OSHA 510 study guide
OSHA 510 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
OSHA 510 is a course title in the OSHA Training Institute Education Center catalog, commonly described as covering occupational safety and health standards for the construction industry - the 29 CFR 1926 rule set. Candidates typically include construction safety coordinators, site superintendents, competent-person designees, union trainers, and insurance or compliance staff who need working command of construction standards rather than general-industry rules. The OSHA 510 study guide has 15 sections and about 3,992 words.
01OSHA Act: Employer Duties, Inspections, and Enforcement
The OSH Act of 1970 gives OSHA authority to set and enforce workplace standards. Section 5(a)(1), the General Duty Clause, requires each employer to furnish a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
270 words, about 1 min02Choosing the Right Standard: 1910 vs. 1926
Part 1926 governs construction work: construction, alteration, repair, painting, decorating, and demolition. Part 1910 governs general industry, such as manufacturing, warehousing, and service operations.
285 words, about 1 min03Subpart C: General Safety and Health Provisions
Subpart C, 1926.20–1926.35, sets minimum construction safety and health duties. Under 1926.20(a), an employer may not require employees to work in unsafe or unhealthful conditions.
268 words, about 1 min04Subparts D–F: Health Controls, PPE, and Fire Protection
Subpart D requires medical services and first aid (1926.50), sanitation and potable water (1926.51), noise controls (1926.52), air contaminant limits (1926.55), illumination (1926.56), and ventilation (1926.57). Hazard communication for construction is 1926.59, which enforces 1910.1200: labels, safety data sheets, and training.
276 words, about 1 min05Subparts G–H: Signs, Signals, Barricades, and Material Handling
1926.200 requires accident prevention signs and tags where hazards exist. Standard colors: red for danger, yellow for caution, and green for exit/safety instruction.
261 words, about 1 min06Subparts I–K: Tools, Welding, and Electrical
1926.300 requires tools to be guarded and in safe condition. Hand tools must be maintained (1926.301); power tools need proper switches and guards (1926.302); abrasive wheel guards, work rests, and tongue guards are specified in 1926.303.
290 words, about 1 min07Subpart L: Scaffolds
Subpart L, 1926.450–1926.454, covers scaffolds. Each scaffold and scaffold component must support its own weight plus at least four times the intended load (1926.451(a)(1)).
266 words, about 1 min08Subpart M: Fall Protection
Subpart M, 1926.500–1926.503, requires fall protection for construction workers exposed to falls of 6 feet or more to a lower level, with specific exceptions. Holes, leading edges, wall openings, formwork, and excavation edges all require protection.
274 words, about 1 min09Subparts N–O: Cranes, Hoists, and Motor Vehicles
Subpart N covers cranes, derricks, hoists, elevators, and conveyors. 1926.550 requires frequent and periodic crane inspections, load charts, qualified operators, and signal persons.
259 words, about 1 min10Subpart P: Excavations
Subpart P, 1926.650–1926.652, requires a competent person to inspect excavations daily and after rain or other changes. Utilities must be located before digging.
293 words, about 1 min11Subparts Q–X: Concrete, Steel, Demolition, Power, Ladders
Subpart Q covers concrete and masonry: formwork must be designed and braced; 1926.701(b) requires impalement protection for reinforcing steel. Subpart R covers steel erection; 1926.760 requires fall protection at 15 feet, with controlled decking zones and fall protection for connectors.
269 words, about 1 min12Subpart Z: Hazard Communication and Silica
1926.59 applies 1910.1200 to construction. Employers must maintain a written HazCom program, ensure containers are labeled, obtain and make safety data sheets available, and train employees before exposure.
263 words, about 1 min13Safety and Health Program Concepts
A safety and health program is a systematic approach to preventing injuries. OSHA’s Recommended Practices identify management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification and assessment, hazard prevention and control, and education and training.
238 words, about 1 min14Hazard Identification and Control
Hazard identification finds unsafe conditions and practices before they cause harm. Tools include worksite inspections, job hazard analysis, incident and near-miss investigations, employee reports, and exposure monitoring.
225 words, about 1 min15Recordkeeping and Injury Reporting
29 CFR 1904 requires covered employers to record work-related fatalities, injuries, and illnesses that meet recording criteria. Forms include the OSHA 300 Log, 300A Annual Summary, and 301 Incident Report.
255 words, about 1 min