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OSHA 10 Construction practice questions

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Question 1Introduction to OSHA

OSHA is a federal agency that operates within which cabinet department?

  1. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  2. The U.S. Department of Labor Correct answer.
  3. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  4. The U.S. Department of Commerce

Explanation

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 created OSHA inside the U.S. Department of Labor, and the agency is led by an Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. Research and training functions were placed in a separate institute rather than in OSHA itself.

Question 2Introduction to OSHA

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, called the General Duty Clause, requires each employer to:

  1. post injury and illness records in a public area of the jobsite
  2. pay employees a premium for work performed in hazardous conditions
  3. obtain an OSHA permit before starting any construction project
  4. furnish a workplace free of recognized serious hazards Correct answer.

Explanation

The General Duty Clause obligates employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. It applies even where no specific OSHA standard covers the condition. No permit, premium pay, or public posting duty comes from that clause.

Question 3Introduction to OSHA

An employer must report a work-related fatality to OSHA within how many hours of learning of it?

  1. 8 hours Correct answer.
  2. 24 hours
  3. 4 hours
  4. 72 hours

Explanation

Employers must report a work-related fatality by telephone or online to the nearest OSHA office within 8 hours of learning about it. The shorter deadline reflects the severity of the event and allows OSHA to investigate promptly.

Question 4Introduction to OSHA

Construction-specific OSHA standards are found in which part of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations?

  1. Part 1910
  2. Part 1926 Correct answer.
  3. Part 1902
  4. Part 1904

Explanation

29 CFR Part 1926 contains the safety and health standards for construction work. Part 1910 covers general industry, Part 1904 covers injury and illness recordkeeping, and Part 1902 covers approved State Plans.

Question 5Introduction to OSHA

Which form summarizes a year's work-related injuries and illnesses and must be posted at the establishment from February 1 through April 30?

  1. OSHA Form 101
  2. OSHA Form 301
  3. OSHA Form 300
  4. OSHA Form 300A Correct answer.

Explanation

Form 300A is the annual summary and must be posted each year from February 1 to April 30, even if no recordable cases occurred. It shows totals for the prior calendar year and is signed by a company executive.

Question 6Introduction to OSHA

Which document must an employer display to inform workers of their rights under the OSH Act?

  1. An emergency action plan
  2. A hazard communication pictogram chart
  3. The OSHA poster 3165, "It's the Law" Correct answer.
  4. A Notice of Contest

Explanation

Employers must post OSHA's Job Safety and Health poster (Publication 3165) where employees can see it. It tells workers about their rights to a safe workplace, to file complaints, and to receive information about hazards.

Question 7Introduction to OSHA

Which of these is a right the OSH Act gives to covered construction workers?

  1. file a complaint and request an inspection Correct answer.
  2. waive standards they find inconvenient
  3. set their own exposure limits for chemicals
  4. approve the employer's injury log entries

Explanation

Workers may file a complaint with OSHA and, if the complaint meets the criteria, OSHA may inspect the site. Workers may also participate in inspections, see hazard information, and access injury records.

Question 8Introduction to OSHA

OSHA's Focus Four hazards for construction are falls, struck-by, caught-in or between, and:

  1. noise
  2. heat stress
  3. electrocution Correct answer.
  4. silica dust

Explanation

The Focus Four are falls, struck-by, caught-in or between, and electrocutions, which together account for the majority of construction fatalities. Outreach training emphasizes these because they are the leading causes of death in the industry.

Question 9Introduction to OSHA

Which situation receives OSHA's highest inspection priority?

  1. A follow-up visit to verify abatement
  2. A written complaint from a worker
  3. A report of an imminent danger Correct answer.
  4. A programmed inspection of a high-hazard site

Explanation

OSHA ranks inspections by risk: imminent danger first, then fatalities and catastrophes, then valid complaints and referrals, then programmed inspections, and finally follow-ups. A credible imminent danger report can also lead to a rapid response before a full inspection.

Question 10Introduction to OSHA

Which sequence correctly lists the three phases of a typical OSHA inspection?

  1. Walkaround, opening conference, closing conference
  2. Closing conference, walkaround, opening conference
  3. Opening conference, walkaround, closing conference Correct answer.
  4. Opening conference, closing conference, walkaround

Explanation

A compliance officer presents credentials and explains the scope at the opening conference, inspects the site during the walkaround, and then discusses findings and abatement options at the closing conference. The walkaround always occurs before the closing conference.

