OSHA 10 General Industry Study Guide 2026

The OSHA 10 General Industry course and card

The OSHA 10-hour General Industry course is part of OSHA's Outreach Training Program. It gives workers basic awareness of common job hazards, their rights, what employers must do, and how to file a complaint. It is a different course from OSHA 10 Construction, which covers construction rules in 29 CFR 1926.

• The program is voluntary and none of its courses is a certification. It does not meet the training rules of any OSHA standard.
• Some states, cities and employers require the card as a condition of employment.
• An OSHA-authorized trainer or an authorized online provider teaches the course and issues the DOL course completion card. OSHA does not keep class records.
• Trainers have 90 days after the course to issue cards.
• A card cannot be issued or replaced if the course was finished more than 5 years ago.
• Training is limited to 7.5 contact hours per day, so a 10-hour class takes at least two days.

What the 10-hour course must include

Elective topics include hazardous materials, permit-required confined spaces, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, welding and cutting, industrial hygiene, bloodborne pathogens, ergonomics, fall protection, safety and health programs, powered industrial vehicles and materials handling.

OSHA, your rights and reporting

OSHA sets and enforces workplace safety and health rules. Employers must follow those rules and keep the workplace safe. Workers have rights that protect them when they speak up.

Workers' rights

• Get safety and health training in a language you understand.
• File a confidential complaint with OSHA and ask for an inspection.
• Speak to the OSHA inspector during an inspection.
• Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses.
• See the results of tests done to find hazards in the workplace.
• Use these rights without retaliation. If you are punished, file a whistleblower complaint within 30 days.

When employers must report to OSHA

Employers can report by phone to the nearest OSHA office, through the 24-hour OSHA hotline, or with the online Serious Event Reporting form.

Walking-working surfaces and fall protection

Slips, trips and falls can cause serious injuries. OSHA's walking-working surfaces rules (29 CFR 1910 Subpart D) cover floors, aisles, stairs, ladders, platforms and fall protection.

Keep surfaces safe

• Keep work areas clean, orderly and sanitary, and floors dry where you can.
• Surfaces must be free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow and ice.
• Where wet processes are used, keep drainage working and provide dry places to stand, such as mats or platforms.
• Each surface must hold its maximum intended load.
• Inspect surfaces regularly and as needed. Fix hazards before the surface is used again, or guard the hazard until it is repaired.
• Repairs that affect structural strength must be done or supervised by a qualified person.

Fall protection numbers

Stairs with at least 3 treads and 4 risers need stair rail systems and handrails, based on the width of the stairs.

Ladders

• Inspect ladders before first use in each work shift.
• Tag a defective ladder "Dangerous: Do Not Use" or similar and remove it from service.
• Face the ladder and keep at least one hand on it while climbing.
• Do not carry objects that could make you lose your balance.
• Do not load a ladder beyond its maximum intended load, which counts you plus your tools and materials.
• Portable ladder rungs are generally 10 to 14 inches apart.
• Side rails of a portable ladder used to reach an upper landing must extend at least 3 feet above it.
• Do not stand on the top step or cap of a stepladder.

Exit routes, emergency plans and fire prevention

In a fire or other emergency, people must be able to get out fast. OSHA's exit route rules are in 1910.36 and 1910.37.

• Most workplaces need at least two exit routes, as far apart as practical.
• Exit access must be at least 28 inches wide at all points, with a ceiling at least 7 feet 6 inches high.
• Exit doors must open from the inside without keys, tools or special knowledge.
• Side-hinged doors must swing outward when a room holds more than 50 people or is a high-hazard area.
• Exit routes must be kept clear. Nothing may be stored in them, even for a short time.
• Each exit needs an "Exit" sign with letters at least 6 inches high, lit to at least 5 foot-candles.
• Doors that could be mistaken for exits must be marked "Not an Exit" or with their real use.

Emergency action plan (1910.38)

When an OSHA standard requires one, the plan must be written and kept at the workplace. An employer with 10 or fewer employees may share it orally. The plan must cover:

• How to report a fire or other emergency.
• Evacuation procedures and exit route assignments.
• What workers who run critical operations do before they leave.
• How all employees are accounted for after evacuation.
• Who does rescue or medical duties.
• Who to contact for more information about the plan.

The employer must review the plan with each worker when the plan is made or the worker is first assigned, when the worker's duties under the plan change, and when the plan changes. The alarm system must use a distinct signal for each purpose.

Fire prevention plan (1910.39)

A fire prevention plan lists the major fire hazards, how hazardous materials are handled and stored, ignition sources and their controls, and the fire protection equipment needed. It also covers controlling the buildup of flammable waste and who maintains equipment. Workers must be told about the fire hazards of their job when they are first assigned.

