employer's payroll reaches 50 or more construction employees
• B. Yes, coverage extends only to employers performing work under a federal government contract
• C. No, whether an employer is covered depends solely on the company's annual gross revenue
• D. No, OSHA coverage generally extends to nearly all private-sector employers regardless of size

51. A crew includes several workers whose primary language is not English. What does OSHA require regarding their safety training?

• A. Training may be delivered only in English on the theory that written handouts satisfy the comprehension requirement
• B. Training obligations run only to supervisors, since they are responsible for relaying safety information to their crews
• C. Workers must locate and pay for their own interpreter before the employer's training session may begin
• D. Training and instructions must be presented in a language and vocabulary the workers can understand

52. A worker reports a serious hazard to a supervisor, but weeks pass with no correction made. What right does the worker have under OSHA if the employer does not fix the hazard?

• A. The worker has exhausted their options once the supervisor has been told about the hazard one time
• B. The worker must wait for an injury to actually occur before an inspection can be requested
• C. Only a union representative, not an individual worker, may request that OSHA inspect the workplace
• D. The worker can request that OSHA inspect the workplace to address the uncorrected hazard

53. A worker needs to clear a jam from a piece of machinery with exposed moving gears and belts. What should happen before the worker reaches into the machine?

• A. The worker should reach in quickly between cycles of the machine's movement
• B. The worker should ask a coworker to watch and warn them if the machine restarts
• C. The worker should use a long tool to avoid direct hand contact, while the machine keeps running
• D. The machine should be shut down and locked out before any attempt to clear the jam

54. An excavation has been open for several days, and it rained heavily overnight. Before workers re-enter the trench the next morning, what should happen?

• A. Workers can enter again as long as the trench walls appear dry on the exposed surface that morning
• B. Only the trench box itself needs to be visually checked from a distance before anyone climbs down
• C. A competent person must reinspect the excavation for new hazards caused by the rain before work resumes
• D. Work can resume immediately, since the protective system had already been inspected once before the storm

55. Heavy equipment and stacks of pipe are parked and stored right at the edge of an open trench where workers are working below. What is the concern with this arrangement?

• A. There is no concern here as long as the parked equipment sitting near the trench edge is currently powered off and sitting completely idle for now
• B. The weight and vibration from equipment and stored material near the edge can cause the trench wall to collapse onto workers below
• C. This concern only applies to equipment that is actively being operated rather than simply parked nearby
• D. Stored pipe near the trench edge presents no additional hazard as long as the stack is arranged neatly

56. Excavated soil from a trench is being piled directly at the edge of the excavation, right where workers climb in and out. What is the hazard with placing the spoil pile there?

• A. There is no hazard here since the excavated soil was already tested and classified by a competent person before the digging even began
• B. The hazard from the spoil pile only exists once the pile grows taller than the workers standing near it
• C. Spoil placement at the edge only matters for trenches that happen to be using a trench box
• D. Spoil piled too close to the edge adds weight near the trench wall and can slide or fall back into the excavation onto workers

57. A trench four feet deep runs a long distance across a site, with a single ladder placed at one end for workers to climb in and out. What is the concern with having only one exit point spread across such a long trench?

• A. Workers positioned far from the single ladder would have to travel a long distance along the trench to escape quickly if it started to collapse
• B. There is no concern here at all as long as the trench itself is not dug meaningfully deeper than the single access ladder itself happens to be tall
• C. A single ladder at one end is fine for a trench of this length as long as it is inspected once daily
• D. The concern about one distant exit only applies to trenches that are wider than several feet across

58. A worker notices material has backed up on a running conveyor belt and reaches toward the moving belt to clear it by hand. What should the worker do instead?

• A. Reach in from the side of the belt where the backed-up material appears to be moving along a bit slower
• B. Stop and de-energize the conveyor, using lockout procedures, before clearing the material by hand
• C. Use a foot instead of a hand to nudge the backed-up material free while the belt keeps running
• D. Increase the conveyor belt's running speed briefly on the theory that this will clear the backup

59. A trench is protected using a pre-fabricated metal box lowered into the excavation, rather than timber or hydraulic shoring installed against the trench walls. What is this type of protective system generally called, and how does it work?