Question 11Introduction to OSHA

An employer who disagrees with a citation must contest it in writing within how many working days of receiving it?

  1. 15 working days Correct answer.
  2. 10 working days
  3. 30 working days
  4. 5 working days

Explanation

The employer has 15 working days from receipt of the citation and penalty notification to file a written notice of contest with the OSHA area director. If the contest is timely, the case is forwarded to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Question 12Introduction to OSHA

After receiving a citation, what must an employer do with a copy of it?

  1. Post it only after all penalties assessed in the citation have been paid
  2. Post it at or near the violation for three working days or until abatement Correct answer.
  3. Post it only if the employer decides to contest the citation
  4. Keep it on file for 24 hours after the citation is received

Explanation

The employer must post the citation at or near the place of the violation for three working days or until the hazard is abated, whichever is longer. This lets affected workers see what was cited and what correction is required.

Question 13Introduction to OSHA

A worker who believes they were fired for reporting a safety hazard must file a retaliation complaint with OSHA within:

  1. 30 days Correct answer.
  2. 60 days
  3. one year
  4. six months

Explanation

Section 11(c) of the OSH Act prohibits retaliation against workers who exercise safety rights, and a complaint must be filed within 30 days of the alleged retaliation. Missing that window generally ends the claim.

Question 14Introduction to OSHA

An OSHA-approved State Plan must:

  1. cover only state and local government employees
  2. be at least as effective as the federal program Correct answer.
  3. adopt every federal standard word for word
  4. eliminate federal enforcement funding in the state

Explanation

A State Plan must be at least as effective as federal OSHA in protecting workers, and it must cover private-sector employees in the state. States may adopt standards that are stricter than the federal rules.

Question 15Introduction to OSHA

Which worker is generally not covered by the OSH Act?

  1. A self-employed contractor with no employees Correct answer.
  2. A laborer on a commercial construction site
  3. A roofer employed by a roofing subcontractor
  4. A crane operator employed by a steel erection company

Explanation

The OSH Act covers employers and their employees; self-employed people with no employees are outside its coverage. Workers whose hazards are regulated by another federal agency, such as mine workers under MSHA, are also excluded.

Question 16Introduction to OSHA

OSHA issues a General Duty Clause citation only when:

  1. no employee has complained about the hazard
  2. no specific OSHA standard applies to the hazard Correct answer.
  3. the hazard has already caused an injury
  4. the employer has fewer than ten workers on the site

Explanation

The General Duty Clause is a catch-all used where no published standard addresses the hazard. If a specific standard applies, OSHA cites that standard instead. An injury or a complaint is not a prerequisite.

Question 17Introduction to OSHA

Which statement describes OSHA's free On-Site Consultation Program?

  1. It issues citations that the employer can contest
  2. It advises small employers and does not propose penalties Correct answer.
  3. It replaces the employer's duty to comply with standards
  4. It is available only after a fatality occurs

Explanation

The On-Site Consultation Program provides free, confidential help from state-run services, primarily to small employers, and it does not issue citations or propose penalties. If serious hazards are found, the employer must correct them to remain in the program.

Question 18Introduction to OSHA

A worker's right to refuse to perform an assigned task is protected when:

  1. the assigned task is generally considered unpleasant, tiring, or dirty
  2. the worker believes a co-worker may be careless with tools
  3. the employer has not yet paid overtime wages for the task
  4. danger is imminent and normal enforcement cannot remove it in time Correct answer.

Explanation

Refusal is protected where a genuine imminent danger exists, there is no reasonable alternative, and there is not enough time to have the hazard corrected through normal enforcement channels such as an OSHA inspection. Ordinary discomfort or pay disputes do not qualify.

Question 19Introduction to OSHA

Under OSHA rules, who pays for required personal protective equipment such as hard hats and safety glasses?

  1. The employer, at no cost to the employee Correct answer.
  2. The equipment manufacturer
  3. A joint employer-employee safety fund
  4. The employee, through a payroll deduction

Explanation

Employers must provide required PPE at no cost to workers, with narrow exceptions such as non-specialty safety-toe footwear and prescription safety glasses that employees may wear off the job. Employers must also ensure the equipment fits and is maintained.

