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OSHA 30-Hour Construction Outreach (knowledge check)

Focus Four: caught-in or between: practice questions

Our OSHA 30 Construction bank has 22 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.

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Question 1

Who must inspect excavations, and when?

  1. An engineer, once a week, with a written report sent to OSHA
  2. The equipment operator, at the end of the day
  3. A competent person, daily before work and as needed during the shift
  4. OSHA, before the excavation opens, and again whenever the trench is made deeper
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C. A competent person, daily before work and as needed during the shift — Daily inspections of excavations, adjacent areas and protective systems must be made by a competent person before work and as needed, including after rainstorms.

Question 2

What is the maximum allowable slope for a simple slope excavation 20 feet or less deep in Type C soil?

  1. 3/4:1
  2. 1:1, the same as Type B soil
  3. 1 1/2:1
  4. 1/2:1
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C. 1 1/2:1 — In Type C soil, all simple slope excavations 20 feet or less deep must have a maximum allowable slope of 1 1/2:1.

Question 3

What oxygen level makes an excavation atmosphere oxygen deficient?

  1. Less than 21 percent
  2. Less than 16 percent
  3. Less than 19.5 percent
  4. More than 23.5 percent
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C. Less than 19.5 percent — Where oxygen deficiency (less than 19.5 percent) or a hazardous atmosphere could exist, the atmosphere must be tested before employees enter excavations deeper than 4 feet.

Question 4

How far back from the edge of an excavation must spoil piles and equipment be kept?

  1. At least 6 inches
  2. At least 10 feet
  3. At least 2 feet
  4. At least 25 feet
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C. At least 2 feet — Materials and equipment must be kept at least 2 feet from the edge of excavations, or retaining devices must be used.

Question 5

What is the maximum allowable slope for a simple slope excavation 20 feet or less deep in Type A soil?

  1. 1:1 (horizontal to vertical), the same as Type B soil
  2. 3/4:1 (horizontal to vertical)
  3. 1 1/2:1
  4. 1/2:1 for any depth
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B. 3/4:1 (horizontal to vertical) — Appendix B allows 3/4:1 in Type A soil, 1:1 in Type B and 1 1/2:1 in Type C for simple slope excavations 20 feet or less deep.

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