OSHA 30 topics: construction supervision knowledge check: study notes
The topics the check draws from, with the standards each question cites. Read them, then take the check from your training page.
This is an internal knowledge check based on the OSHA Construction Outreach topics. It is not the OSHA Outreach course and does not produce a DOL OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 card. Official cards come only from an OSHA-authorized Outreach trainer or authorized online provider; record them under 'Official cards'.
Workers' rights and employer duties
The OSH Act's General Duty Clause makes the employer responsible for a workplace free of recognized hazards. Workers may report hazards and file complaints with OSHA without retaliation (Section 11(c); file within 30 days). Fatalities are reported to OSHA within 8 hours; in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye within 24 hours (1904.39).
Focus Four: falls
Construction fall protection starts at 6 feet (1926.501). Guardrails: top rail 42 in plus or minus 3 in, withstands 200 lb. Hole covers hold twice the load on them. Personal fall arrest: free fall no more than 6 ft, anchorage 5,000 lb per worker, body belts not allowed for arrest. Training by a competent person with a written certification record (1926.503).
Ladders and stairways
A stairway or ladder is required at a break in elevation of 19 in or more (1926.1051). Portable ladders extend 3 ft above the landing and are set at 4 to 1. Damaged ladders are tagged and taken out of service. Stairs with 4 or more risers or rising more than 30 in need stair rails (1926.1052).
Focus Four: struck-by
Stay out from under suspended loads. Equipment with an obstructed rear view needs a reverse alarm or a spotter (1926.601). Wear high-visibility garments near traffic. Seat belts are worn on equipment with rollover protection (1926.602).
Focus Four: caught-in or -between
Trenches 5 ft or deeper need a protective system unless in stable rock; 20 ft or deeper, designed by a registered professional engineer (1926.652). A way out within 25 ft of lateral travel at 4 ft deep. Spoil at least 2 ft back from the edge. A competent person inspects daily, before each shift and after rain (1926.651). Keep machine guards in place.
Focus Four: electrocution
Temporary 120-volt receptacles need GFCI protection or an assured equipment grounding conductor program (1926.404). Worn or frayed cords are not used. Cranes stay at least 10 ft from lines up to 50 kV; treat lines as energized until shown otherwise (1926.1408). Lockout prevents unexpected energization.
Personal protective equipment
Hard hats where there is danger of head injury (1926.100), eye and face protection against flying particles (1926.102). The employer pays for most required PPE (1926.95).
Health hazards
Hazard communication: labels and 16-section Safety Data Sheets; a written program (1910.1200, 1926.59). Noise: 90 dBA over 8 hours (1926.52). Respirable crystalline silica: 50 micrograms per cubic meter over 8 hours; following Table 1 controls for a task removes the need to assess exposure for it (1926.1153). Lead action level 30 micrograms (1926.62). Heat: water, rest, shade.
Scaffolds
Each scaffold holds its own weight and at least 4 times the maximum intended load (1926.451). Fall protection above 10 ft. Erected, moved and dismantled under a competent person. Aerial lift occupants tie off to the boom or basket (1926.453).
Fire prevention and hot work
A fire extinguisher within 100 ft of travel (1926.150). Hot work near combustibles that cannot be moved needs shields and a fire watch. Gas cylinders stored upright with caps on; oxygen 20 ft from fuel gas or behind a 5 ft half-hour fire-rated barrier (1926.350).
Cranes, rigging and signals
Operators are certified or qualified (1926.1427), signal persons qualified (1926.1428). An assembly/disassembly director runs crane assembly (1926.1404). Rigging is inspected by a competent person before each shift (1926.251).
Concrete, masonry and steel erection
Protruding rebar is guarded against impalement (1926.701). No construction loads on concrete until a qualified person says it can take them. Steel erection fall protection at 15 ft; connectors above two stories or 30 ft (1926.760).
Confined spaces
Permit-required confined spaces in construction follow Subpart AA (1926.1200). The attendant stays outside, keeps count of entrants and summons rescue; the attendant does not enter to rescue.
Running a safety program (supervisors)
Employers run accident prevention programs with frequent inspections by competent persons (1926.20). A competent person can identify hazards and has authority to correct them (1926.32). Hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, PPE. Leading indicators (observations, inspections, corrective actions closed) show risk before injuries do; TRIR = recordable cases x 200,000 / hours worked. On a multi-employer site the controlling employer can be cited for hazards it could reasonably prevent. Investigations look for root causes, not blame.
Recordkeeping
The OSHA 300 log records work-related injuries and illnesses (1904). Privacy cases keep the injured person's name off the log.
Hand and power tools, housekeeping
Guards stay on power tools (1926.300). Only trained workers use powder-actuated tools (1926.302). Scrap lumber with protruding nails is kept clear of work areas (1926.25).