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U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — Outreach Training Program

OSHA Outreach Training Program — 30-Hour Construction Industry Course (29 CFR 1926)

Review for the supervisor-level construction safety course — the Focus Four, fall protection, trenches, scaffolds, ladders, health hazards and how OSHA itself works.

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Running cranes? NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator → · Rigging and signaling? NCCCO Rigger and Signalperson → · Driving to the site? CDL General Knowledge →

What you earnA DOL Outreach course completion card for 30-Hour Construction — a training record, not a license or certification
Course hours30 hours: 14 mandatory · at least 12 elective (from at least 6 topics) · 4 optional
Mandatory topicsIntroduction to OSHA · Managing Safety and Health · Focus Four (falls, electrocution, struck-by, caught-in/between) · PPE · Health Hazards · Stairways and Ladders
Final examNot required by OSHA. Online providers typically give module quizzes and a final, often 70% to pass in 3 attempts — length and rules vary by provider
Pace limitNo more than 7.5 student contact hours per day; many online providers also set a completion window, such as 6 months
Who takes itForemen, supervisors and workers with safety responsibilities; required by some states, cities and employers (e.g., Nevada supervisors)
Card validityOSHA cards do not expire; one replacement per class, only within 5 years of the class. Some states and employers set their own renewal rules

About the exam

OSHA's Outreach Training Program offers 10-hour and 30-hour classes taught by OSHA-authorized trainers or delivered online by OSHA-authorized online providers. The 30-hour construction course is aimed at supervisors and workers with safety responsibilities. It covers 14 hours of mandatory topics — Introduction to OSHA, Managing Safety and Health, the Focus Four hazards (falls, electrocution, struck-by and caught-in or -between), personal protective and lifesaving equipment, health hazards in construction, and stairways and ladders — plus at least 12 hours of electives drawn from at least six topics such as scaffolds, excavations, cranes and rigging, and 4 optional hours.

The course is voluntary under federal law, and finishing it earns a Department of Labor (DOL) course completion card rather than a license or certification. OSHA does not require a final test; it lets trainers decide whether to give one. In practice, authorized online providers give module quizzes and a final exam — commonly 70% to pass with up to three attempts — but question counts, time limits and retake rules vary by provider, so check yours. Class rules that are fixed by OSHA include a limit of 7.5 contact hours per day and card issue within 90 days of the class.

QuizMe is not an OSHA-authorized trainer or online provider. We do not deliver the Outreach course, award course hours, or issue DOL cards. This bank is review and practice: original job-site scenarios written to the course's topic areas and to the federal construction standards in 29 CFR 1926, so you can prepare for the course's quizzes and final exam and carry the numbers onto the job site. Items are not recalled course or exam content.

How we track your progress

Every blueprint domain moves through five levels as you study:

  1. Not startedNo questions answered in this domain yet.
  2. Getting startedFirst questions answered — not enough yet to judge.
  3. DevelopingAt least 5 answered and 50% or better on your recent questions.
  4. ProficientAt least 15 answered and 70% or better on your recent questions.
  5. Exam readyAt least 25 answered, 80% or better recently, and holding up on hard questions.

The exam blueprint

OSHA Outreach Training Program Requirements (2024) and the Construction Industry 30-hour topic requirements (14 mandatory hours, 12 elective hours, 4 optional hours); standards checked against 29 CFR 1926 as published on osha.gov, October 2026 — 100-item practice final across 9 areas modeled on the OSHA 30-Hour Construction topic requirements (14 mandatory, 12 elective, 4 optional hours) and 29 CFR 1926; weights are QuizMe estimates. Tap a domain to see its topics.

