OSHA 30 General Industry Study Guide: Hours, Topics, Card Rules and 29 CFR 1910
Reviewed by Gary B. Xavier, HVACR Instructor & Author, EPA 608 Universal ·
The OSHA 30 General Industry course is a 30-hour Outreach Training Program class taught by OSHA-authorized trainers. It covers hazards in factories, warehouses, healthcare and other non-construction work under 29 CFR 1910. This guide explains the official hour and topic rules for OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 General Industry and how cards work, and it sums up the 1910 numbers that course quizzes ask about.
OSHA General Industry Practice TestOSHA General Industry Full Mock Exam
OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 General Industry at a Glance
| Item | OSHA 10 General Industry | OSHA 30 General Industry |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Workers (awareness) | Supervisors and workers with safety responsibility |
| Required topics | 6 hours | 12 hours |
| Electives | 2 hours (at least 2 topics) | 10 hours (at least 5 topics) |
| Optional | 2 hours | 8 hours |
| Minimum days (7.5 h/day cap) | 2 | 4 |
| Finish within | 180 days | 180 days |
OSHA describes the program on its Outreach Training Program page. The topic hours come from the OSHA General Industry Outreach procedures, and the scheduling, card and online rules from the Outreach Training Program Requirements. Trainer details are on OSHA's general industry Outreach page.
Required OSHA 30 General Industry Topics
- Introduction to OSHA: 1 hour, covering workers' rights, employer responsibilities and how to file a complaint
- Managing Safety and Health: 2 hours
- Walking and Working Surfaces, including fall protection: 1 hour
- Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, Fire Prevention Plans and Fire Protection: 2 hours
- Electrical: 2 hours
- Personal Protective Equipment: 1 hour
- Materials Handling: 2 hours
- Hazard Communication: 1 hour
Electives include hazardous materials, permit-required confined spaces, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, welding, industrial hygiene, bloodborne pathogens, ergonomics, fall protection, safety and health programs, and powered industrial vehicles. OSHA 10 General Industry needs 1 hour each of Introduction to OSHA, walking-working surfaces, exit routes and fire, electrical, PPE and hazard communication.
OSHA General Industry Cost, Test and Online Rules
OSHA doesn't set a course price. The organizations that issue cards get no OSHA funding, so OSHA lets them charge card fees, and tuition is set by each trainer or provider. The Requirements call testing "optional," so there is no national OSHA pass mark. Quizzes are set by each trainer or online provider. Self-paced online classes may only be run by OSHA-authorized online providers. In-person classes are capped at 40 students.
OSHA General Industry Card Rules
- Cards must reach students within 90 calendar days of the class end date.
- For a replacement card, contact your trainer or online provider. You can only get one if you finished the class within the last five years, and only once per class.
- OSHA keeps no records of Outreach classes.
- Outreach training does not fulfill an employer's training duties under specific OSHA standards.
Key 29 CFR 1910 Numbers for the OSHA General Industry Quiz
| Topic | 29 CFR 1910 Rule |
|---|---|
| Fall protection trigger | 4 feet above a lower level (1910.28) |
| Guardrail top rail | 42 in ± 3 in, holds 200 lb. Midrail holds 150 lb (1910.29). |
| Fixed ladders | Fall protection over 24 ft (1910.28). Rungs 10–14 in apart (1910.23). |
| Portable ladders | Extend 3 ft above the landing. Inspect before each shift (1910.23). |
| Personal fall arrest | Free fall no more than 6 ft. No body belts (1910.140). |
| Exit routes | At least 2. Ceiling 7 ft 6 in. Exit access 28 in wide (1910.36). |
| Exit signs | "Exit" letters 6 in high. Lit to 5 foot-candles (1910.37). |
| Fire extinguishers | Checked monthly, maintained yearly. Class A within 75 ft, Class B within 50 ft (1910.157). |
| Electrical working space | 30 in wide, 6.25 ft headroom, doors open 90° (1910.303) |
| Noise | Hearing program at 85 dBA TWA. PEL 90 dBA for 8 h. Yearly audiograms (1910.95). |
| Respirators | Medical evaluation, then a yearly fit test. Oxygen-deficient below 19.5% (1910.134). |
The full rule text is in 29 CFR Part 1910.