• A. A trench shield, which protects workers inside it by withstanding a cave-in rather than preventing the walls from moving
• B. A spoil barrier, a device meant only to hold back piles of excavated soil at the surface rather than protect the trench walls themselves
• C. A warning line, a surface marking meant only to alert equipment operators to the excavation's location
• D. A safety net, equipment that catches a falling worker rather than protecting anyone against a cave-in

60. A crew is planning an excavation and debating whether a protective system, such as sloping or shoring, is actually needed given how shallow the dig will be. What general principle should guide that decision?

• A. Protective systems are only ever needed for excavations that go especially deep, no matter what soil type happens to be present
• B. Excavations beyond a shallow depth generally require a protective system unless the excavation is entirely in stable rock
• C. Soil type has no bearing at all on whether a protective system is required for a given excavation depth
• D. Protective systems can be skipped as an optional step as long as the crew completes the dig quickly

61. A crew is preparing to dig a trench deep enough that workers will need to enter it for a utility installation. Based on general excavation safety rules, what must be in place before workers enter the trench?

• A. A single ladder placed anywhere along the length of the trench, at the crew's discretion
• B. Nothing extra, since a trench of this planned size is generally considered too shallow to matter
• C. A protective system such as sloping, shoring, or shielding, unless the trench is in stable rock
• D. A warning sign posted at the entrance to the site, visible before anyone reaches the trench itself

62. A loader is backing up near a fixed concrete wall while a worker on foot is positioned between the machine's path and the wall to direct it. What is the hazard in this position?

• A. There is no hazard here as long as the worker directing the loader is wearing bright high-visibility clothing rated for daytime use
• B. The hazard described only applies while the loader is moving forward, not while it is backing up
• C. The worker could be caught and crushed between the moving equipment and the fixed wall if the operator doesn't see them in time
• D. This directing position is safe as long as the worker also signals to the operator with their hands

63. A crew is about to start a new shift working inside a trench that was dug and shored the day before. What should happen before workers reenter the trench for this shift?

• A. Workers can enter directly for the new shift since the trench was already properly shored the day before
• B. Only the crew supervisor needs to glance down at the trench once from the surface before the new shift's work begins
• C. A competent person should inspect the excavation and protective system again before work resumes for the new shift
• D. A new inspection is only needed if it happened to rain at some point since the previous shift ended

64. A worker notices material clogging the rotating auger on a piece of drilling equipment and reaches in to clear it while the machine is still running. What is the correct approach instead?

• A. Reach in quickly between rotations of the auger to minimize the worker's overall exposure time to the moving parts
• B. Use a long stick to clear the jam by hand while the drilling equipment's auger keeps turning
• C. Increase the auger's rotating speed briefly on the theory that this will clear the clog on its own
• D. Shut the equipment down and lock it out before reaching into the point of operation to clear the jam

65. A worker needs to reach the far side of the site quickly and considers walking underneath a load that a crane currently has suspended overhead. What is the correct practice here?

• A. It is fine to walk under the load briefly since the rigging has already been inspected
• B. Never walk or stand underneath a suspended load; take a route around it instead
• C. It is acceptable if the worker is wearing a hard hat
• D. It is acceptable only if the crane operator is watching the load closely

66. A worker needs to walk behind a parked dump truck to retrieve a tool just as the driver starts the engine and prepares to back up. What should the worker do?

• A. Stay out of the area behind the truck and make sure the driver sees them before approaching, since the space behind large vehicles is often a blind spot
• B. Quickly grab the tool from behind the truck and step away again before the driver has finished starting the engine and shifts the vehicle into reverse gear
• C. Knock once on the truck's side panel so the driver has some indication that a worker is standing somewhere nearby
• D. Walk behind the truck to retrieve the tool as long as they move quickly enough to beat the vehicle

67. Workers are cutting rebar with a power saw, producing small metal fragments that fly outward from the cutting point. What PPE most directly protects against being struck by these fragments?