1 OSHA, worker rights and managing safety about 14% (est.) of the exam
The OSH Act, the General Duty Clause and 29 CFR 1926Employer responsibilities and worker rightsFiling a safety complaint and 11(c) whistleblower protection (30 days)Inspection priorities and the inspection processCitation types: willful, serious, other-than-serious, repeated, failure to abateRecordkeeping: OSHA 300, 300A and 301; severe-injury reportingSafety and health programs, job hazard analysis and site inspectionsCompetent, qualified and authorized persons

34 practice questions in this domain so far

2 Fall protection (Focus Four) about 15% (est.) of the exam
The 6-foot trigger height in construction (1926.501)Guardrail systems: 42 in ± 3 top rail, 200 lb top rail, 150 lb midrailPersonal fall arrest: harness, anchorage, connectors, 6 ft free fallSafety nets, covers and holesWarning lines, controlled access zones and safety monitoringLeading edges, roofing and residential constructionFall protection training and rescue planning (1926.503)

35 practice questions in this domain so far

3 Electrocution hazards (Focus Four) about 10% (est.) of the exam
How electrical shock injures and killsOverhead power lines and minimum clearance distancesGFCIs and the assured equipment grounding conductor program (1926.404)Extension cords, damaged tools and groundingDeenergizing, lockout/tagout and underground linesNonconductive ladders and working near energized parts

24 practice questions in this domain so far

4 Struck-by and caught-in/between hazards (Focus Four) about 10% (est.) of the exam
Vehicles, backing equipment and work-zone trafficFalling and flying objects; overhead protectionSecuring materials and tools at heightTrench cave-ins as a caught-in hazardRotating parts, machine guarding and equipment rolloversCrushing between equipment and fixed objects; swing radius

24 practice questions in this domain so far

5 Personal protective and lifesaving equipment about 8% (est.) of the exam
Hazard assessment and the hierarchy of controlsEmployer payment for PPE and its exceptions (1926.95)Head protection (1926.100)Eye, face and hearing protectionRespiratory protection basicsHigh-visibility clothing, hand and foot protectionLifesaving equipment over or near water

19 practice questions in this domain so far

6 Health hazards in construction about 10% (est.) of the exam
Hazard Communication: GHS labels, pictograms and the 16-section SDSRespirable crystalline silica and the Table 1 approach (1926.1153)Noise: 90 dBA PEL in construction and hearing conservationLead and asbestos awarenessHeat and cold stressWelding fumes, solvents and other chemical exposuresErgonomics and musculoskeletal hazards

24 practice questions in this domain so far

7 Stairways and ladders about 7% (est.) of the exam
When a stairway or ladder is required (19-inch break in elevation)Ladder setup: 4:1 angle and 3 ft extension above the landingLadder inspection, defects and tagging outStepladder rules and three points of contactStair rails and handrails: 4 or more risers or more than 30 in riseLadder selection for duty rating and electrical work

17 practice questions in this domain so far

8 Scaffolds and excavations about 14% (est.) of the exam
Scaffold capacity, footing and 4:1 height-to-base restraintScaffold platforms, access over 2 ft and planking rulesScaffold fall protection over 10 ft and competent person inspectionsExcavation protective systems: 5 ft trigger, 20 ft engineer designSoil classification (Type A, B, C) and sloping, shoring and shieldingEgress at 4 ft within 25 ft, spoil 2 ft back, atmospheric testingDaily competent person inspections, water and utilities

34 practice questions in this domain so far

9 Cranes, rigging, tools and other elective topics about 12% (est.) of the exam
Cranes and derricks: power line clearances, operator certification, inspectionsRigging, slings and signal personsHand and power tools, guards and powder-actuated toolsFire protection and prevention; hot workMotor vehicles, mechanized equipment and powered industrial trucksConfined spaces in constructionConcrete, masonry and steel erection basicsMaterials handling, storage and housekeeping

29 practice questions in this domain so far

What you get when you access this exam

Free with your QuizMe account.

Job-site scenarios aligned to the 30-hour course

Every question is tagged to one of the 9 areas and its topics — OSHA and worker rights, the Focus Four, PPE, health hazards, stairways and ladders, scaffolds and excavations, and the electives.

Exam-critical hints

Reveal the concept that unlocks the question — the trigger height, the clearance distance, the standard in 29 CFR 1926 that applies. Every answer comes with the full rationale and the citation.

Adaptive testing

Questions steer toward your weakest areas, weighted by our estimate of how much each topic counts in the course, and get harder as you get stronger.

Timed practice finals

Full-length practice finals — 100 questions in 2 hours — with a live pacing indicator and a full review. Real course finals are shorter and vary by provider.

