CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND SAFETY TECHNICIAN EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
1. Hazard Identification and Control (including Health Hazards)
2. Emergency Preparedness, Incident Investigation, and Response
3. Safety Program Development, Implementation, and Sustainment
4. Leadership, Communication, and Training
Introduction
The Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) Examination is the comprehensive
assessment designed to evaluate the competency of safety technicians working in the
construction industry. This exam assesses the application of hazard identification and control
principles, emergency preparedness, safety program development, and leadership across diverse
construction environments. Emphasis is placed on OSHA regulations, consensus standards, risk
management, and real-world decision-making. The multiple-choice and scenario-based format
requires candidates to demonstrate critical thinking in hazard recognition, control
implementation, incident investigation, and regulatory compliance. This examination ensures
that certified technicians are prepared to protect the health and safety of construction workers
and comply with all applicable standards.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. What is a job hazard analysis (JHA)?
A. A tallying of all the hazards found on the job
B. A technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to identify and correct hazards
C. A technique for analyzing job hazards and assigning them to appropriate categories
D. A technique for evaluating employees on the job to make sure they are working safely
🟢 Correct Answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: A job hazard analysis is a technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to
identify hazards and implement controls before an injury occurs.
2. When considering controls that protect a worker from on-the-job hazards, which type of
control is the most important?
,A. Engineering controls
B. Administrative controls
C. Training controls
D. Personal protective equipment
🟢 Correct Answer: A
🔴 RATIONALE: Engineering controls are the most effective because they eliminate or isolate
the hazard at its source, rather than relying on worker behavior.
3. Employees who work on scaffolds must be protected from falling if the level of the
scaffold is ______ feet above the level below it.
A. 5
B. 10
C. 15
D. 20
🟢 Correct Answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: OSHA requires fall protection for scaffold work at 10 feet or more above a
lower level.
4. In a personal fall arrest system, lanyards and vertical lifelines must have a minimum
breaking strength of:
A. 2,000 pounds
B. 3,500 pounds
C. 5,000 pounds
D. 6,500 pounds
🟢 Correct Answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502(d)(9) requires lanyards and vertical lifelines to have a
minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.
5. Personal fall arrest systems, when stopping a fall, must be rigged so that no employee can
free fall more than ______ feet, nor contact any lower level.
A. 6
B. 8
, C. 10
D. 12
🟢 Correct Answer: A
🔴 RATIONALE: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502(d)(16)(iii) limits free fall distance to 6 feet and prohibits
contact with any lower level.
6. When fall arrest equipment is used, employers must assure that:
A. Users have calculated total fall distance
B. All equipment is properly inspected before each use
C. A rescue plan is in place to rescue a fallen employee
D. All of the above
🟢 Correct Answer: D
🔴 RATIONALE: OSHA requires all of these elements: fall distance calculation, pre-use
inspection, and a rescue plan.
7. When is it necessary to use lockout/tagout procedures to prevent electrical injuries?
A. When anyone is working around electrical equipment
B. When anyone is working on equipment that has multiple energy sources
C. When two or more employees are performing maintenance on the same electrical
equipment
D. When there is potential for an unexpected energization of equipment that could cause
injury to an employee
🟢 Correct Answer: D
🔴 RATIONALE: Lockout/tagout is required whenever there is potential for unexpected
energization that could cause injury.
8. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) are required by the National Electrical Code:
A. When there are wet conditions
B. On all temporary power circuits
C. On portable generators over 5,000 watts
D. All of the above
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
1. Hazard Identification and Control (including Health Hazards)
2. Emergency Preparedness, Incident Investigation, and Response
3. Safety Program Development, Implementation, and Sustainment
4. Leadership, Communication, and Training
Introduction
The Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) Examination is the comprehensive
assessment designed to evaluate the competency of safety technicians working in the
construction industry. This exam assesses the application of hazard identification and control
principles, emergency preparedness, safety program development, and leadership across diverse
construction environments. Emphasis is placed on OSHA regulations, consensus standards, risk
management, and real-world decision-making. The multiple-choice and scenario-based format
requires candidates to demonstrate critical thinking in hazard recognition, control
implementation, incident investigation, and regulatory compliance. This examination ensures
that certified technicians are prepared to protect the health and safety of construction workers
and comply with all applicable standards.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. What is a job hazard analysis (JHA)?
A. A tallying of all the hazards found on the job
B. A technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to identify and correct hazards
C. A technique for analyzing job hazards and assigning them to appropriate categories
D. A technique for evaluating employees on the job to make sure they are working safely
🟢 Correct Answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: A job hazard analysis is a technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to
identify hazards and implement controls before an injury occurs.
2. When considering controls that protect a worker from on-the-job hazards, which type of
control is the most important?
,A. Engineering controls
B. Administrative controls
C. Training controls
D. Personal protective equipment
🟢 Correct Answer: A
🔴 RATIONALE: Engineering controls are the most effective because they eliminate or isolate
the hazard at its source, rather than relying on worker behavior.
3. Employees who work on scaffolds must be protected from falling if the level of the
scaffold is ______ feet above the level below it.
A. 5
B. 10
C. 15
D. 20
🟢 Correct Answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: OSHA requires fall protection for scaffold work at 10 feet or more above a
lower level.
4. In a personal fall arrest system, lanyards and vertical lifelines must have a minimum
breaking strength of:
A. 2,000 pounds
B. 3,500 pounds
C. 5,000 pounds
D. 6,500 pounds
🟢 Correct Answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502(d)(9) requires lanyards and vertical lifelines to have a
minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.
5. Personal fall arrest systems, when stopping a fall, must be rigged so that no employee can
free fall more than ______ feet, nor contact any lower level.
A. 6
B. 8
, C. 10
D. 12
🟢 Correct Answer: A
🔴 RATIONALE: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502(d)(16)(iii) limits free fall distance to 6 feet and prohibits
contact with any lower level.
6. When fall arrest equipment is used, employers must assure that:
A. Users have calculated total fall distance
B. All equipment is properly inspected before each use
C. A rescue plan is in place to rescue a fallen employee
D. All of the above
🟢 Correct Answer: D
🔴 RATIONALE: OSHA requires all of these elements: fall distance calculation, pre-use
inspection, and a rescue plan.
7. When is it necessary to use lockout/tagout procedures to prevent electrical injuries?
A. When anyone is working around electrical equipment
B. When anyone is working on equipment that has multiple energy sources
C. When two or more employees are performing maintenance on the same electrical
equipment
D. When there is potential for an unexpected energization of equipment that could cause
injury to an employee
🟢 Correct Answer: D
🔴 RATIONALE: Lockout/tagout is required whenever there is potential for unexpected
energization that could cause injury.
8. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) are required by the National Electrical Code:
A. When there are wet conditions
B. On all temporary power circuits
C. On portable generators over 5,000 watts
D. All of the above
