OSHA 511 study guide
OSHA 511 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
OSHA 511 - Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry is a training course delivered through the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center network. The OSHA website notes that "The OSHA Training Institute Education Centers deliver training for you," and the OTI Education Center pages carry the searchable course schedule and center locator used to enroll. The OSHA 511 study guide has 7 sections and about 2,494 words.
01Introduction to OSHA and the OSH Act
The Occupational Safety and Health Act was signed in December 1970 and took effect on April 28, 1971. OSHA sits within the Department of Labor.
349 words, about 2 min02Recordkeeping and Reporting (29 CFR 1904)
Covered employers maintain three forms: the OSHA 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, the 301 Incident Report (or equivalent), and the 300-A Annual Summary, which must be posted from February 1 through April 30 and certified by a company executive. Records are retained for five years.
367 words, about 2 min03Walking-Working Surfaces and Fall Protection
Under Subpart D (revised in 2016), general industry employees exposed to falls of 4 feet or more to a lower level must be protected. Protection is also required at any height above dangerous equipment, over holes, and on certain surfaces regardless of height.
351 words, about 2 min04Electrical Safety Standards (Subpart S)
Subpart S (1910.301–.399) is drawn largely from the National Electrical Code. Key sections: 1910.303 general requirements (installation, working clearances), 1910.304 wiring design and protection, 1910.305 wiring methods and flexible cords, 1910.332 training, 1910.333 work practices, 1910.334 portable equipment and cords, and 1910.335 safeguards for personnel protection.
356 words, about 2 min05Machine Guarding and Hazardous Energy Control
1910.212 requires one or more methods of machine guarding to protect the operator and other employees from hazards such as points of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips, and sparks. The point of operation must be guarded on machines that expose an employee to injury.
369 words, about 2 min06Hazard Communication and Personal Protective Equipment
Employers must maintain a written hazard communication program, a chemical inventory, safety data sheets accessible to employees in their work area on each shift, labeled containers, and training at initial assignment and whenever a new hazard is introduced. Under the GHS-aligned rule, chemical manufacturers and importers classify hazards; employers receiving chemicals may rely on that classification.
368 words, about 2 min07Materials Handling, Confined Spaces, and Other General Industry Subparts
1910.176 requires stable stacking, blocked or interlocked storage, maintained aisles, and clearance around electrical panels and exits. Powered industrial trucks (1910.178) require formal training plus a performance evaluation, with refresher training after accidents, near misses, unsafe operation, or a change in truck or workplace - and re-evaluation at least every three years.
334 words, about 2 min