NCCER Core Curriculum cheat sheet

Minimum PPE on most sites: hard hat, safety glasses with side shields, and safety-toed boots; hearing protection is required at an 8-hour average exposure of 85 dBA.

OSHA requires fall protection for construction workers exposed to falls of 6 feet or more to a lower level: guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest.

The fire tetrahedron has four parts - fuel, heat, oxygen, and chemical chain reaction; removing any one part extinguishes the fire.

Extinguisher classes: A = ordinary combustibles, B = flammable liquids and gases, C = energized electrical, D = combustible metals, K = cooking media.

PASS technique: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side.

Ladder 4-to-1 rule: the base sits 1 foot out for every 4 feet of working length; extension ladders must extend 3 feet above the landing surface.

Scaffold platforms must be fully planked and rated for at least four times the intended load, with guardrails (top rail 38-45 inches) when the work deck is 10 feet or higher.

Lockout/tagout: isolate the energy source, apply your own lock and tag, and remove them only when you personally applied them.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) have 16 sections; Section 8 covers exposure controls and personal protection.

Convert inches to decimal feet by dividing by 12: 9 inches = 9 / 12 = 0.75 foot.

Common fraction-to-decimal values: 1/8 = 0.125, 1/4 = 0.25, 3/8 = 0.375, 1/2 = 0.5, 5/8 = 0.625, 3/4 = 0.75, 7/8 = 0.875.

Area formulas: rectangle A = L x W; triangle A = 1/2 base x height; circle A = pi x r squared (pi = 3.1416).

Volume formulas: rectangular solid V = L x W x H; cylinder V = pi x r squared x H.

One cubic yard = 27 cubic feet; one cubic foot = 1,728 cubic inches.

Pythagorean theorem: in a right triangle, a squared + b squared = c squared, where c is the hypotenuse.

3-4-5 method squares a corner: mark 3 units on one line and 4 on the other, then adjust until the diagonal reads exactly 5 units; any multiple (6-8-10) also works.

Slope in percent = (rise / run) x 100; a 1-foot rise over a 12-foot run is an 8.33 percent slope.

Metric prefixes: kilo = 1,000, centi = 0.01, milli = 0.001 of the base unit.

The hook on a tape measure is intentionally loose and slides by its own thickness so both inside and outside measurements read accurately.

Wrench size refers to the across-flats distance of the fastener head, not the thread diameter.

Never slip a cheater bar over a wrench or torque wrench handle; it overloads the tool and can cause failure or injury.

Handsaw tooth count: 7-9 teeth per inch for fast rough and framing cuts, 10-12 teeth per inch for smoother finish cuts.

To test a spirit level, read the bubble, rotate the tool 180 degrees, and read again; both readings must match.

Cut with a wood chisel by driving the bevel up, keep both hands behind the cutting edge, and never pry with the chisel.

Use a utility knife with a sharp blade and keep the blade retracted when the cut is finished; a dull blade requires more force and slips more easily.

A pipe wrench's serrated jaws bite in one direction only; orient the jaws so the teeth point toward the direction of handle pull.

OSHA requires ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection for cord-and-plug tools used on construction sites, or an assured equipment grounding conductor program.

Set a circular saw blade to extend no more than about 1/4 inch below the material being cut.

Unplug or disconnect the power source before changing blades, bits, or wheels on any tool.

Carry and unplug a corded tool by the plug and body, never by the cord, and keep cords clear of blades and traffic paths.

Powder-actuated fastening tools require a certified operator; load the tool only when ready to fasten and never use it in a flammable atmosphere.

Abrasive wheels: keep the guard in place, use only wheels rated at or above the tool's RPM, and ring-test a wheel before mounting - a clear ring is sound, a dull thud means it is cracked.

Choose reciprocating saw blades by teeth per inch - more teeth per inch for metal, fewer for wood.

Never remove or defeat a tool guard; keep hands and body parts clear of the cutting line and the point of operation.

Scale expresses drawing distance versus actual distance: at 1/4 inch = 1 foot, a 4-inch line on the print represents 16 feet of actual construction.

Plan view looks down from above; elevation is a side view showing heights; section is a cut-through view revealing internal construction.

Line types: object lines are heavy and solid, hidden lines are dashed, centerlines are long-short-long, and dimension lines carry arrowheads and numbers.