• A. Hearing protection sized to reduce the noise generated by the power saw during the cut
• B. Steel-toe boots rated to resist impact and compression from objects dropped near the feet
• C. A hard hat rated for impact protection from objects falling from directly above the cutting point
• D. Safety glasses or a face shield providing eye and face protection

68. Concrete blocks are stacked on site without being cross-tied or banded, reaching a height taller than the workers walking past them. What is the concern with this storage method?

• A. There is no concern at all as long as the block stack is resting on reasonably level ground
• B. Stack height only becomes a concern for materials that are being stored inside a building
• C. The concern with the tall stack only applies if the concrete blocks themselves happen to be wet
• D. An unstable, un-cross-tied stack can topple and strike workers walking nearby

69. A dump truck needs to back up across an active work zone where several workers are on foot near material stockpiles. What practice most directly reduces the risk of a worker being struck by the reversing vehicle?

• A. Requiring the driver to sound the horn a single time right before starting to reverse the truck
• B. Restricting all backing maneuvers to only the very beginning of the shift before workers arrive
• C. Painting the back of the truck a bright color so it stands out against the material stockpiles
• D. Using a designated spotter with a clear line of sight and communication with the driver

70. A flagger is directing traffic around a road construction zone adjacent to active lanes of travel. What type of clothing is this worker required to wear to reduce struck-by risk from passing vehicles?

• A. Standard dark-colored work clothing, chosen for contrast against the light-colored pavement surface
• B. Insulated clothing rated for electrical protection near energized conductors on the roadway
• C. High-visibility apparel designed to make the worker easily seen by drivers
• D. Waterproof clothing intended only to protect the flagger against rain and weather, nothing else

71. A backhoe is operating on site with its cab and boom rotating through a wide arc as it excavates. A ground worker walks close behind the machine to reach a tool cart. What is the hazard in this situation?

• A. There is no hazard here as long as the worker stays positioned directly behind the backhoe's tracks rather than its cab
• B. The machine's rotating superstructure can swing into the space behind it, striking anyone standing in that arc
• C. The swing hazard only exists during the moments when the backhoe's bucket is actively cutting into the ground
• D. Ground workers near a backhoe are only ever at risk from the bucket, not the rest of the machine

72. A worker is walking beneath scaffolding where other crew members are working above with hand tools. What is the primary purpose of the hard hat this worker is wearing?

• A. To protect the head from impact by falling objects such as tools or debris
• B. To provide hearing protection from the noise generated by nearby equipment overhead
• C. To shield the eyes from flying particles kicked up by hand tools above
• D. To provide fall protection to the worker if they happen to trip while walking

73. A worker on an elevated platform is using a wrench to tighten bolts, with coworkers passing on the ground below. What is a simple way to reduce the risk of the wrench striking someone below if it's dropped?

• A. Working faster so the wrench spends less total time actually in the worker's hand overhead
• B. Attaching the tool to a tool lanyard or tether so it can't fall freely if dropped
• C. Warning coworkers below once at the very start of the shift and never mentioning the hazard again
• D. Choosing a lighter wrench so a drop would cause less force if it struck someone below

74. Workers are performing tasks at height on a platform above an area where other crew members walk and work below. What control most directly reduces the risk of a dropped tool striking someone below?

• A. Posting a sign at ground level that simply warns passersby of the overhead work taking place
• B. Requiring everyone walking below the platform to wear steel-toe boots for the rest of the shift
• C. Scheduling all of the ground-level work for a different day, with no other change to the platform itself
• D. Toe boards, tool tethers, or debris netting that keep tools and materials from falling off the platform

75. Forecasted high winds are expected to pick up during the afternoon on a site with loose sheet materials and scaffolding partially assembled. What should the crew do in response?