Question 20Introduction to OSHA

During an OSHA inspection, an authorized employee representative may:

  1. record the inspection only if the employer gives written consent
  2. accompany the compliance officer during the walkaround Correct answer.
  3. negotiate the amount of any proposed penalty
  4. refuse to let the compliance officer enter the site

Explanation

Workers have the right to have a representative accompany the compliance officer during the physical inspection and to speak privately with the officer. The employer cannot choose the employees' representative for them.

Question 21Introduction to OSHA

If an employer refuses to allow a compliance officer to inspect the worksite, OSHA's next step is to:

  1. permanently bar the employer from federal contracts
  2. enter the site without consent under any circumstances
  3. immediately issue a willful citation by mail
  4. seek an inspection warrant from a federal court Correct answer.

Explanation

Under the Supreme Court's decision in Marshall v. Barlow's, Inc., a warrant is required if the employer refuses consent, and OSHA obtains one from a federal district court. A refusal to permit entry is itself a violation that can be cited.

Question 22Introduction to OSHA

To support a General Duty Clause citation, OSHA must show a recognized hazard likely to cause death or serious harm, a feasible means of abatement, and that:

  1. the employer had been previously cited for the same condition
  2. employees were exposed to the hazard Correct answer.
  3. the hazard had already caused an injury
  4. the employer failed to post the OSHA poster

Explanation

A General Duty Clause case requires employee exposure to a recognized hazard that was causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm, plus a feasible way to abate it. Prior citations and actual injuries are not required.

Question 23Introduction to OSHA

An employer that cannot meet a newly issued OSHA standard by its effective date may:

  1. apply to OSHA for a temporary variance Correct answer.
  2. ignore the standard until an inspection occurs
  3. ask employees to sign a waiver of the standard
  4. issue its own alternate standard for the site

Explanation

The OSH Act allows an employer to request a temporary variance when compliance by the effective date is impossible because of unavailable personnel, materials, or equipment, or because construction time is needed. The request must include a compliance plan and interim worker protections.

Question 24Introduction to OSHA

When both a general industry standard and a construction standard could apply to work on a construction site, OSHA will normally cite:

  1. the construction standard, because it is the more specific rule Correct answer.
  2. whichever standard was adopted first by the agency
  3. the general industry standard in every case
  4. neither one; OSHA must rely on the General Duty Clause instead

Explanation

Construction work is governed by 29 CFR 1926, and a specific construction standard controls over a general industry rule addressing the same condition. General industry standards in Part 1910 fill gaps where Part 1926 has no applicable requirement.

Question 25Introduction to OSHA

Under OSHA's multi-employer worksite policy, an employer that created a hazard may be cited even if:

  1. no citation went to the general contractor
  2. another contractor promised to fix it
  3. the hazard was corrected before the inspection
  4. its own employees were not exposed to it Correct answer.

Explanation

The multi-employer policy recognizes creating, exposing, correcting, and controlling employers, and a creating employer may be cited even when only another contractor's workers are exposed. Responsibility follows the role on the site, not just payroll.

Question 26Introduction to OSHA

The Occupational Safety and Health Act was signed into law in which year?

  1. 1970 Correct answer.
  2. 1975
  3. 1965
  4. 1985

Explanation

The OSH Act was signed on December 29, 1970, and OSHA began operating in 1971. It established the first nationwide federal program to protect workplace safety and health.

Question 27Introduction to OSHA

OSHA's construction industry safety and health standards appear in which part of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations?

  1. Part 1926 Correct answer.
  2. Part 1910
  3. Part 1904
  4. Part 1915

Explanation

Construction standards are codified in 29 CFR Part 1926. Part 1910 covers general industry, Part 1904 covers injury and illness recordkeeping, and Part 1915 covers shipyard employment.

Question 28Introduction to OSHA

An employer must report a work-related fatality to OSHA within what time period?

  1. Within 24 hours
  2. Within 48 hours
  3. Within 8 hours Correct answer.
  4. Within 72 hours

Explanation

Employers must report a work-related fatality to OSHA within 8 hours of learning of it. Fatalities carry the shortest reporting deadline of any reportable event.

Question 29Introduction to OSHA

An employer must report a work-related in-patient hospitalization to OSHA within what time period?

  1. Within 72 hours
  2. Within 8 hours
  3. Within 24 hours Correct answer.
  4. Within 30 days

Explanation

In-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye must be reported within 24 hours of the employer learning of the event. Only fatalities use the shorter 8-hour deadline.

