Workplace safety is a priority on every construction site. The OSHA 30-Hour Construction Training Course helps site supervisors, forepersons, and safety managers recognize and prevent hazards. A great way to prepare for the course’s final exam is to practice with quizzes. Below is a free OSHA 30 construction practice test with 20 questions and explanations.
What is the OSHA 30 Construction Test?
The OSHA 30-Hour Construction Course is a comprehensive training program designed to educate workers about construction site hazards and OSHA regulations. Although OSHA doesn’t require a final exam, most authorized training providers include one to ensure comprehension. This practice test covers a variety of safety topics to help reinforce your understanding before taking the final assessment.
Practice Test – 20 Questions and Answers
1. What is the primary responsibility of an employer under OSHA?
A) Ignore unsafe acts
B) Provide a safe workplace
C) Punish whistleblowers
D) Focus only on PPE
Answer: B
Explanation: Employers must ensure a workplace free from known hazards, as per the General Duty Clause.
2. What is the leading cause of fatalities in construction?
A) Electrocution
B) Caught in/between
C) Falls
D) Struck-by incidents
Answer: C
Explanation: Falls are the top cause of construction deaths and a primary OSHA focus.
3. When must Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) be available?
A) Only during emergencies
B) When requested
C) At all times
D) Only for flammable chemicals
Answer: C
Explanation: SDSs must always be accessible when hazardous chemicals are used.
4. What does PPE stand for?
A) Personal Protection Essentials
B) Protective Personal Equipment
C) Personal Protective Equipment
D) Physical Protection Entry
Answer: C
Explanation: PPE includes items like gloves, goggles, and hard hats for hazard protection.
5. Which ladder should NOT be used near electricity?
A) Wooden
B) Fiberglass
C) Metal
D) Step ladder
Answer: C
Explanation: Metal conducts electricity and can cause electrocution near live wires.
6. What should a worker do if they spot a hazard?
A) Report it immediately
B) Wait to see if someone else acts
C) Ignore it
D) Post on social media
Answer: A
Explanation: Reporting hazards promptly is critical to workplace safety.
7. Which of these is NOT part of OSHA’s Fatal Four?
A) Electrocution
B) Struck-by
C) Overexertion
D) Falls
Answer: C
Explanation: Overexertion is an injury risk but not among the Fatal Four causes of death.
8. How far should heavy equipment stay from trench edges?
A) 2 feet
B) 4 feet
C) Equal to the trench depth
D) No limit
Answer: C
Explanation: Equipment should be kept back at least the depth of the trench to prevent cave-ins.
9. What does a red tag on equipment typically indicate?
A) Warning
B) Ready to use
C) Danger – do not use
D) Out for repair
Answer: C
Explanation: Red tags signal equipment should not be used due to safety issues.
10. Scaffolds over 10 feet high must have:
A) Guardrails or fall protection
B) A warning line
C) Harness only
D) Nothing special
Answer: A
Explanation: OSHA requires guardrails or personal fall arrest systems for scaffolds above 10 feet.
11. Minimum distance from power lines (up to 50 kV)?
A) 5 feet
B) 10 feet
C) 15 feet
D) 20 feet
Answer: B
Explanation: Equipment must stay at least 10 feet from lines up to 50,000 volts.
12. An engineering control includes:
A) Goggles
B) Warning signs
C) Ventilation system
D) Lockout/tagout
Answer: C
Explanation: Engineering controls physically remove or isolate hazards from workers.
13. A “competent person” is someone who:
A) Is a supervisor
B) Has a license
C) Can identify and correct hazards
D) Took first aid training
Answer: C
Explanation: A competent person has both knowledge and authority to act on safety issues.
14. When must fall protection be inspected?
A) Weekly
B) Monthly
C) Before each use
D) After a fall
Answer: C
Explanation: Always inspect fall protection before use to ensure it’s in safe condition.
15. Trench protection is required at what depth?
A) 3 feet
B) 4 feet
C) 5 feet
D) 6 feet
Answer: C
Explanation: OSHA requires protective systems in trenches 5 feet or deeper.
16. Purpose of Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)?
A) Increase efficiency
B) Control hazardous energy
C) Test new equipment
D) Improve speed
Answer: B
Explanation: LOTO ensures equipment is safely shut down during maintenance or repairs.
17. Who enforces OSHA standards?
A) CDC
B) ANSI
C) Department of Labor
D) EPA
Answer: C
Explanation: OSHA operates under the U.S. Department of Labor to enforce workplace safety laws.
18. Confined space work requires:
A) A flashlight
B) Two people
C) Permit and rescue plan
D) Nothing special
Answer: C
Explanation: Confined space entry involves special permits and emergency plans due to the risks.
19. If a tool is broken, what should you do?
A) Use it gently
B) Try to fix it
C) Tag it and report it
D) Ignore it
Answer: C
Explanation: Defective tools must be removed from service to avoid accidents.
20. Who provides PPE to employees?
A) Workers
B) OSHA
C) Employer
D) Contractor
Answer: C
Explanation: OSHA requires employers to provide necessary PPE at no cost to workers.
Conclusion
The OSHA 30 Construction course empowers workers to create safer job sites by understanding and controlling hazards. Using practice tests like this sharpens knowledge, boosts confidence, and reinforces the safety principles essential to every construction role.