• A. Secure or remove loose materials and evaluate whether work at height should be suspended as winds increase
• B. Wait until the wind is already blowing strongly before the crew takes any action at all
• C. Continue work exactly as scheduled, since wind rarely affects material that is already stored on the ground
• D. Assume that only the workers on the ground need to take any precautions as the wind picks up

76. A carpenter using a pneumatic nail gun keeps a finger resting on the trigger while repositioning the tool between shots on a framing crew. What hazard does this habit create?

• A. No hazard exists at all, since the tool's contact safety tip is designed to prevent the gun from firing unless it is pressed firmly against a piece of wood
• B. This particular hazard only exists on older nail gun models with a worn or poorly maintained trigger mechanism
• C. This habit only matters if the nail gun happens to already be disconnected from its compressed air supply hose
• D. Keeping a finger on the trigger risks an unintended discharge if the tool contacts something, such as another worker, while being repositioned

77. An electrician working near exposed low-voltage conductors needs a hard hat rated for some degree of electrical protection. Which hard hat class is generally designed to provide protection against contact with certain energized conductors?

• A. Class E
• B. Class G
• C. Class C
• D. There is no hard hat class rated for any electrical protection

78. A worker is assigned to work at height using a personal fall arrest system. Which piece of equipment is required as the connection point between the worker's body and the system, rather than a simple body belt?

• A. A reflective vest
• B. A hard hat with chin strap
• C. Steel-toe boots
• D. A full-body harness

79. Workers are cutting concrete with equipment that generates a significant amount of fine dust, and engineering controls like water suppression are not fully eliminating airborne exposure. What PPE should be added in this case?

• A. An appropriate respirator selected for the specific airborne hazard
• B. A face shield alone, since it blocks dust from reaching the mouth and nose
• C. Standard safety glasses, which filter fine dust particles
• D. Earplugs, since dust exposure is primarily an ear hazard

80. A worker puts on a full-body harness that is visibly too loose in the leg straps and does not inspect it before starting work at height. What is the concern with this practice?

• A. A loose-fitting harness is fine here as long as the worker is also connected through a lanyard
• B. Fit only really matters for the worker's day-to-day comfort on the job, not for how the harness actually performs once a real fall occurs
• C. Inspecting the harness is only necessary the very first time it is used, not before each later use
• D. A poorly fitted or uninspected harness may not properly distribute forces or catch defects, reducing its effectiveness if a fall occurs

81. A site supervisor assumes workers will simply decide on their own and bring whatever PPE they personally think they need for each task. What is the concern with this approach?

• A. There is no concern with this approach at all, since workers generally know their own tasks best
• B. The employer is responsible for assessing the workplace and determining what PPE is actually necessary for each hazard, not leaving that judgment to individual workers
• C. This hands-off approach is fine as long as the workers involved on that particular crew happen to be fairly experienced already with similar tasks on past construction jobs elsewhere
• D. PPE selection is only the employer's responsibility when the worker in question is a brand-new hire

82. A flagger is directing traffic at night near an active roadway with vehicles passing close to the work zone. What kind of high-visibility apparel is most appropriate for this role?

• A. Any brightly colored shirt on hand, on the theory that color alone is sufficient for a flagger at night
• B. Standard daytime safety vests, on the assumption that visibility needs stay the same day or night
• C. High-visibility apparel with reflective material rated for the higher visibility needs of nighttime, close-proximity traffic work
• D. High-visibility apparel is only necessary for workers who are actually operating equipment at night, not for flaggers who are simply standing on foot nearby

83. A new worker asks who is responsible for paying for most required personal protective equipment on a construction site. What is generally true under OSHA's PPE requirements?

• A. The worker must purchase their own required PPE out of pocket before their first day on site
• B. PPE costs on this kind of project are generally split evenly between the employer and the worker
• C. PPE is only provided free of charge if the worker submits a written request for it in advance
• D. The employer must generally provide most required PPE at no cost to the employee

84. A worker handling sharp sheet metal grabs the same pair of gloves used earlier that day for handling a chemical solvent. What is the concern with using one glove type across both tasks?

