OSHA 30 study guide
OSHA 30 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The OSHA 30-Hour Outreach Training Program is a voluntary hazard-awareness training program administered by OSHA and delivered by OSHA-authorized Outreach trainers. It is offered in Construction, General Industry, and Maritime, along with a 15-hour Disaster Site Worker class. The OSHA 30 study guide has 8 sections and about 2,847 words.
01Introduction to OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (signed December 29, 1970; effective April 28, 1971) created OSHA and gave it authority to set and enforce standards and to provide training, outreach, and compliance assistance. Coverage extends to most private-sector employers and employees.
373 words, about 2 min02Walking-Working Surfaces and Fall Protection
General industry's walking-working surfaces rule (29 CFR 1910 Subpart D) was rewritten in 2016. In general industry, fall protection is required at 4 feet - at unprotected sides and edges, above dangerous equipment, and at hoist areas - and holes 4 feet or deeper must be guarded or covered.
370 words, about 2 min03Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, and Fire Prevention
Under 1910.36 and 1910.37, a workplace needs at least two exit routes that are remote from each other, at least 28 inches wide, with ceilings at least 7 feet 6 inches high, discharging to a street or refuge area. Exit routes must stay unobstructed, be free of flammable finishes, and be marked by illuminated signs whose "EXIT" letters are at least 6 inches high with 3/4-inch strokes.
373 words, about 2 min04Electrical Safety
1910.333(a) requires live parts to be deenergized before employees work on or near them unless de-energizing introduces an additional or increased hazard, or is infeasible because of equipment design or operational limitations. Once de-energized, apply lockout/tagout under 1910.147, verify the absence of voltage with a tester rated for that voltage, and treat the circuit as energized until verification is complete.
325 words, about 2 min05Personal Protective Equipment
Under 1910.132 the employer must assess workplace hazards, certify that assessment in writing (identifying the workplace evaluated, the person certifying, and the date), select appropriate PPE, communicate the selection decisions, train employees, and require the PPE to be worn. PPE sits at the bottom of the hierarchy of controls - after elimination, substitution, engineering controls, and administrative controls.
354 words, about 2 min06Hazard Communication
1910.1200 requires a written program, labels, safety data sheets, and training, all supported by an inventory of the hazardous chemicals present. It applies to hazardous chemicals in the workplace; among the excluded items are hazardous waste, tobacco, articles, ionizing radiation, and biological hazards.
332 words, about 2 min07Materials Handling, Storage, Use, and Disposal
1910.176 requires materials to be stored so they cannot slide, collapse, or otherwise cause injury, with aisles, passageways, and stairways kept clear. Storage must stay 18 inches below sprinkler deflectors and 36 inches below the ceiling in non-sprinklered areas.
344 words, about 2 min08Machine Guarding
1910.212 requires one or more methods of machine guarding to protect the operator and other employees from the point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, and flying chips and sparks. Guards must be attached to the machine where possible, must not create a new hazard, and must not be easily bypassed.
376 words, about 2 min