New York Site Safety Manager Exam (NYC
DOB) – Practice Test Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
Question 1
According to NYC Building Code Chapter 33, at what height must a Site Safety Manager be
designated for a new building construction project?
A) 10 stories or 100 feet
B) 15 stories or 150 feet
C) 10 stories or 125 feet
D) 15 stories or 200 feet
Answer: D
Rationale: NYC Building Code Section 3310.1 requires a Site Safety Manager for the
construction or demolition of major buildings, defined as those 15 or more stories OR 200 feet
or more in height. The alternative threshold is also 100,000 square feet of total floor area .
Question 2
What is the minimum clear height required for a sidewalk shed when the building being
constructed is over 100 feet tall?
A) 10 feet
B) 12 feet
C) 15 feet
D) 20 feet
Answer: B
Rationale: NYC Building Code requires sidewalk sheds to have a minimum clear height of 12 feet
to ensure adequate clearance for pedestrians and emergency equipment while providing
overhead protection .
,Question 3
Which of the following best defines a "Major Building" in NYC requiring a Site Safety Manager?
A) Any building over 5 stories
B) Buildings 15 stories or more, or 200 feet or more, or 100,000 sq. ft. footprint, or as
designated by the Commissioner
C) Any commercial building
D) Buildings with more than 20 workers
Answer: B
Rationale: NYC Building Code defines major buildings as those meeting any of these criteria:
15+ stories, 200+ feet in height, 100,000+ square feet footprint, or as designated by the
Commissioner .
Question 4
According to Chapter 33, what is the relationship between NYC Building Code and OSHA
standards?
A) Chapter 33 supersedes OSHA for worker safety
B) OSHA supersedes Chapter 33 for public safety
C) OSHA standards apply for worker safety; Chapter 33 applies for public and property safety
D) They are identical and interchangeable
Answer: C
Rationale: Chapter 33 addresses public and property safety, while OSHA standards specifically
address the safety of persons employed in construction or demolition operations .
Question 5
Under Section 3301.2, contractors engaged in construction or demolition operations shall
institute and maintain all safety measures required by Chapter 33 and provide equipment
necessary to safeguard __________.
A) workers only
B) only their own employees
C) the public and property
D) the building owner's assets
Answer: C
,Rationale: Section 3301.2 requires contractors to safeguard the public and property, not merely
their own workers. OSHA separately protects workers .
Question 6
What is the primary responsibility of a Site Safety Manager on a major construction project?
A) Approve architectural drawings
B) Manage payroll operations
C) Monitor and enforce site safety requirements and code compliance
D) Perform all construction work personally
Answer: C
Rationale: The Site Safety Manager (SSM) is responsible for implementing and overseeing site
safety measures, identifying hazards, and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and
approved site safety plans .
Question 7
According to NYC Building Code §3310.1, a Site Safety Manager (SSM) is required for buildings
that are at least:
A) 10 stories or 125 feet
B) 15 stories or 200 feet in height
C) 10 stories or 100 feet
D) 20 stories or 250 feet
Answer: B
Rationale: BC §3310.1 requires an SSM for "major buildings," defined as 15+ stories or 200+
feet, OR buildings with a footprint of 100,000+ sq ft, or as designated by the Commissioner .
Question 8
A building with a footprint of 110,000 square feet but only 6 stories tall requires:
A) A Site Safety Coordinator only
B) A Site Safety Manager
C) No SSM requirement
D) Only a fire safety manager
, Answer: B
Rationale: The definition of a "major building" under BC §3310 includes any building with a
footprint >100,000 sq ft, regardless of height. Therefore, an SSM is required, not just a Site
Safety Coordinator .
Question 9
Which of the following is NOT an explicit duty of the Site Safety Manager?
A) Enforcing the Site Safety Plan
B) Conducting daily site inspections
C) Hiring and firing site workers
D) Documenting safety violations
Answer: C
Rationale: The SSM's role is safety oversight, not personnel management. Hiring and firing
remain with contractors/employers. The SSM does have stop-work authority and must ensure
workers have SST cards .
Question 10
Who is responsible for the design of a site safety plan for a major building?
A) The Site Safety Manager
B) A Registered Design Professional
C) The General Foreman
D) The Master Plumber
Answer: B
Rationale: Site safety plans must be prepared and sealed by a Registered Design Professional
(PE or RA) to ensure engineering standards are met .