• A. Gloves need to be matched to the specific hazard, since a glove rated for chemical resistance may not offer adequate cut resistance, and vice versa
• B. There is no concern here as long as the gloves in question are visibly clean of any solvent residue
• C. Glove type only becomes a real concern for tasks that specifically involve electrical work on site
• D. Any leather work glove already sitting in the truck's toolbox is suitable for both handling the chemical solvent and cutting the sheet metal safely

85. A worker is issued a respirator but receives no instruction on how to check its fit or when it needs to be replaced. What is missing from how this PPE was provided?

• A. Nothing at all; simply handing the worker the equipment fully satisfies the employer's responsibility here
• B. Training on how to properly use, fit-check, and maintain the PPE, not just providing the equipment itself
• C. A backup respirator kept on hand, which is the only thing actually missing from this situation
• D. Nothing is missing here as long as the respirator that was issued happened to be purchased brand new

86. A worker operating an angle grinder to cut metal is wearing only safety glasses. What additional protection should be added given the amount of sparks and debris this task produces?

• A. Nothing additional is needed here, since the safety glasses already cover the eyes fully
• B. Earplugs, on the theory that hearing damage is actually the main additional concern created by cutting metal with a grinder
• C. A dust mask worn instead of the safety glasses, since it covers more of the lower face
• D. A face shield worn over the safety glasses, for broader protection against sparks and flying debris

87. A laborer will be moving heavy materials across a site where dropped tools and rolling debris are a common hazard to the feet. What PPE most directly protects against this hazard?

• A. Regular sneakers, on the theory that foot protection only really matters when the weather turns cold and icy
• B. A tool belt worn to keep hand tools off the ground and out of the laborer's way
• C. Knee pads worn to cushion the lower body during the repeated bending this task involves
• D. Protective footwear, such as steel-toe or composite-toe boots rated for impact and compression

88. A worker moves between a quiet office trailer and a loud area of the site where jackhammers are running most of the shift. When should the worker put on hearing protection?

• A. Only once a coworker happens to mention that the noise in that area seems too loud
• B. Only during the final hour of the shift, when fatigue makes noise feel more noticeable
• C. Whenever entering areas with high noise levels, such as where the jackhammers are operating
• D. Hearing protection stays optional as long as the worker doesn't personally feel discomfort from the noise

89. A worker has been operating loud equipment for years without consistent use of hearing protection. What is true about the type of hearing damage this exposure can cause?

• A. It is always temporary and fully reverses after a period of rest
• B. It can be cumulative over time and permanent once it occurs
• C. It only affects the ear that was closer to the noise source
• D. It has no connection to the duration of noise exposure

90. A worker repeatedly performs the same overhead reaching and gripping motion for hours each day while installing ceiling fixtures, with no task rotation or breaks built into the schedule. What type of health hazard does this repetitive work pattern raise?

• A. This pattern raises no real health concern as long as the worker is otherwise generally physically fit
• B. An ergonomic or cumulative trauma hazard, from sustained repetitive motion and awkward postures over time
• C. This repetitive motion is only a concern if the worker is also lifting objects heavier than they can carry
• D. Repetitive overhead motion tasks like this pose no different risk than a varied daily task schedule would

91. A worker spends most of the workday repeatedly bending, twisting, and lifting materials in an awkward posture to complete a task. Over time, what type of health issue is this pattern of movement most likely to contribute to?

• A. Acute chemical burns from repeated contact with a solvent used elsewhere on the job
• B. Hearing loss from repeated motion, unrelated to the noise level in the work area
• C. Musculoskeletal disorders from repetitive strain and awkward posture
• D. Respiratory illness caused directly by the physical exertion of bending and lifting

92. A crew is cutting and grinding concrete on a regular basis without using water suppression or ventilation controls. What health hazard is this activity most likely to create over time?

