OSHA 10 Construction Study Guide
The OSHA 10-Hour Construction course teaches entry-level workers to recognise and avoid job-site hazards. This guide covers the key federal rules, each tied to its section of 29 CFR 1926.
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- OSHA 10 Construction Practice Test (Adaptive Mock)
152 original questions, adaptive 15–20 question tests with explanations and CFR references.
- EPA 609 Certification Guide
Federal certification for car and truck air conditioning service.
What the OSHA 10 Course Is
The 10-hour construction course is part of OSHA's Outreach Training Program. It is delivered by OSHA-authorised trainers and covers the hazards that cause most construction deaths, known as the Focus Four: falls, electrocution, struck-by and caught-in or between. Students who finish receive a Department of Labor completion card. OSHA is clear that the course is awareness training, not a certification.
Fall Protection (Subpart M)
- Protect workers at 6 feet or more above a lower level with guardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems (1926.501(b)(1)).
- Guardrail top rails sit at 42 inches ± 3 inches and withstand 200 pounds (1926.502(b)).
- A personal fall arrest system limits free fall to 6 feet with no contact with a lower level, and anchorages support 5,000 pounds per worker (1926.502(d)).
Scaffolds and Ladders (Subparts L and X)
Scaffolds must hold their own weight and four times the maximum intended load, need fall protection above 10 feet, and must be inspected by a competent person before each shift (1926.451). Portable ladders must extend 3 feet above the landing and be set at roughly a 4-to-1 angle (1926.1053). A stairway or ladder is required at any break in elevation of 19 inches or more (1926.1051).
Excavations (Subpart P)
Trenches 5 feet or deeper need a protective system unless they are dug entirely in stable rock, and systems for depths over 20 feet must be designed by a registered professional engineer (1926.652). Trenches 4 feet or deeper need a way out within 25 feet of lateral travel, spoil must stay at least 2 feet back from the edge, and a competent person inspects daily (1926.651).
Electrical, Health and Reporting
Construction receptacles need GFCIs or an assured equipment grounding conductor program (1926.404(b)). The noise limit is 90 dBA over 8 hours (1926.52), and the respirable silica limit is 50 µg/m³ (1926.1153). Employers must report a work-related death to OSHA within 8 hours, and an in-patient hospitalisation, amputation or loss of an eye within 24 hours (1904.39).
How to Use This Section
Read this guide, then take the OSHA 10 practice test to check what you remember. Every answer cites the CFR section behind it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an OSHA 10 card a certification?
No. OSHA says Outreach Training Program courses provide awareness training on recognising and preventing hazards. Students who finish receive a Department of Labor course completion card, but it is not a licence or certification.
Who should take OSHA 10 instead of OSHA 30?
OSHA describes the 10-hour course as entry-level training for workers. The 30-hour course goes deeper and suits supervisors and workers with safety responsibility.
Where does the OSHA 10 card come from?
Only OSHA-authorised outreach trainers, in person or through OSHA-accepted online providers, can issue cards. Trade Exam Hub does not issue cards.
At what height is fall protection required in construction?
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1), at 6 feet or more above a lower level on most walking and working surfaces. Scaffolds use a 10-foot trigger under 1926.451(g)(1).