Free Construction Health and Safety Technician® (CHST®) exam Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Construction Health and Safety Technician® (CHST®) exam practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1During construction hot work, which measure addresses the fire hazard posed by nearby combustibles?

   1. A. Move fire hazards from the vicinity of the work.
   2. B. Ground only the welding machine frame.
   3. C. Shield only workers from direct arc rays.
   4. D. Inspect only the oxygen pressure regulator.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: OSHA lists "removing fire hazards from the vicinity" among hot-work fire prevention precautions. Arc-ray shields and electrical grounding address different hazards; regulator inspection alone does not remove combustibles.

   Reference: OSHA Construction Industry Digest — Welding, Cutting, and Heating, p. 64

2. 2Which item must a construction emergency action plan include so workers know how to leave during an emergency?

   1. A. Rescue and medical duties for assigned employees
   2. B. Emergency escape procedures and route assignments
   3. C. The preferred means of reporting fires
   4. D. Procedures to account for workers after evacuation

   Answer: B

   Explanation: OSHA lists "Emergency escape procedures and emergency escape route assignments" among the plan's minimum elements. The other records do not tell employees how to evacuate.

   Reference: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.35: Employee Emergency Action Plans — 29 CFR 1926.35(b)(1)

3. 3In a construction safety and health program, what must prevention designees have to correct identified hazards?

   1. A. Authority only to schedule future inspections
   2. B. Authority only to record a hazard without correction
   3. C. Authority to correct hazards
   4. D. Authority only to request control purchases

   Answer: C

   Explanation: OSHA's construction program guidance says to "Give injury and illness prevention designees authority to correct hazards." A nominal assignment without authority cannot implement corrections.

   Reference: OSHA Construction eTool: Safety and Health Program — B. Management Commitment to Injury and Illness Prevention

4. 4Which training format lets construction workers see a task performed in its actual work environment?

   1. A. A self-paced text module about the task
   2. B. A worksite demonstration of the task.
   3. C. A recorded quiz completed away from the site
   4. D. A classroom lecture about the task without showing it

   Answer: B

   Explanation: OSHA says "worksite demonstrations can be effective in conveying safety concepts." Demonstrating the task is a training method.

   Reference: Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs in Construction — Education and Training, page 24

5. 5What protection does OSHA identify for people near an arc welding operation who could be exposed to direct arc rays?

   1. A. A shield around the oxygen cylinder
   2. B. A ground-fault circuit interrupter
   3. C. A fire watch stationed beyond the work area
   4. D. Noncombustible or flameproof screens

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The digest states that arc welding operations "shall be shielded by noncombustible or flameproof screens to protect employees and other persons in the vicinity from direct arc rays." The other measures address fire, electrical, or cylinder hazards rather than arc-ray exposure.

   Reference: OSHA Construction Industry Digest — Welding, Cutting, and Heating, p. 64

6. 6Which emergency action plan element addresses the status of workers after an evacuation?

   1. A. Procedures for critical operations before evacuation
   2. B. Duties of employees assigned rescue and medical tasks
   3. C. Procedures to account for all employees
   4. D. Emergency escape routes from work areas

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The OSHA plan minimum includes "Procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed." A headcount process answers who may still need help.

   Reference: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.35: Employee Emergency Action Plans — 29 CFR 1926.35(b)(3)

7. 7Which practice supports hazard communication across multiple employers at one construction site?

   1. A. Share only worker headcounts, without hazard information.
   2. B. Exchange hazard information only after exposure occurs.
   3. C. Coordinate hazard information with the other employers.
   4. D. Keep separate employer hazard files without exchanging them.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The OSHA construction program identifies "Coordinate hazard communication with other employers on site." Separate employers share exposures and need coordinated hazard information.

   Reference: OSHA Construction eTool: Safety and Health Program — B. Management Commitment to Injury and Illness Prevention

8. 8What distinguishes program awareness training from training only on a single hazard?

   1. A. It is limited to workers assigned incident investigations.
   2. B. It covers only the names of supervisors on the site.
   3. C. It replaces instruction on hazards and their controls.
   4. D. It explains the safety program's structure, plans, and procedures.

   Answer: D

   Explanation: OSHA states that managers, supervisors, and workers need to understand "the program’s structure, plans, and procedures." That is the focus of program awareness training.

   Reference: Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs in Construction — Education and Training, Action item 1

9. 9At a construction site, which pair of approaches does OSHA identify for protecting employees from ground-fault hazards?

   1. A. A GFCI or an assured equipment grounding conductor program
   2. B. A fire watch or a hot-work screen
   3. C. A voltage label or a cord color code
   4. D. A grounded helmet or an insulated ladder

   Answer: A

   Explanation: OSHA says employers must provide "either ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) or an assured equipment grounding conductor program" for these hazards. The other pairs confuse fire, identification, or other protective measures with ground-fault protection.

   Reference: OSHA Construction Industry Digest — Electrical Installations, p. 18

10. 10Where some employees must operate critical plant equipment before leaving, what must the emergency action plan cover?

    1. A. Their procedures before evacuation
    2. B. Which employees perform rescue and medical duties
    3. C. How employees report a fire before leaving
    4. D. How employees are accounted for after leaving

    Answer: A

    Explanation: OSHA specifies "Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate." Their actions and departure are part of emergency planning.

    Reference: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.35: Employee Emergency Action Plans — 29 CFR 1926.35(b)(2)