• A. Increased risk of frostbite from prolonged contact with the cold concrete surface being cut
• B. Increased risk of contact dermatitis only, from wet concrete residue on exposed skin
• C. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust, which can cause serious lung disease
• D. Increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from the saw's small gasoline engine exhaust

93. A renovation crew working in an older building suspects that some pipe insulation and ceiling tiles may contain a hazardous fiber material commonly used decades ago. What is the recommended approach if this material is suspected?

• A. Avoid disturbing the material and have it properly tested and handled by trained personnel
• B. Continue the renovation work exactly as planned, since the material is likely inactive after so many years
• C. Cover the suspected material with plastic sheeting and keep working directly on top of it
• D. Remove the suspected material quickly using standard hand tools to limit the crew's exposure time

94. A worker spends most shifts near running heavy equipment but doesn't notice any pain or ringing in their ears afterward. Does the absence of pain mean hearing damage isn't occurring?

• A. Yes, the absence of pain or ringing after a shift means no hearing damage is actually happening
• B. Yes, but the absence of pain as a warning sign only holds true for workers under a certain age
• C. No, but only sudden, extremely loud noises like an explosion are capable of causing any hearing damage
• D. No, hearing loss from ongoing loud noise exposure can develop gradually without pain as a warning sign

95. A crew removing old paint from a bridge structure discovers the paint may have been applied decades ago. Why might this be a specific health concern beyond ordinary paint dust?

• A. Older paint may contain lead, which can cause serious health effects if inhaled or ingested as dust or fumes
• B. Older paint on a structure like this is only ever a fire hazard, not a health hazard to the crew
• C. The age of the paint has no effect at all on the health risk its dust poses to any worker removing it from the structure
• D. Older paint dust from a bridge structure is a health concern only for workers who happen to be pregnant

96. Workers are performing physically demanding tasks outdoors during a hot summer afternoon. What combination of practices most directly reduces their risk of heat-related illness?

• A. Working straight through scheduled breaks so the crew finishes the outdoor task sooner
• B. Frequent water breaks, access to shade or cooling, and gradual acclimatization to the heat
• C. Drinking cold beverages containing caffeine throughout the shift to stay alert in the heat
• D. Wearing heavier clothing on the theory that it helps the body regulate its temperature better

97. A worker needs to enter a below-grade vault to inspect equipment, and the space has only one small entry point with limited airflow. Before entry, what type of hazard specifically needs to be evaluated due to the space's characteristics?

• A. The potential for a hazardous atmosphere, such as low oxygen or toxic gas buildup, due to limited airflow
• B. Only the risk of electrical shock from wiring located somewhere near the vault's small entry hatch and access ladder
• C. Only the risk of noise exposure from any equipment that happens to be running inside the vault
• D. Only the risk of falling objects from above the hatch as the worker climbs down into the space

98. A renovation crew opens up a wall in a building that had significant water damage months earlier and finds visible dark, fuzzy growth on the wall cavity's surfaces. What should the crew do?

• A. Continue the renovation work exactly as planned in that section of the wall, since the surrounding material is now dry
• B. Stop and address the suspected mold growth using appropriate precautions before continuing work in that area
• C. Simply paint directly over the affected wall cavity surfaces and proceed with the renovation
• D. This growth is only a concern if someone currently on the crew happens to have known allergies

99. A worker is about to use a chemical product for the first time and wants to know what protective measures and hazards are associated with it. Where should they look for this information before starting the task?

• A. The color of the product's container, which is treated as a universal indicator of hazard level
• B. The manufacturer's general advertising materials describing the product's intended uses
• C. The product's Safety Data Sheet (SDS), which describes hazards and recommended precautions
• D. A coworker's personal opinion, based on past experience with a similar-looking product

100. A worker wants to know the health hazards and safe handling steps for a chemical product being used on site. Where should this information be available to them?

• A. Only the site's original chemical supplier is able to provide this kind of information to a worker
• B. This kind of hazard and handling information is only provided once a worker has actually become ill
• C. Only supervisors on the project are entitled to review the safety data sheets for a given chemical
• D. Safety data sheets kept accessible on site for the chemicals workers are using