Other Training Topics: HazCom, PPE, Ladders, Excavation, and Confined Spaces
Hazard communication
Construction HazCom (1926.59) follows the GHS-aligned system: labels with product identifier, hazard statements, and pictograms; Safety Data Sheets in 16 sections; and training on hazards and controls before exposure. Traps: the SDS is not the training - training is a separate requirement - and employees must be able to access SDSs on each shift.
PPE and health hazards
Subpart E requires hazard assessment, training, and employer-paid PPE: hard hats, eye and face protection (1926.102), hearing protection, gloves, respirators, and high-visibility vests. Health topics you must recognize: silica (wet cutting, vacuum dust collection, respirators under Table 1), lead during demolition or torch cutting, asbestos in older buildings, and noise. Respirators require fit testing and medical evaluation.
Ladders, scaffolds, and access
Extension ladders use a 4:1 setup angle and extend 3 feet above the landing. Scaffolds must be erected and modified under a competent person's supervision, planked fully, and supported on stable footing. Never use a ladder as a work platform, and never stand on the top cap of a stepladder.
Excavation and confined spaces
A competent person must classify soil, inspect, and design protective systems. Construction confined spaces (Subpart AA) require pre-entry air monitoring, an attendant outside, an entry supervisor, and a permit for permit-required spaces.
Tools, cranes, and equipment
Guards on power tools, no damaged cords, rigging inspected and rated, and crane operators trained and certified. A competent person - someone capable of identifying hazards and authorized to correct them - appears across scaffolds, excavations, fall protection, and rigging; exam writers love swapping "competent person" with "qualified person" (who by definition, experience, or degree can design and solve problems).
Rule of thumb
4:1 and 3 feet for extension ladders; if a question names a hazard where inspection or design decisions happen daily, the answer is usually the competent person.