Question 11
A "Major Building" in NYC is defined as a building that is:
A) 5 stories or more
B) 10 stories or more
DOB) – Practice Test Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
Question 1
According to NYC Building Code Chapter 33, at what height must a Site Safety Manager be
designated for a new building construction project?
A) 10 stories or 100 feet
B) 15 stories or 150 feet
C) 10 stories or 125 feet
D) 15 stories or 200 feet
Answer: D
Rationale: NYC Building Code Section 3310.1 requires a Site Safety Manager for the
construction or demolition of major buildings, defined as those 15 or more stories OR 200 feet
or more in height. The alternative threshold is also 100,000 square feet of total floor area .
Question 2
What is the minimum clear height required for a sidewalk shed when the building being
constructed is over 100 feet tall?
A) 10 feet
B) 12 feet
C) 15 feet
D) 20 feet
Answer: B
Rationale: NYC Building Code requires sidewalk sheds to have a minimum clear height of 12 feet
to ensure adequate clearance for pedestrians and emergency equipment while providing
overhead protection .
,Question 3
Which of the following best defines a "Major Building" in NYC requiring a Site Safety Manager?
A) Any building over 5 stories
B) Buildings 15 stories or more, or 200 feet or more, or 100,000 sq. ft. footprint, or as
designated by the Commissioner
C) Any commercial building
D) Buildings with more than 20 workers
Answer: B
Rationale: NYC Building Code defines major buildings as those meeting any of these criteria:
15+ stories, 200+ feet in height, 100,000+ square feet footprint, or as designated by the
Commissioner .
Question 4
According to Chapter 33, what is the relationship between NYC Building Code and OSHA
standards?
A) Chapter 33 supersedes OSHA for worker safety
B) OSHA supersedes Chapter 33 for public safety
C) OSHA standards apply for worker safety; Chapter 33 applies for public and property safety
D) They are identical and interchangeable
Answer: C
Rationale: Chapter 33 addresses public and property safety, while OSHA standards specifically
address the safety of persons employed in construction or demolition operations .
Question 5
Under Section 3301.2, contractors engaged in construction or demolition operations shall
institute and maintain all safety measures required by Chapter 33 and provide equipment
necessary to safeguard __________.
A) workers only
B) only their own employees
C) the public and property
D) the building owner's assets
Answer: C
,Rationale: Section 3301.2 requires contractors to safeguard the public and property, not merely
their own workers. OSHA separately protects workers .
Question 6
What is the primary responsibility of a Site Safety Manager on a major construction project?
A) Approve architectural drawings
B) Manage payroll operations
C) Monitor and enforce site safety requirements and code compliance
D) Perform all construction work personally
Answer: C
Rationale: The Site Safety Manager (SSM) is responsible for implementing and overseeing site
safety measures, identifying hazards, and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and
approved site safety plans .
Question 7
According to NYC Building Code §3310.1, a Site Safety Manager (SSM) is required for buildings
that are at least:
A) 10 stories or 125 feet
B) 15 stories or 200 feet in height
C) 10 stories or 100 feet
D) 20 stories or 250 feet
Answer: B
Rationale: BC §3310.1 requires an SSM for "major buildings," defined as 15+ stories or 200+
feet, OR buildings with a footprint of 100,000+ sq ft, or as designated by the Commissioner .
Question 8
A building with a footprint of 110,000 square feet but only 6 stories tall requires:
A) A Site Safety Coordinator only
B) A Site Safety Manager
C) No SSM requirement
D) Only a fire safety manager
, Answer: B
Rationale: The definition of a "major building" under BC §3310 includes any building with a
footprint >100,000 sq ft, regardless of height. Therefore, an SSM is required, not just a Site
Safety Coordinator .
Question 9
Which of the following is NOT an explicit duty of the Site Safety Manager?
A) Enforcing the Site Safety Plan
B) Conducting daily site inspections
C) Hiring and firing site workers
D) Documenting safety violations
Answer: C
Rationale: The SSM's role is safety oversight, not personnel management. Hiring and firing
remain with contractors/employers. The SSM does have stop-work authority and must ensure
workers have SST cards .
Question 10
Who is responsible for the design of a site safety plan for a major building?
A) The Site Safety Manager
B) A Registered Design Professional
C) The General Foreman
D) The Master Plumber
Answer: B
Rationale: Site safety plans must be prepared and sealed by a Registered Design Professional
(PE or RA) to ensure engineering standards are met .
Question 11
A "Major Building" in NYC is defined as a building that is:
A) 5 stories or more
B) 10 stories or more
