NEWEST CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND
SAFETY TECHNICIAN (CHST) EXAM OFFERED
BY BOARD OF CERTIFIED SAFETY
PROFESSIONALS | COMPLETE EXAM Q&A
WITH RATIONALES
1. A construction worker is using a scaffold that is 15
feet above the ground. The scaffold does not have a
guardrail system. What is the minimum fall protection
required by OSHA?
A) Guardrail system, safety net, or personal fall
arrest system (PFAS)
B) Warning line only
C) Safety harness with lanyard attached to a
horizontal lifeline
D) No fall protection required because the height is
less than 20 feet
Correct answer: A
Rationale: OSHA 1926.501 requires fall protection at
heights of 6 feet or more in construction. Guardrails,
safety nets, or PFAS are required.
2. An excavation is 8 feet deep. The soil is classified
as Type C (least stable). What is the maximum
,allowable slope for the excavation walls without
shoring?
A) 1:1 (45 degrees)
B) 1:1.5 (34 degrees)
C) 1:0.5 (63 degrees)
D) Vertical (90 degrees)
Correct answer: B
Rationale: OSHA requires Type C soil to be sloped at
1.5:1 (horizontal:vertical) or 34 degrees. Type A:
0.75:1, Type B: 1:1.
3. A crane is lifting a load of 12,000 pounds. The
crane's load chart indicates a rated capacity of
15,000 pounds at the given radius. What is the load
factor (percentage of rated capacity)?
A) 80%
B) 100%
C) 120%
D) 133%
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Load factor = (actual load / rated capacity)
x 100 = (12,,000) x 100 = 80%. This is within
safe limits (<100%).
,4. A worker is using a ladder to access a roof that is
20 feet above ground. The ladder must extend at
least how many feet above the roof line?
A) 1 foot
B) 2 feet
C) 3 feet
D) 4 feet
Correct answer: C
Rationale: OSHA 1926.1053 requires ladders to
extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing
surface to provide a handhold.
5. A construction site has a steel beam being placed
by a crane. A worker is on the ground below the load.
What is the primary hazard?
A) Struck-by falling object
B) Caught-in/between
C) Electrocution
D) Fall from height
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Workers below suspended loads are at
risk of being struck by falling objects. OSHA requires
, barricades or spotters to keep workers out of the fall
zone.
6. A trench is 6 feet deep and 10 feet long. The soil is
Type B. What is the maximum allowable distance from
the excavation edge that excavated soil (spoil) can be
placed?
A) 1 foot
B) 2 feet
C) 3 feet
D) 4 feet
Correct answer: B
Rationale: OSHA 1926.651 requires that excavated
soil be placed at least 2 feet from the edge of the
excavation to prevent it from falling back into the
trench.
7. A worker is using a portable circular saw. The saw
has a retractable lower blade guard. The guard is
stuck in the open position. What is the most
appropriate action?
A) Continue using the saw (the guard is not required)
B) Tag the saw out of service and repair or replace
the guard
SAFETY TECHNICIAN (CHST) EXAM OFFERED
BY BOARD OF CERTIFIED SAFETY
PROFESSIONALS | COMPLETE EXAM Q&A
WITH RATIONALES
1. A construction worker is using a scaffold that is 15
feet above the ground. The scaffold does not have a
guardrail system. What is the minimum fall protection
required by OSHA?
A) Guardrail system, safety net, or personal fall
arrest system (PFAS)
B) Warning line only
C) Safety harness with lanyard attached to a
horizontal lifeline
D) No fall protection required because the height is
less than 20 feet
Correct answer: A
Rationale: OSHA 1926.501 requires fall protection at
heights of 6 feet or more in construction. Guardrails,
safety nets, or PFAS are required.
2. An excavation is 8 feet deep. The soil is classified
as Type C (least stable). What is the maximum
,allowable slope for the excavation walls without
shoring?
A) 1:1 (45 degrees)
B) 1:1.5 (34 degrees)
C) 1:0.5 (63 degrees)
D) Vertical (90 degrees)
Correct answer: B
Rationale: OSHA requires Type C soil to be sloped at
1.5:1 (horizontal:vertical) or 34 degrees. Type A:
0.75:1, Type B: 1:1.
3. A crane is lifting a load of 12,000 pounds. The
crane's load chart indicates a rated capacity of
15,000 pounds at the given radius. What is the load
factor (percentage of rated capacity)?
A) 80%
B) 100%
C) 120%
D) 133%
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Load factor = (actual load / rated capacity)
x 100 = (12,,000) x 100 = 80%. This is within
safe limits (<100%).
,4. A worker is using a ladder to access a roof that is
20 feet above ground. The ladder must extend at
least how many feet above the roof line?
A) 1 foot
B) 2 feet
C) 3 feet
D) 4 feet
Correct answer: C
Rationale: OSHA 1926.1053 requires ladders to
extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing
surface to provide a handhold.
5. A construction site has a steel beam being placed
by a crane. A worker is on the ground below the load.
What is the primary hazard?
A) Struck-by falling object
B) Caught-in/between
C) Electrocution
D) Fall from height
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Workers below suspended loads are at
risk of being struck by falling objects. OSHA requires
, barricades or spotters to keep workers out of the fall
zone.
6. A trench is 6 feet deep and 10 feet long. The soil is
Type B. What is the maximum allowable distance from
the excavation edge that excavated soil (spoil) can be
placed?
A) 1 foot
B) 2 feet
C) 3 feet
D) 4 feet
Correct answer: B
Rationale: OSHA 1926.651 requires that excavated
soil be placed at least 2 feet from the edge of the
excavation to prevent it from falling back into the
trench.
7. A worker is using a portable circular saw. The saw
has a retractable lower blade guard. The guard is
stuck in the open position. What is the most
appropriate action?
A) Continue using the saw (the guard is not required)
B) Tag the saw out of service and repair or replace
the guard