Electrical safety

Electricity can cause shocks, burns, fires and death. OSHA's general industry electrical rules are in Subpart S, including 1910.303, 1910.333 and 1910.334.

Equipment and working space

• Keep working space in front of electrical equipment at least 30 inches wide, or the width of the equipment if greater.
• Never use that working space for storage.
• Live parts at 50 volts or more must be guarded against accidental contact.
• Install and use listed or labeled equipment according to its instructions.

Safe work practices

• De-energize live parts before working on or near them, unless that adds hazards or is not feasible. Lock out and tag the circuits.
• Only qualified persons may work on parts that stay energized.
• Do not wear conductive jewelry, such as rings and watch bands, near exposed live parts unless it is made nonconductive.
• Do not use conductive cleaning materials, such as steel wool, near energized parts.
• Use ladders with nonconductive side rails where you or the ladder could touch energized parts.

Cords and portable tools

• Visually inspect cords and cord-and-plug equipment before use on any shift. Remove damaged items from service.
• Do not raise or lower tools by the cord, and do not staple cords.
• Never remove or defeat the ground pin.
• Do not plug or unplug energized equipment with wet hands.
• After a breaker trips, do not reset it until it is found safe to do so. Repeated resetting is not allowed.

Personal protective equipment

PPE such as safety glasses, face shields, gloves and safety shoes is the last line of defense. Under 1910.132 the employer must:

1. Assess the workplace for hazards that call for PPE.
2. Certify the assessment in writing, naming the workplace, the person certifying and the date.
3. Select PPE that protects against those hazards and fits each worker.
4. Train each worker and check that they understand before they do the work.

Training covers when PPE is needed, what PPE is needed, how to put it on, take it off, adjust and wear it, its limits, and its care, maintenance, useful life and disposal. Retraining is needed when changes make training out of date, or when a worker's use of PPE shows gaps.

• Damaged or defective PPE must not be used.
• Employers pay for required PPE, with some exceptions: everyday clothing, ordinary weather gear, and non-specialty safety-toe shoes and prescription safety glasses that the worker may wear off the job.
• Employers pay for replacement PPE unless the worker lost it or damaged it on purpose.

Hazard communication

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (1910.1200) makes sure workers know about the chemical hazards around them. It uses labels, safety data sheets (SDSs) and training.

• Each workplace needs a written hazard communication program with a list of hazardous chemicals.
• Shipped containers carry a label with a product identifier, signal word (Danger or Warning), hazard statements, pictograms, precautionary statements and supplier details.
• Workplace containers may show the full label, or the product identifier plus general hazard information.
• A portable container you fill and use yourself right away does not need a workplace label.
• SDSs must be readily accessible during each work shift.
• Training is given at initial assignment and whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced.

Key SDS sections

Common elective topics

Your trainer picks at least two electives. These are some of the most common, with key points from the standards.

Machine guarding (1910.212)

• Guards protect against the point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, and flying chips and sparks.
• Methods include barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices and electronic safety devices.
• Fan blades less than 7 feet above the floor need a guard with openings no larger than 1/2 inch.
• Fixed machines must be anchored so they cannot move.

Lockout/tagout (1910.147)

Lockout/tagout prevents injury from unexpected start-up or release of stored energy during servicing. The basic steps are:

1. Know the type and amount of energy and how to control it.
2. Shut down the machine in the normal way.
3. Isolate all energy sources.
4. Apply lockout or tagout devices.
5. Relieve or restrain stored energy.
6. Verify the machine is isolated before work starts.

Normally the worker who applied a lock removes it. Each procedure is inspected at least once a year.

Permit-required confined spaces (1910.146)

• A confined space is big enough to enter, has limited ways in or out, and is not designed for continuous occupancy.
• Test the air first for oxygen, then combustible gases, then toxic gases.
• Oxygen below 19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent is a hazardous atmosphere.
• The attendant stays outside the space until relieved.

Noise (1910.95)

A hearing conservation program starts at an 8-hour average of 85 dBA, the action level. The permissible exposure limit is 90 dBA for 8 hours. A baseline hearing test is due within 6 months of first exposure at the action level, then tests and training every year.

Study tips

• Learn the six required topics first. They make up most of the course.
• Make flash cards for the key numbers: 4 feet, 42 inches, 28 inches, 6-inch exit letters, 50 volts, 85 dBA.
• Practice finding sections on a real SDS from your workplace.
• Walk your own workplace and look for blocked exits, damaged cords and missing guards.
• Ask your trainer which electives your class will cover.