Question 30Introduction to OSHA

Which statement best describes OSHA's core mission?

  1. To assure safe and healthful working conditions through standards and enforcement Correct answer.
  2. To establish wage rates and overtime rules for construction trades
  3. To inspect every construction site in the country each year
  4. To pay the medical bills of workers who are injured on the job

Explanation

OSHA's mission is to assure safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. The agency does not pay medical costs or set pay rates.

Question 31Introduction to OSHA

Which OSHA recordkeeping form is the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses?

  1. OSHA Form 300A
  2. OSHA Form 101
  3. OSHA Form 301
  4. OSHA Form 300 Correct answer.

Explanation

The OSHA 300 Log is the ongoing record of work-related injuries and illnesses. Form 301 is the individual incident report, and Form 300A is the annual summary of the log.

Question 32Introduction to OSHA

The annual summary of injuries and illnesses (Form 300A) must be posted in the workplace from:

  1. December 1 to December 31
  2. April 1 to June 30
  3. February 1 to April 30 Correct answer.
  4. January 1 to March 31

Explanation

The 300A summary must be posted in a conspicuous place from February 1 through April 30 of the year following the recording year. Posting lets employees see the establishment's injury and illness experience.

Question 33Introduction to OSHA

Within how many calendar days must a recordable injury or illness be entered on the OSHA 300 Log?

  1. 30 calendar days
  2. 7 calendar days Correct answer.
  3. 14 calendar days
  4. By the end of the calendar quarter

Explanation

Recordable cases must be entered on the log within seven calendar days after the employer learns of them. Delaying until quarter-end would undermine the log's accuracy and usefulness.

Question 34Introduction to OSHA

How long must an employer retain OSHA injury and illness records?

  1. 1 year
  2. 10 years
  3. Until the affected employee leaves the company
  4. 5 years Correct answer.

Explanation

Injury and illness records must be kept for five years following the end of the year to which they relate. Retention allows OSHA and employees to review injury patterns over time.

Question 35Introduction to OSHA

A violation is classified as serious when:

  1. A hazard likely to cause death or serious harm that the employer knew of Correct answer.
  2. The employer deliberately and intentionally disregarded a standard
  3. The hazard bears no direct relationship to employee safety or health
  4. The same condition was cited within the past five years

Explanation

A serious violation exists where there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or with reasonable diligence could have known, of the hazard. Intent and prior citations are not elements of a serious violation.

Question 36Introduction to OSHA

A willful violation is one in which the employer:

  1. Fails to correct a hazard by the abatement date
  2. Knowingly and intentionally commits a violation Correct answer.
  3. Has been cited twice for the same condition
  4. Was unaware that a standard applied to the work

Explanation

A willful violation is committed with intentional, knowing, or voluntary disregard for the law or with plain indifference to employee safety. It falls in the highest penalty category.

Question 37Introduction to OSHA

A violation is classified as a repeat violation when the employer was previously cited for the same or a substantially similar condition within:

  1. The previous 5 years Correct answer.
  2. The previous 6 months
  3. The previous 2 years
  4. The previous 10 years

Explanation

OSHA treats a violation as a repeat when the employer was cited for the same or a substantially similar condition within the previous five years. Repeat violations carry substantially higher penalties.

Question 38Introduction to OSHA

An employer that wants to discuss a citation informally with OSHA before deciding whether to contest may request an informal conference with the area director within:

  1. 60 calendar days
  2. 30 working days
  3. 15 working days Correct answer.
  4. 5 working days

Explanation

An informal conference may be requested within 15 working days of receiving the citation. It allows discussion of abatement, penalties, and settlement without giving up the right to contest.

Question 39Introduction to OSHA

When an employer timely contests a citation, the case is ultimately decided by:

  1. A federal district court judge
  2. The National Labor Relations Board
  3. An independent commission known as the OSHRC Correct answer.
  4. The OSHA area director who issued the citation

Explanation

Contested citations go to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, an independent adjudicatory body separate from OSHA. The area director does not rule on the employer's contest.

Question 40Introduction to OSHA

Under OSHA's rule on access to employee exposure and medical records, an employee may:

  1. Request records only through a union officer
  2. Obtain copies only after filing a lawsuit
  3. Obtain copies of their own exposure and medical records Correct answer.
  4. View records only in the plant physician's presence

Explanation

Employees and their designated representatives have a right to access exposure and medical records relevant to their own workplace exposures. Access does not depend on litigation or on the employer's physician being present.

