OSHA 500 EXAM — 2026/2027 PRACTICE EXAM VERIFIED WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
1. What is the primary purpose of the Occupational Safety and Health Act?
A. To establish minimum wage requirements
B. To assure safe and healthful working conditions
C. To regulate employee benefits
D. To establish construction licensing requirements
Answer: B
Rationale: The OSH Act was enacted to assure, as far as possible, safe and healthful working
conditions for workers and to preserve human resources.
2. Which federal agency administers and enforces the Occupational Safety and Health Act?
A. EPA
B. OSHA
C. CDC
D. NIOSH
Answer: B
Rationale: OSHA, within the U.S. Department of Labor, administers and enforces federal
occupational safety and health requirements.
3. Which OSHA standard contains the principal federal construction regulations?
A. 29 CFR Part 1910
B. 29 CFR Part 1926
C. 29 CFR Part 1904
D. 29 CFR Part 1940
Answer: B
Rationale: 29 CFR Part 1926 contains OSHA's construction industry standards.
,4. What does 29 CFR Part 1910 primarily cover?
A. Construction standards only
B. General industry standards
C. Maritime standards only
D. Mine safety standards
Answer: B
Rationale: Part 1910 contains OSHA's general industry standards, while Part 1926 primarily
addresses construction.
5. Which group is commonly referred to as OSHA's "Construction Focus Four"?
A. Falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, electrocution
B. Noise, heat, cold, radiation
C. Fire, smoke, chemicals, ergonomics
D. Dust, mold, asbestos, lead
Answer: A
Rationale: OSHA's Construction Focus Four hazards are falls, struck-by hazards, caught-
in/between hazards, and electrocution.
6. Which Focus Four hazard is responsible for many serious construction injuries and fatalities?
A. Falls
B. Noise
C. Ergonomic strain
D. Heat exposure
Answer: A
Rationale: Falls are a major source of fatal and serious injuries in construction and are a
central OSHA construction safety priority.
7. An employee is working near an unprotected leading edge. Which hazard should receive
immediate attention?
A. Fall hazard
B. Noise hazard
, C. Chemical exposure only
D. Ergonomic hazard
Answer: A
Rationale: Unprotected edges can expose workers to potentially fatal falls and require
appropriate fall protection under applicable standards.
8. Which of the following is an example of a struck-by hazard?
A. Being hit by a falling object
B. Falling from a ladder
C. Receiving an electric shock
D. Being exposed to loud noise
Answer: A
Rationale: Struck-by hazards involve a worker being hit by an object, such as materials falling
from an elevated level or equipment moving through a work area.
9. Which situation is an example of a caught-in/between hazard?
A. A worker becomes trapped between moving equipment and a fixed object
B. A worker hears loud machinery
C. A worker falls from a roof
D. A worker touches a live electrical conductor
Answer: A
Rationale: Caught-in/between hazards involve crushing, pinching, or entrapment between
objects, equipment, or structures.
10. Which situation represents an electrocution hazard?
A. Contact with an energized electrical conductor
B. Working near a loud generator
C. Carrying a heavy box
D. Walking on a dry floor
Answer: A
CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
1. What is the primary purpose of the Occupational Safety and Health Act?
A. To establish minimum wage requirements
B. To assure safe and healthful working conditions
C. To regulate employee benefits
D. To establish construction licensing requirements
Answer: B
Rationale: The OSH Act was enacted to assure, as far as possible, safe and healthful working
conditions for workers and to preserve human resources.
2. Which federal agency administers and enforces the Occupational Safety and Health Act?
A. EPA
B. OSHA
C. CDC
D. NIOSH
Answer: B
Rationale: OSHA, within the U.S. Department of Labor, administers and enforces federal
occupational safety and health requirements.
3. Which OSHA standard contains the principal federal construction regulations?
A. 29 CFR Part 1910
B. 29 CFR Part 1926
C. 29 CFR Part 1904
D. 29 CFR Part 1940
Answer: B
Rationale: 29 CFR Part 1926 contains OSHA's construction industry standards.
,4. What does 29 CFR Part 1910 primarily cover?
A. Construction standards only
B. General industry standards
C. Maritime standards only
D. Mine safety standards
Answer: B
Rationale: Part 1910 contains OSHA's general industry standards, while Part 1926 primarily
addresses construction.
5. Which group is commonly referred to as OSHA's "Construction Focus Four"?
A. Falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, electrocution
B. Noise, heat, cold, radiation
C. Fire, smoke, chemicals, ergonomics
D. Dust, mold, asbestos, lead
Answer: A
Rationale: OSHA's Construction Focus Four hazards are falls, struck-by hazards, caught-
in/between hazards, and electrocution.
6. Which Focus Four hazard is responsible for many serious construction injuries and fatalities?
A. Falls
B. Noise
C. Ergonomic strain
D. Heat exposure
Answer: A
Rationale: Falls are a major source of fatal and serious injuries in construction and are a
central OSHA construction safety priority.
7. An employee is working near an unprotected leading edge. Which hazard should receive
immediate attention?
A. Fall hazard
B. Noise hazard
, C. Chemical exposure only
D. Ergonomic hazard
Answer: A
Rationale: Unprotected edges can expose workers to potentially fatal falls and require
appropriate fall protection under applicable standards.
8. Which of the following is an example of a struck-by hazard?
A. Being hit by a falling object
B. Falling from a ladder
C. Receiving an electric shock
D. Being exposed to loud noise
Answer: A
Rationale: Struck-by hazards involve a worker being hit by an object, such as materials falling
from an elevated level or equipment moving through a work area.
9. Which situation is an example of a caught-in/between hazard?
A. A worker becomes trapped between moving equipment and a fixed object
B. A worker hears loud machinery
C. A worker falls from a roof
D. A worker touches a live electrical conductor
Answer: A
Rationale: Caught-in/between hazards involve crushing, pinching, or entrapment between
objects, equipment, or structures.
10. Which situation represents an electrocution hazard?
A. Contact with an energized electrical conductor
B. Working near a loud generator
C. Carrying a heavy box
D. Walking on a dry floor
Answer: A