Flashcards, case simulations and guides

100 flashcards for trigger heights, clearances, definitions and acronyms, 6 case simulations where a job site's falls, trench, scaffold and power-line problems unfold step by step, and 4 interactive illustrated guides you explore hotspot by hotspot.

Progress for every course area

Each area moves from Not started to Getting started, Developing, Proficient and Exam ready — so you know exactly what to review next.

Test at home or at a center

You earn the 30-hour card by completing the course with an OSHA-authorized trainer or an OSHA-authorized online provider — QuizMe practice does not count toward course hours. OSHA does not host online Outreach classes itself, and its trainers may not teach asynchronous remote classes, so self-paced online courses come only from OSHA-authorized online providers.

Online with an authorized provider

  • Choose a provider on OSHA's list of authorized online Outreach providers — not just any site selling an 'OSHA card'.
  • Expect at most 7.5 hours of course time per day, with module quizzes along the way.
  • Providers commonly require 70% on the final exam with up to 3 attempts and a completion window such as 6 months; confirm your provider's rules before you start.
  • Your DOL card comes from the provider, usually after a printable temporary certificate.

In a class with an authorized trainer

  • Classes are taught in person or by live video conference by an OSHA-authorized Outreach trainer.
  • Training is limited to 7.5 contact hours per day, so a 30-hour class runs at least 4 days.
  • OSHA does not require a test; your trainer may give one.
  • The trainer must issue your card within 90 days after the class ends.

Exam-day game plan

How to walk in ready — and how to pace 100 questions in 2 hours.

Pacing checkpoints

Hit these and you finish with time to revisit your flagged questions. Our timed practice exams run at this same pace.

25questions0:30
50questions1:00
75questions1:30
100questions2:00

The week before

  • Take one full-length practice final 3–5 days out, then review every miss.
  • Spend your last sessions on falls, scaffolds and excavations — they carry the most numbers — plus anything still below Proficient.
  • Write the trigger numbers from memory on a blank page: 6 ft, 10 ft, 4 ft, 5 ft, 20 ft, 25 ft, 2 ft, 3 ft, 4:1, 42 in, 200 lb, 19 in, 90 dBA.
  • Say out loud who the competent person is on a trench and on a scaffold, and what that person must be able to do.

Before your final

  • Check your provider's rules: number of questions, time limit, attempts and whether the final unlocks only after every module.
  • Plan around the 7.5-hour daily limit so you aren't rushing the last module on deadline day.
  • Take the final in a quiet place with a steady connection.

During the exam

  • Read for the industry: construction (1926) and general industry (1910) numbers are not always the same — 6 ft versus 4 ft for falls, for example.
  • Watch for the trigger word — 'more than', 'at least', 'or greater' — before you pick a number.
  • When two answers look safe, choose the one that removes the hazard rather than relying on PPE.
  • Answer every question; there's no penalty for guessing on most provider exams.

Keep your head

  • A few nerves sharpen focus. If you freeze, take three slow breaths and reread the stem.
  • Most providers allow retakes; one bad attempt isn't the end.
  • Change an answer only when you find a real reason in the stem.

Keeping your OSHA 30 card current

  • OSHA's construction course completion cards do not expire.
  • OSHA allows one replacement card per student per class, and only if the class was within the last 5 years — after that you must retake the course. Ask the trainer or online provider who taught you.
  • Some jurisdictions set their own rules. Nevada requires supervisors to hold an OSHA 30 card within 15 days of hire and treats cards as expiring 5 years after issue; New York City counts OSHA 30 toward its Site Safety Training (SST) cards, which must be renewed.
  • Employers and project owners may require refresher training on their own schedules; check your contract and site safety plan.

Official sources and further reading

Ready to start?

240 questions and scenarios across the blueprint — and growing.

Enroll free

OSHA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor. QuizMe and thinQtank Learning are not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA or the Department of Labor, are not OSHA-authorized Outreach trainers or online providers, and do not deliver the 10- or 30-hour course, award course hours or issue DOL course completion cards. Our practice items are original scenarios written to the federal construction standards in 29 CFR 1926; they are not recalled course, quiz or exam content. Practice here does not satisfy any OSHA, state, city or employer training requirement. State-plan states may have different rules, and course formats, provider exam rules and local requirements change — always confirm with OSHA, your authorized provider and your employer.