Complete OSHA 30 Study Guide

Who OSHA 30 Is For

The 30-Hour Construction Outreach course is designed for supervisors, foremen, and workers with safety responsibilities — a deeper program than the entry-level OSHA 10.

Multi-Employer Worksite Roles:

• Creating employer: causes the hazard
• Exposing employer: workers are exposed
• Correcting employer: responsible for fixing it
• Controlling employer: general supervisory authority

Key Definitions & Reporting:

• Competent person: can identify hazards and has authority to fix them
• Qualified person: recognized credential or extensive training/experience
• Fatalities reported within 8 hours
• Hospitalizations, amputations, eye loss within 24 hours

Building a Safety Program

Core Program Elements:

• Management leadership and worker participation
• Hazard identification and assessment
• Hazard prevention and control
• Education, training, and program evaluation

Documentation:

• Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) per task
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS) accessible for every hazardous chemical
• Toolbox talks for job-specific hazards
• OSHA 300 logs retained for 5 years

Focus Four: Falls

When Required:

• 6 feet or more for unprotected sides/edges
• 10 feet or more on scaffolds
• Any height over dangerous equipment

Guardrail Specs:

• Top rail height: 42 in ± 3 in
• Must withstand 200 lbs of force

Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS):

• Anchor point: 5,000 lbs per employee minimum
• Free fall limited to 6 feet
• Max arresting force: 1,800 lbs
• Safety nets: no more than 30 feet below the work surface

Focus Four: Electrocution

Key Protections:

• GFCI protection or an assured equipment grounding program
• 10-foot minimum clearance from lines up to 50kV
• Lockout/tagout before servicing equipment
• 3-wire, hard-usage rated extension cords

Cord & Tool Care:

• Never fasten cords with staples or nails
• Inspect cords and tools before each use
• Double-insulated or properly grounded tools only

Focus Four: Struck-By

Four Types:

• Falling objects
• Flying objects
• Swinging objects
• Rolling or moving vehicles

Key Controls:

• High-visibility apparel near traffic
• Backup alarms or a spotter for obstructed-view vehicles
• Toeboards, screens, or debris nets for falling objects
• An internal traffic control plan

Focus Four: Caught-In/Between

Excavation Rules:

• Protective system required at 5 feet deep
• PE-designed system required beyond 20 feet
• Spoil piles set back at least 2 feet from the edge
• Egress within 25 feet of lateral travel at 4+ feet deep

Soil & Machine Guarding:

• Type A soil is the most stable, Type C the least
• Machine guarding required at points of operation and nip points

Required PPE by Hazard

Head Protection (ANSI Z89.1):

• Class G: general use, up to 2,200 volts
• Class E: electrical, up to 20,000 volts
• Class C: no electrical protection

Eye & Face Protection (ANSI Z87.1):

• Safety glasses with side shields
• Goggles for splash hazards, face shields for severe hazards

Employer Responsibility:

• PPE provided at no cost to the employee, with limited exceptions
• A hazard assessment determines what PPE is needed

Silica, Noise & Respiratory Hazards

Exposure Limits:

• Silica PEL: 50 µg/m³ (8-hr TWA), action level 25 µg/m³
• Noise PEL: 90 dBA (8-hr TWA), hearing conservation action level 85 dBA

Respirator Use:

• Medical evaluation required before use
• Fit testing required, repeated at least annually
• Special precautions for asbestos-containing material

Safe Access Between Levels

When Required:

• Stairway or ladder required at a 19-inch or greater break in elevation
• Stairways at least 22 inches wide

Ladder Safety:

• 3 points of contact at all times
• 4:1 base-to-height setup ratio
• Extend 3 feet above the landing
• Tag and remove defective ladders immediately

Scaffold Requirements

Basic Requirements:

• Fall protection required at 10 feet or more
• Support own weight plus 4x the max intended load
• Max 1-inch gap between planks

Inspection & Access:

• Competent person inspects before every shift
• Erected only under a competent person's supervision
• Proper access required above 2 feet — never climb cross braces

Permit-Required Entry

Atmospheric Testing Order:

• 1. Oxygen (safe range: 19.5%–23.5%)
• 2. Combustible gases
• 3. Toxic gases

Entry Roles:

• Attendant: stays outside, monitors and communicates
• Entry supervisor: authorizes and oversees the entry
• Entry permit must confirm conditions are acceptable before signing