OSHA 10 Construction Practice Test 2026

1. Question 1 of 25

   Which law created OSHA?

   • AThe Clean Air Act of 1970
   • BThe Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
   • CThe Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938
   • DThe Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

   The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) created OSHA to set and enforce workplace safety and health standards.

2. Question 2 of 25

   What does the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act require employers to do?

   • AHire only workers who already have an OSHA 10 card
   • BInspect every worker's home for hazards
   • CGive every worker a pay raise each year
   • DKeep the workplace free of serious recognized hazards
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Keep the workplace free of serious recognized hazards

   Section 5(a)(1), the General Duty Clause, covers serious recognized hazards even where no specific OSHA standard applies.

3. Question 3 of 25

   In what language must your employer give you safety and health training?

   • AAny language the trainer prefers
   • BThe language of the company owner
   • CA language you understand
   • DEnglish only
   Show answer

   Answer: C. A language you understand

   Workers have the right to receive safety and health training in a language they understand.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Which is a right workers have under the OSH Act?

   • ATo choose their own working hours and breaks
   • BTo fine their employer directly for any hazard
   • CTo file a confidential complaint and request an inspection
   • DTo skip any safety training they do not like or need
   Show answer

   Answer: C. To file a confidential complaint and request an inspection

   Workers can file a confidential complaint, request an inspection and speak privately to the inspector.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Your employer punishes you for reporting a hazard to OSHA. How soon must you file a whistleblower complaint?

   • AWithin 7 days of the retaliation
   • BThere is no time limit at all
   • CWithin 30 days of the retaliation
   • DWithin 1 year of the retaliation
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Within 30 days of the retaliation

   Employers must not retaliate against workers who use their safety rights. A retaliation complaint must be filed within 30 days.

6. Question 6 of 25

   When may a worker have a legal right to refuse dangerous work?

   • AWhenever the weather is cold or wet, even if the work itself is safe
   • BWhenever the work is uncomfortable, boring or harder than usual for you
   • CWhenever a coworker says the job is unsafe, even if they give no reason
   • DWhen there is a risk of death or serious harm, no time for OSHA to inspect, and the employer was told
   Show answer

   Answer: D. When there is a risk of death or serious harm, no time for OSHA to inspect, and the employer was told

   OSHA lists these conditions together. The danger must be real and urgent, and the worker should first raise it with the employer where possible.

7. Question 7 of 25

   How soon must an employer report a work-related fatality to OSHA?

   • AWithin 7 days
   • BWithin 24 hours
   • CWithin 8 hours
   • DWithin 30 days
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Within 8 hours

   Fatalities must be reported within 8 hours. In-patient hospitalizations, amputations and losses of an eye must be reported within 24 hours.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Who usually pays for the PPE that OSHA standards require?

   • AThe worker, out of their own pay
   • BOSHA, through a federal grant
   • CThe worker's union or trade group
   • DThe employer, with few exceptions
   Show answer

   Answer: D. The employer, with few exceptions

   OSHA requires employers to pay for PPE used to comply with OSHA standards, with few exceptions.

9. Question 9 of 25

   Is the OSHA 10-hour course a certification or license?

   • AYes, it certifies you to operate cranes and forklifts
   • BYes, it licenses you to work as a safety inspector
   • CNo, it is a voluntary training program and not a certification
   • DYes, it replaces all other training your employer must give
   Show answer

   Answer: C. No, it is a voluntary training program and not a certification

   OSHA says the Outreach Training Program is voluntary, is not a certification, and does not meet the training requirements of any OSHA standard.

10. Question 10 of 25

    Who issues the Department of Labor (DOL) course completion card after an OSHA 10-hour course?

    • AAny employer that hires the worker
    • BOSHA, sent directly to each student
    • CThe worker's state motor vehicle department
    • DThe OSHA-authorized trainer or online provider
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The OSHA-authorized trainer or online provider

    Authorized trainers and online providers issue the cards. OSHA does not keep records of their classes.

11. Question 11 of 25

    How long does an authorized trainer have to issue student cards after the course?

    • A1 year
    • B7 days
    • C5 years
    • D90 days
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 90 days

    Trainers have 90 days after the course is completed to issue course completion cards.

12. Question 12 of 25

    Can you get a replacement OSHA 10 card for a course you finished more than 5 years ago?

    • ANo, not if it was more than 5 years ago
    • BYes, but only from OSHA headquarters
    • CYes, if you pay a double fee
    • DYes, at any time after the course
    Show answer

    Answer: A. No, not if it was more than 5 years ago

    Trainers keep records for five years. After that, you must retake the course to get a card.

13. Question 13 of 25

    Which four hazards make up OSHA's Construction "Focus Four"?

