What is on an OSHA 10 test
OSHA 10 is an awareness course, so its quizzes test whether you can recognize a hazard and know the basic rule, not whether you can design a shoring system. Questions come from a fairly stable set of topics:
Construction
- Introduction to OSHA: your rights, the employer's duties, how to file a complaint and the 30-day window for a retaliation complaint
- The Focus Four: falls, caught-in or between, struck-by, and electrocution
- PPE and health hazards
- Electives: ladders and stairways, scaffolds, excavations, tools, materials handling
General Industry
- Introduction to OSHA
- Walking-working surfaces (fall protection starts at 4 feet here, not 6)
- Exit routes, emergency action plans and fire prevention
- Electrical
- Hazard communication: labels, pictograms and the 16-section SDS
- Electives: machine guarding, lockout/tagout, bloodborne pathogens, forklifts, ergonomics
This practice test covers both versions. Use the topic filter to stay inside the one you are taking. "Falls", "Ladders", "Scaffolds" and "Excavations" are mostly construction. "Exits & fire", "Machines & lockout" and "Hazard communication" are mostly General Industry.
How to use it
- Choose a topic and a question count, then press Start test.
- Answer at your own pace, or tick Timed for one minute per question.
- Press Submit answers. You will see your score, a topic-by-topic breakdown and an explanation for each question with the regulation it comes from.
- Press New test to reshuffle. Answer order changes every time, so the score reflects what you know, not what you remember.
Nothing is saved or sent anywhere. The test runs entirely in your browser.
Numbers worth memorizing
Most missed OSHA 10 questions are about numbers. Here are the ones that come up again and again:
| Rule | Number | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Construction fall protection trigger | 6 ft | 1926.501(b)(1) |
| General industry fall protection trigger | 4 ft | 1910.28(b)(1) |
| Scaffold fall protection trigger | 10 ft | 1926.451(g)(1) |
| Extension ladder angle | 1 out for every 4 up | 1926.1053(b)(5)(i) |
| Ladder extension above landing | 3 ft | 1926.1053(b)(1) |
| Stairway or ladder needed at a break of | 19 in | 1926.1051(a) |
| Trench protective system from | 5 ft | 1926.652(a)(1) |
| Trench ladder within | 25 ft (4 ft deep +) | 1926.651(c)(2) |
| Overhead power line clearance (≤50 kV) | 10 ft | 1910.333(c)(3) |
| Hearing conservation action level | 85 dBA | 1910.95(c) |
| Report a fatality within | 8 hours | 1904.39 |
Common mistakes on the OSHA 10 final
- Mixing up construction and general industry heights. Six feet is construction, four feet is general industry and ten feet is scaffolds. A question will often name the setting in its first few words, so read it before you look at the numbers.
- Picking the "most protective" answer by reflex. OSHA questions usually have one correct rule, not the safest-sounding option. "Never use a ladder" is not the answer to a ladder question.
- Forgetting who pays for PPE. The employer pays for most required PPE, with narrow exceptions like ordinary safety-toe footwear.
- Missing the "competent person" cue. Daily trench inspections and scaffold erection supervision are done by a competent person, not "any worker" and not "an OSHA inspector".
After you pass
Your trainer must issue your plastic course completion card within 90 days. Keep a photo of both sides. OSHA does not keep student records, and a replacement is only possible through your trainer, only if the class was within the last five years, and only once per class.
If you are the person who has to collect cards from a whole crew, the free OSHA card tracker stores each worker's card photo and dates, and the training matrix template gives you a spreadsheet you can start with today.
OSHA 10 in Spanish
The full question bank is also available in Spanish at Examen de práctica OSHA 10. For tips on finding an authorized course taught in Spanish, see our guide OSHA 10 en español.
Topic-by-topic study notes
The OSHA 10 Construction course always includes the Focus Four hazards: falls, struck-by, caught-in or -between, and electrocution. These cause most construction deaths, so expect several exam questions on each.
Falls. Know the 6-foot trigger for fall protection in construction, the three main systems (guardrails, safety nets and personal fall arrest), and that guardrail top rails sit at 42 inches, plus or minus 3. Holes must be covered or guarded. Covers must be marked and able to hold twice the expected load.
Struck-by. Hard hats, high-visibility clothing near traffic, never working under suspended loads, and securing materials stored at height. Know that vehicles with an obstructed rear view need a back-up alarm or a spotter.
Caught-in or -between. Trenches 5 feet or deeper need a protective system unless they are in stable rock. Machine guards stay on. Never position yourself between moving equipment and a fixed object.
Electrocution. Keep at least 10 feet from overhead power lines up to 50 kV. Use GFCIs or an assured equipment grounding program. Inspect cords, and remove damaged tools from service.
Health hazards and PPE. Hazard communication (labels and Safety Data Sheets), silica, noise and the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, then PPE.
Worker rights. You have the right to a safe workplace, to receive training in a language you understand, to see records of injuries, to file a complaint, and to be protected from retaliation. Workers have 30 days to file a retaliation complaint under Section 11(c).
Construction vs General Industry questions
If you are taking OSHA 10 General Industry, the emphasis shifts. Expect more on walking-working surfaces (fall protection at 4 feet), exit routes, fire extinguishers, machine guarding, lockout/tagout and powered industrial trucks. Use the bank filter above to practice the version you will take. The question styles are the same, but the numbers differ.
A 3-day study plan
Day 1: take one full practice test cold and note your weakest topics. Day 2: re-read the explanations for every missed question, then practice only those topics. Day 3: take two more full tests, aiming for 85% or better, so there is a buffer on the real exam.
Exam-day tips
Read every option before answering. Many wrong choices are almost right, such as a 4-foot trigger on a construction question. Watch for words like "always," "never" and "only." If a question gives a number, check whether it asks for a minimum or a maximum. On online courses, each module has a short quiz before the final. Treat those as practice and review anything you miss before moving on.
Keeping your score honest
Practice tests only help if they show you the truth. Don't look up answers mid-test, and don't retake the same set right away. The shuffled options here stop you from memorizing positions, so a high score means you know the material.