CHST - Construction Health and Safety Technician CHST-FREE Construction Health And Safety Technician 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to OSHA 29 CFR 1926.651, how deep must an excavation be before a competent person is required to classify soil and implement protective systems?
- 3 feet
- 4 feet
- 5 feet (Correct answer)
- 6 feet
Correct answer: 5 feet
OSHA 1926.651 requires that excavations 5 feet or deeper have a protective system (sloping, shoring, or trench box) unless the excavation is in stable rock, and a competent person must classify the soil to determine the appropriate system.
Question 2: Which scaffolding safety requirement under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451 specifies the minimum load-bearing capacity that supported scaffolds must be capable of supporting?
- 2 times the intended load
- 3 times the intended load
- 4 times the intended load (Correct answer)
- 5 times the intended load
Correct answer: 4 times the intended load
OSHA 1926.451(a)(1) requires supported scaffolds to be capable of supporting without failure their own weight and at least 4 times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to them.
Question 3: In a construction site safety program, what does the acronym 'SDS' stand for, and which federal agency mandates its use under the Hazard Communication Standard?
- Safety Data Sheet, mandated by OSHA (Correct answer)
- Standard Data Summary, mandated by EPA
- Safety Detail Specification, mandated by NIOSH
- Substance Disclosure Statement, mandated by OSHA
Correct answer: Safety Data Sheet, mandated by OSHA
SDS stands for Safety Data Sheet, formerly called MSDS. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200, applicable to construction via 1926.59) requires manufacturers to provide SDS for hazardous chemicals and employers to make them accessible to workers.
Question 4: Under OSHA's Lockout/Tagout standard (29 CFR 1910.147), what must an authorized employee do AFTER applying a lockout device before performing service or maintenance?
- Notify all affected employees verbally
- Verify that the equipment is de-energized by attempting normal operation or using a test instrument (Correct answer)
- Obtain written approval from the site superintendent
- Install a secondary tagout device on the energy source
Correct answer: Verify that the equipment is de-energized by attempting normal operation or using a test instrument
After applying lockout/tagout devices and releasing or restraining stored energy, the authorized employee must verify isolation by attempting to operate the equipment using normal controls or by using a test instrument to confirm that hazardous energy has been de-energized.
Question 5: What is the OSHA-required minimum illumination level (in foot-candles) for general construction areas, corridors, hallways, and exit ways on a construction site per 29 CFR 1926.56?
- 2 foot-candles
- 5 foot-candles (Correct answer)
- 10 foot-candles
- 30 foot-candles
Correct answer: 5 foot-candles
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.56 Table D-3 specifies a minimum of 5 foot-candles for general construction areas, corridors, hallways, and exit ways. Higher illumination levels are required for more detailed tasks such as concrete placement (10 fc) and first aid stations (30 fc).
Question 6: Which type of personal protective equipment is classified as 'Level B' in the EPA's hazardous materials protection framework, and when is it most appropriate for construction workers?
- Air-purifying respirator with chemical-resistant suit, used when the specific airborne contaminant is known
- Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with non-encapsulating chemical-resistant suit, used when the highest respiratory protection is needed but skin and eye exposure is unlikely (Correct answer)
- Fully encapsulating vapor-tight suit with SCBA, used when the highest level of skin and respiratory protection is required
- Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) with splash-resistant coveralls, used for low-level chemical exposure
Correct answer: Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with non-encapsulating chemical-resistant suit, used when the highest respiratory protection is needed but skin and eye exposure is unlikely
EPA Level B protection combines an SCBA for the highest level of respiratory protection with a non-encapsulating chemical-resistant suit. It is appropriate when the chemical has a high inhalation hazard but the vapor concentration or skin absorption potential does not require a fully encapsulating (Level A) suit.
CHST - Construction Health and Safety Technician CHST-FREE Construction Health And Safety Technician 1
According to OSHA 29 CFR 1926.651, how deep must an excavation be before a competent person is required to classify soil and implement protective systems?