The drawing set is typically ordered cover/index, site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, details, and schedules.

The title block gives the project name, sheet title, drawing number, scale, date, designer, and revision list.

Grid and column lines are lettered in one direction and numbered in the other so locations can be called out precisely.

Revision clouds mark changed areas of a drawing and carry a revision number or triangle tied to the revision block.

Common symbols: door swing indicated by an arc, window by a break in the wall line, and an electrical receptacle by a circle with two lines.

A Request for Information (RFI) is the formal written route to resolve a discrepancy or missing dimension on the drawings.

Sling leg tension = (load / number of legs) / sine of the leg angle measured from horizontal; flatter angles produce much higher tension.

Example: a two-leg sling at 45 degrees from horizontal puts about 0.707 times the total load on each leg; at 30 degrees it is about 1.0 times the load per leg.

Reduction factors for two-leg slings by angle from horizontal: 60 degrees = 1.73 x capacity, 45 degrees = 1.41 x, 30 degrees = 1.0 x the single-leg rating.

Never exceed a sling's rated capacity, and never tie a knot in a sling or shorten a chain sling with a knot.

The D/d ratio is the diameter of the bend divided by the rope diameter; a larger ratio reduces bending stress and lengthens wire rope life.

Inspect rigging before each lift; remove from service for broken wires, kinks, birdcaging, cracks, or illegible capacity tags.

The lifting point must be directly above the load's center of gravity to keep the load level and controlled.

Standard hand signals include raise load (forearm up, forefinger up), lower load, stop (arm extended, palm down), and emergency stop.

Use a tag line to control rotation and swing - never ride the load or walk or stand under a suspended load.

The communication cycle is sender, message, receiver, and feedback; without feedback the sender cannot confirm the message was understood.

Active listening means giving full attention, asking clarifying questions, and restating the message in your own words.

Verbal, vocal, and nonverbal channels carry meaning at the same time; body language and tone often outweigh the literal words.

On two-way radio, identify yourself first, keep transmissions brief, and repeat back critical instructions to confirm.

Barriers to effective communication include noise, jargon, language differences, distraction, and strong emotion.

Written messages should be complete, concise, clear, and courteous; include who, what, when, where, and why.

Resolve conflict by focusing on the problem and specific behavior rather than attacking the person, and keep the discussion private.

Employers screen for attendance and punctuality, a positive attitude, honesty, teamwork, and willingness to learn alongside technical skill.

Team development stages are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning; storming is the conflict stage where roles are settled.

Time management: list tasks, rank by importance and deadline, and complete high-priority items before they become urgent.

Most construction employers require pre-employment and random substance-abuse testing; a positive test typically ends employment.

A résumé includes contact information, objective, work experience, education or training, and references.

In an interview, arrive early, dress appropriately for the trade, bring your résumé, and ask questions about the job.

Report harassment or discrimination through the chain of command or human resources; keep a record of dates, places, and behavior.

Safe lift: keep the load close to the body, bend the knees, keep the back straight, lift with the legs, and do not twist while carrying.

Use a team lift or mechanical aid when a load is too heavy or awkward for one person; a common single-person guideline is about 50 pounds.

Hand trucks: load heavy items at the bottom against the frame, tilt the load back onto the wheels, and balance it over the axle.

Forklift capacity comes from the data plate; capacity drops as the load center distance increases or if an attachment is added.

Travel with a forklift load low, forks tilted back, and use a spotter when the load blocks forward visibility.

Store materials on dunnage off the ground, keep stacks stable and at a safe height, and keep aisles and exits clear.

Roll or use a cart for cylindrical loads rather than dragging them, and never drag a load across rigging hardware or slings.

Sling leg tension = (load / number of legs) / sine of the leg angle measured from horizontal; flatter angles produce higher tension.

Standard hand signals include raise load (forearm up, forefinger up), lower load, stop (arm extended, palm down), and emergency stop.

Inspect all slings and hardware before each lift and remove damaged gear from service.

Keep the hook or lifting point directly above the load's center of gravity so the load stays level.

Never exceed a sling's rated capacity and never tie a knot in a sling or chain.

Use a tag line to control load rotation; never stand or walk under a suspended load.

Larger D/d ratios reduce bending stress on wire rope and extend its service life.