OSHA 30 Construction study plan
OSHA 30 Construction · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Introduction to OSHA & Focus Four Hazards: Falls
Summarize OSHA's coverage, employer and worker rights and responsibilities under the OSH Act, and the inspection and citation process
Explain the Focus Four concept and identify which hazards account for the largest share of construction fatalities
List the three conventional fall protection systems and state the 6-foot trigger height for general construction fall protection
Identify the requirements for guardrails, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, and hole covers
Describe the duties of a competent person for fall hazard identification and prompt corrective action
Your checkpoint
One-page fall protection quick-reference sheet listing trigger heights, system components, and inspection points, self-quizzed to 90% accuracy
Focus Four Hazards: Struck-By & Focus Four Hazards: Caught-In or Caught-Between
Differentiate struck-by hazards by source: falling objects, flying objects, swinging loads, and rolling or moving equipment
Specify the safeguards for overhead work, including toe boards, debris nets, canopies, and controlled access zones
Explain crane swing radius, rigging inspection, and tag line requirements that prevent struck-by incidents
Distinguish caught-in or caught-between exposures from struck-by exposures using scenario descriptions
Describe requirements for machine guarding, guard removal procedures, and rollover protective structures on equipment
Your checkpoint
Completed hazard classification worksheet of 25 incident scenarios sorted into struck-by versus caught-in or caught-between, with the controlling standard cited for each
Focus Four Hazards: Electrocution & Focus Four Hazards: Falls
Identify electrical shock, electrocution, arc flash, and arc blast hazards and their physiological effects
State the clearance distances and approach boundaries for overhead power lines and when de-energizing and grounding are required
Explain assured equipment grounding conductor programs, GFCI use, and cord and tool inspection practices
Apply lockout/tagout principles to construction equipment and temporary power
Re-test fall protection knowledge by comparing fall arrest versus fall restraint and calculating fall clearance
Your checkpoint
Written walkthrough of an imaginary 10-point jobsite electrical inspection, logging each deficiency, the hazard it creates, and the corrective action required
Scaffolds, Stairways, and Ladders
Determine scaffold load capacities, planking requirements, and the conditions that require a designed scaffold by a qualified person
State the 10-foot fall protection threshold for scaffolds and the toprail, midrail, and toe board dimensions
Identify scaffold access, stability, and foundation requirements, including ties, bracing, and sill conditions
Differentiate portable ladders, extension ladders, and stepladders by duty rating, setup angle, and three-point contact rules
Describe stairway and handrail requirements for construction sites
Your checkpoint
Reference card and 20-question self-test on scaffold and ladder dimensions, heights, and inspection criteria, scored and corrected to at least 85%
Excavations and Trenching
Classify soil by type using the visual and manual tests outlined in the excavation standard
State the protective system requirements by depth, including the 5-foot cave-in threshold and the 4-foot ladder access rule
Identify competent person inspection triggers, including daily inspection before worker entry
Locate and explain the exclusion zone requirements for surface encumbrances, utilities, and spoils piles
Describe water accumulation, hazardous atmosphere, and emergency rescue requirements for excavations
Your checkpoint
Tabulated soil classification guide plus a mock competent person daily inspection form completed for a sample trench
Personal Protective Equipment & Health Hazards in Construction
Match hazard categories to required PPE using a hazard assessment approach, including eye, face, head, hand, foot, and hearing protection
Explain PPE training, fit, defect inspection, and employer payment responsibilities
Identify the health effects of silica, lead, asbestos, and solvent exposure and the controls that limit them
Select respiratory protection and describe medical evaluation, fit testing, and cartridge change requirements
Describe hazard communication requirements including SDS access and container labeling on a construction site
Your checkpoint
Completed PPE hazard assessment matrix for six mock construction tasks, pairing each with required protection and the controlling exposure limit
Cranes, Material Handling, and Tools
State crane inspection categories, load chart interpretation, and the role of the qualified rigger and signal person
Identify rigging sling inspection criteria and the conditions requiring removal from service
Describe material storage, stacking, and housekeeping requirements that prevent collapse and falling loads
Apply guarding requirements for power tools and identify the hazards of powder-actuated and abrasive wheel tools
Explain the criteria for crane operator certification and the requirements around working near power lines
Your checkpoint
Annotated crane and rigging checklist covering pre-lift, during-lift, and post-lift steps, plus ten tool safety rules written in plain language
Introduction to OSHA & Focus Four Hazards: Falls & Focus Four Hazards: Struck-By & Focus Four Hazards: Caught-In or Caught-Between & Focus Four Hazards: Electrocution & Personal Protective Equipment & Health Hazards in Construction & Scaffolds, Stairways, and Ladders & Excavations and Trenching & Cranes, Material Handling, and Tools
Re-verify focus four recall by scoring at least 90% on a mixed hazard set without notes
Resolve every missed item from earlier weeks by restating the rule in your own words
Practice standard interpretation by matching citation numbers to hazard categories
Build a personal error log of recurring weak points and rehearse corrections
Your checkpoint
Three full-length timed practice exams taken and reviewed, with an error log and a final one-page summary of the 20 most-missed rules
Milestones
Week 2: Score 80% or higher on a 30-question quiz covering domains 1 through 4, with all four focus four hazard categories represented
Week 4: Correctly answer every scaffold and ladder dimensional question (height thresholds, rail heights, load ratings) on an unassisted recall test
Week 6: Complete the PPE hazard assessment matrix and correctly match all six tasks to their required protection and exposure limits
Week 8: Average 85% or higher across three timed practice exams, with no single domain below 75%