    • ALadders, scaffolds, cranes and dump trucks
    • BNoise, heat, dust and chemical exposure on site
    • CFalls, electrocution, struck-by and caught-in or -between
    • DFires, floods, earthquakes and storms
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Falls, electrocution, struck-by and caught-in or -between

    The Focus Four are the leading causes of death in construction and take at least 4 hours of the 10-hour course.

14. Question 14 of 25

    In the 10-hour construction course, which Focus Four topic gets the most time (at least 1.5 hours)?

    • ACaught-in or -between
    • BElectrocution
    • CFalls
    • DStruck-by
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Falls

    The construction procedures require at least 1 hour 30 minutes on falls and at least 30 minutes on each of the other three.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Who is the OSHA 30-hour course intended for?

    • AOnly OSHA compliance officers
    • BOnly office staff who never visit construction sites
    • CSupervisors or workers with safety responsibility
    • DOnly workers under 18 years old
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Supervisors or workers with safety responsibility

    The 10-hour course gives workers awareness of common hazards. The 30-hour course is for supervisors or workers with safety responsibility.

16. Question 16 of 25

    In construction, at what height must workers on an unprotected side or edge be protected from falls?

    • A4 feet or more above a lower level
    • B6 feet or more above a lower level
    • C10 feet or more above a lower level
    • D20 feet or more above a lower level
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 6 feet or more above a lower level

    Under 1926.501(b)(1), fall protection is required at 6 feet or more above a lower level in construction.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Which three systems does OSHA list for protecting workers at unprotected sides and edges?

    • AWarning tape, traffic cones and caution signs at the edge
    • BHard hats, safety gloves and steel-toe boots
    • CGuardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems
    • DLadders, stilts and upside-down buckets
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Guardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems

    1926.501(b)(1) requires one of these three systems for unprotected sides and edges 6 feet or more above a lower level.

18. Question 18 of 25

    How high must the top rail of a construction guardrail system be?

    • A36 inches exactly
    • B60 inches, plus or minus 6 inches
    • C24 inches, plus or minus 3 inches
    • D42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches

    Under 1926.502(b)(1), the top edge must be 42 inches plus or minus 3 inches above the walking/working level.

19. Question 19 of 25

    What force must the top rail of a guardrail be able to withstand?

    • AAt least 1,000 pounds
    • BAt least 200 pounds
    • CAt least 50 pounds
    • DAt least 100 pounds
    Show answer

    Answer: B. At least 200 pounds

    Top rails must withstand a force of at least 200 pounds applied outward or downward.

20. Question 20 of 25

    What is the minimum height of a toeboard?

    • A12 inches
    • B42 inches
    • C1 inch
    • D3½ inches
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 3½ inches

    Toeboards must be at least 3½ inches tall to stop tools and materials falling on people below.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Which is required for a cover over a floor hole?

    • AIt must be taken away at the end of each work day
    • BIt can be any piece of cardboard or thin plastic
    • CIt only needs to be painted a bright color so people see it
    • DHold twice the load, be secured and be marked "HOLE" or "COVER"
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Hold twice the load, be secured and be marked "HOLE" or "COVER"

    Under 1926.502(i), covers must support twice the expected load, be secured against movement and be marked.

22. Question 22 of 25

    A personal fall arrest system must limit a worker's free fall to no more than how far?

    • A2 feet
    • B12 feet
    • C20 feet
    • D6 feet
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 6 feet

    Personal fall arrest systems must be rigged so a worker can neither free fall more than 6 feet nor contact any lower level.

23. Question 23 of 25

    How strong must an anchorage for a personal fall arrest system be, unless designed by a qualified person?

    • AAt least 1,000 pounds total
    • BAt least 500 pounds per worker
    • CAs strong as the worker is heavy
    • DAt least 5,000 pounds per worker attached
    Show answer

    Answer: D. At least 5,000 pounds per worker attached

    Anchorages must support at least 5,000 pounds per employee attached, or be part of a system designed by a qualified person.

24. Question 24 of 25

    When must a personal fall arrest harness and lanyard be inspected?

    • AOnce a year
    • BOnly when it looks dirty
    • CBefore each use
    • DOnly after a fall
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Before each use

    Personal fall arrest systems must be inspected prior to each use for wear, damage and other deterioration.

25. Question 25 of 25

    A personal fall arrest system has stopped a fall. What happens to it?

    • AIt must be removed from service until inspected
    • BIt can be used again right away if it looks fine
    • CIt should be washed and then reused
    • DIt should be given to a new worker to use
    Show answer

    Answer: A. It must be removed from service until inspected

    Equipment that has been subjected to impact loading must be removed from service until inspected and found undamaged.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: No public OSHA exam bank. The authorized trainer or online provider runs the course and issues the DOL card.