Lockout/Tagout and Machine Guarding (1910.147 and 1910.212)
Under 29 CFR 1910.147, an energy control program needs written procedures, training and periodic inspections at least once a year. Use a lock wherever the device can be locked out. Only the authorized employee doing the work applies a lock or tag, and only that person removes it. Affected employees must be notified first, stored energy must be relieved, and isolation must be checked before work starts. Tag attachments must hold at least 50 pounds. Machine guards must not create a hazard of their own. Fan blades less than 7 feet above the floor need a guard with openings no larger than ½ inch, and fixed machines must be anchored (1910.212).
Hazard Communication and PPE (1910.1200 and 1910.132)
29 CFR 1910.1200 requires a written program, labels and safety data sheets that workers can reach on every shift. Workers must be trained when they are first assigned and whenever a new hazard is introduced. Shipped labels carry the product identifier, signal word, hazard statements, pictograms, precautionary statements and the supplier's contact details. "Danger" is used for the more severe hazards, and "Warning" for the less severe ones. For PPE, the employer does a written hazard assessment and pays for required PPE. Two exceptions are ordinary safety-toe footwear and prescription safety glasses, if workers may wear them off the job. Damaged PPE may not be used.
Retakes, Make-Up Training and Class Segments
There is no national OSHA exam, so there is no national retake rule either. Each trainer or online provider sets its own quiz retake policy, so ask before you enroll. If you miss part of a class, the trainer must schedule make-up training, and you have to finish it within 180 calendar days of the class start date. Trainers may split a class across several days, weeks or months, but each segment must last at least 30 minutes. One session can run no more than 10 consecutive hours, including 7.5 contact hours plus breaks and admin time.
Is the OSHA 30 General Industry Quiz Hard?
OSHA publishes no national pass rate or cut score, because each trainer or online provider writes its own quiz. Number questions cause the most mistakes: 4 feet versus 6 feet, 85 versus 90 dBA, monthly versus yearly checks. Drill the table above until those are automatic.
State Differences
Outreach classes may be held anywhere within the OSH Act's reach: the 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and certain other U.S. territories. The course and card are the same everywhere. Whether an employer or a state requires the card is a local rule, so check with your employer or your state's labor agency.
OSHA General Industry Study Plan
- Days 1–2: walking-working surfaces, exit routes and fire, then electrical.
- Days 3–4: PPE, respirators, noise, hazard communication, lockout/tagout and machine guarding.
- Day 5: take the OSHA General Industry Practice Test, then the timed OSHA General Industry Full Mock Exam.
Working on a building site? Use our OSHA 30 Construction Study Guide or OSHA 10 Construction Study Guide. Forklift drivers can add our Forklift Certification Exam Guide: OSHA 1910.178 Training, Evaluation and the Rules Your Forklift Test Covers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the OSHA 30 General Industry course?
At least 30 hours of instruction: 12 hours of required topics, 10 hours of electives and 8 optional hours. Training is capped at 7.5 contact hours per day, so it takes at least four days.
How long is OSHA 10 General Industry?
At least 10 hours: 6 required hours, 2 elective hours and 2 optional hours. With the 7.5-hour daily cap, it runs over at least two days.
Is there a test for OSHA 30 General Industry?
OSHA's Outreach requirements call tests "optional" for trainers, so many classes end with a quiz but OSHA sets no national pass mark. Our practice test is a study tool built on 29 CFR 1910.
How much does the OSHA 30 General Industry card cost?
OSHA doesn't set the price. Authorizing Training Organizations get no OSHA funding and may charge card fees, and trainers and online providers set their own tuition.
Can I take OSHA 30 General Industry online?
Yes, but only through an OSHA-authorized online Outreach training provider. Individual trainers may not run self-paced (asynchronous) classes.
How long do I have to finish?
The whole class must be completed within 180 calendar days of the start date.
When will I get my card?
Trainers must get cards to students within 90 calendar days of the class end date.
Can I replace a lost OSHA 30 card?
Contact the trainer or online provider who ran your class. A replacement is possible only if you finished the class within the last five years, and only once per class. OSHA itself keeps no Outreach class records.
Is the OSHA 30 card a certification?
No. Outreach classes give basic safety and health information. OSHA says they do not fulfill an employer's training duties under specific standards.
What is the difference between general industry and construction?
General industry Outreach classes are based on 29 CFR 1910, and construction classes are based on 29 CFR 1926. See our OSHA 30 Construction guide for the building-site version.
TradeExamHub is independent and not affiliated with OSHA or any Outreach provider. Our questions quote 29 CFR 1910 and do not come from any course quiz.