Question 41Introduction to OSHA

When an OSHA standard requires the employer to train employees, the training must be delivered:

  1. Only during the employee's first week of employment
  2. Only in English, regardless of the crew
  3. Only in written form handed out at hire
  4. In a language and vocabulary the employee understands Correct answer.

Explanation

Required training must be presented in a manner and language the employees can understand, so the information is actually usable on the job. Training limited to a handout at hire does not satisfy this duty.

Question 42Introduction to OSHA

OSHA defines an imminent danger as a condition that:

  1. Is identified by the employer's safety committee
  2. Could cause death or serious harm before it is eliminated Correct answer.
  3. Exists only where a State Plan is in effect
  4. Has already caused an injury needing medical treatment

Explanation

An imminent danger is a condition that could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm immediately or before the hazard can be removed through normal enforcement. It is the agency's top inspection priority.

Question 43Introduction to OSHA

If an employer does not correct a cited hazard by the required abatement date, OSHA may:

  1. Transfer the case to the state health department
  2. Take no further action once the citation is issued
  3. Automatically extend the abatement date
  4. Issue a failure-to-abate citation with added penalties Correct answer.

Explanation

Failing to abate by the stated date can result in a failure-to-abate citation and additional penalties for each day the hazard persists. Abatement dates are not extended automatically.

Question 44Introduction to OSHA

During an OSHA inspection, an employee has the right to:

  1. Speak for the employer at the closing conference
  2. Refuse to answer questions the employer objects to
  3. Record the whole inspection without notifying anyone
  4. Be interviewed privately by the compliance officer Correct answer.

Explanation

Employees may be interviewed privately during an inspection, and the employer may not interfere with or dictate the content of those interviews. This protects workers who fear retaliation for candid statements.

Question 45Introduction to OSHA

An employer that cannot meet a standard but can show its alternative method of protection is as effective may apply for:

  1. An interim order
  2. A temporary variance
  3. A research variance
  4. A permanent variance Correct answer.

Explanation

A permanent variance is granted when the employer demonstrates that its alternative means of protection are as safe and healthful as the standard's requirements. A temporary variance, by contrast, addresses a short-term inability to comply.

Question 46Introduction to OSHA

When OSHA gives an employer advance notice that an inspection will occur, the notice is generally given:

  1. At least 30 days in advance
  2. No more than 24 hours in advance Correct answer.
  3. At least 7 days in advance
  4. At least 48 hours in advance

Explanation

Inspections are normally conducted without advance notice. In the limited situations where notice is allowed, it is generally given no more than 24 hours in advance so the employer cannot conceal conditions.

Question 47Introduction to OSHA

Federal agency employees are protected under OSHA requirements through:

  1. A safety and health program required by executive order Correct answer.
  2. Voluntary participation in OSHA consultation
  3. The General Duty Clause alone
  4. The State Plan that also covers private employers

Explanation

Under Executive Order 12196, each federal agency must establish and maintain its own occupational safety and health program consistent with OSHA standards, and OSHA evaluates those programs. Coverage does not depend on a State Plan or voluntary participation.

Question 48Introduction to OSHA

When a worker files a formal hazard complaint, OSHA generally:

  1. Asks the employer to investigate and report back within 5 days
  2. Decides whether the complaint warrants an on-site inspection Correct answer.
  3. Refers the complaint to the National Labor Relations Board
  4. Must inspect every worksite named in the complaint

Explanation

OSHA evaluates each complaint and determines whether it meets the criteria for an on-site inspection. If it does not, OSHA may notify the employer in writing of the alleged hazard and require a written response.

Question 49Introduction to OSHA

OSHA must issue a citation within what period after the violation occurred?

  1. 6 months Correct answer.
  2. 12 months
  3. 9 months
  4. 5 years

Explanation

Citations must be issued within six months of the occurrence of the violation. After that period, OSHA generally cannot issue a citation for the condition.

Question 50Introduction to OSHA

In what year was the Occupational Safety and Health Act signed into law?

  1. 1970 Correct answer.
  2. 1975
  3. 1965
  4. 1980

Explanation

The OSH Act was signed on December 29, 1970, and took effect in 1971, creating OSHA within the Department of Labor. It remains the statutory basis for federal workplace safety regulation.