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The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 was signed into law to assure safe and healthful working conditions. Under the OSH Act, who bears the primary responsibility for providing a safe workplace?

The employer

OSHA compliance officers

The employees through their union representatives

The state government where the business operates

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: OSHA 30 Exam

30 hrs

Required Training Hours

OSHA 29 CFR 1926 / 1910

4+ days

Minimum Training Days

OSHA minimum requirement

~95%

Completion Rate

Students completing all modules

$175–$350

Typical Course Fee

OSHA-authorized trainer pricing

5 years

Recommended Renewal

Industry standard

200+

Practice Questions Here

OpenExamPrep question bank

The OSHA 30-Hour General Industry course is a 30-hour training program (not a single-sitting exam) covering major workplace safety standards under 29 CFR 1910. The course includes required topics — OSH Act/worker rights, walking/working surfaces, emergency egress, HazCom/GHS, PPE, recordkeeping — plus elective topics from electrical safety, confined spaces, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, materials handling, bloodborne pathogens, respiratory protection, powered industrial trucks, ergonomics, and process safety management. Completion earns the OSHA 30-Hour General Industry card, typically valid for 5 years.

Sample OSHA 30 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your OSHA 30 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 was signed into law to assure safe and healthful working conditions. Under the OSH Act, who bears the primary responsibility for providing a safe workplace?

A.The employer

B.OSHA compliance officers

C.The employees through their union representatives

D.The state government where the business operates

Explanation: The OSH Act places primary responsibility on employers to furnish a workplace free from recognized hazards (the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1)). While OSHA sets and enforces standards and employees have responsibilities too, employers bear the overarching legal duty to provide a safe and healthful work environment.

2Under the OSH Act, employees have the right to request an OSHA inspection if they believe a serious hazard exists. Which of the following best describes an employee's protection when exercising this right?

A.Employees may request an inspection but risk disciplinary action if the hazard is not confirmed

B.Employees are protected from retaliation or discrimination for exercising their safety rights under Section 11(c)

C.Only union stewards may request OSHA inspections on behalf of employees

D.Employees must notify OSHA in writing at least 30 days before requesting an inspection

Explanation: Section 11(c) of the OSH Act prohibits employers from retaliating or discriminating against employees who exercise any right under the Act, including requesting an OSHA inspection. This protection is unconditional — it does not depend on whether the hazard is ultimately confirmed.

3An OSHA compliance officer arrives at a manufacturing facility to conduct a programmed inspection. The plant manager is unavailable. Which statement regarding the inspection is correct?

A.OSHA must reschedule the inspection for a date when management is present

B.The compliance officer may proceed with the inspection if another management representative is available, or with no employer representative in an emergency

C.The compliance officer must obtain a search warrant before entering the facility without the plant manager

D.Only employees may accompany the compliance officer when management is absent

Explanation: OSHA compliance officers may conduct inspections without delay. While they typically conduct an opening conference with an employer representative, the absence of one specific manager does not halt the inspection. In some circumstances, warrants may be required, but the threshold question here is whether another representative can be identified. The key point is that routine inspections are not conditional on one specific manager's presence.

4What is the maximum penalty OSHA can assess for a willful or repeated violation as of 2026?

A.$7,000 per violation

B.$15,625 per violation

C.$156,259 per violation

D.$1,000,000 per violation

Explanation: OSHA adjusts civil penalties annually for inflation. For fiscal year 2026, the maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations is $156,259 per violation. Serious violations carry a maximum of $15,625 per violation. Knowing penalty tiers helps safety professionals prioritize abatement of the most serious hazards.

5Which type of OSHA violation describes a condition that causes a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm, but the employer did not know about it and could not have known with reasonable diligence?

A.Willful violation

B.Repeat violation

C.Serious violation

D.Other-than-serious violation

Explanation: A "serious" violation exists when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a condition, AND the employer knew or should have known about it. However, if the employer truly could not have known with reasonable diligence, it may not meet the "serious" threshold. The question tests the definition of serious violation — a condition with substantial probability of death or serious harm. Willful means knowing or intentional disregard; repeat means a prior similar violation was found.

6After receiving an OSHA citation, an employer disagrees with the findings. What is the deadline to contest the citation?

A.7 business days from receipt

B.15 working days from receipt

C.30 calendar days from receipt

D.60 calendar days from receipt

Explanation: Under the OSH Act, an employer has 15 working days from receipt of the citation to file a Notice of Contest. If the employer does not contest within this window, the citation and any proposed penalties become a final order of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) and cannot be appealed.

7An employee refuses to perform a task because they genuinely believe it poses an imminent danger of death or serious injury. The employer claims there is no real danger. Under the OSH Act, the employee's refusal is most likely protected if:

A.The employee has filed a formal OSHA complaint within the previous 30 days

B.A reasonable person would agree the situation poses a real danger and there was no time to eliminate the hazard through normal channels

C.The employee belongs to a union and the refusal is authorized by the union steward

D.The employer has received at least one prior OSHA citation for the same condition

Explanation: Under Section 11(c) protections and OSHA's regulations (29 CFR 1977.12), an employee's work refusal is protected when: (1) the employee sincerely believes imminent danger exists; (2) a reasonable person would agree; (3) the hazard is so urgent there was no time to use normal complaint procedures; and (4) the employee sought correction first, if time permitted. Union membership and prior citations are not prerequisites.

8The OSHA 300 Log must be posted in the workplace each year. During what period must it be posted?

A.January 1 through March 31

B.February 1 through April 30

C.January 1 through December 31

D.Only when an OSHA inspection is expected

Explanation: OSHA requires that the summary of work-related injuries and illnesses (Form 300A) be posted from February 1 through April 30 of the year following the year covered by the records. The Form 300 Log itself must be retained but is not posted — it is the 300A Summary that is displayed.

9Which of the following industries is generally exempt from OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping requirements under 29 CFR 1904?

A.Construction companies with 11 or more employees

B.Manufacturing companies with more than 50 employees

C.Retail businesses with 10 or fewer employees

D.Healthcare facilities with any number of employees

Explanation: Employers in low-hazard industries with 10 or fewer employees are partially exempt from routine OSHA recordkeeping requirements. Many retail establishments with ≤10 employees qualify. Construction and manufacturing are NOT exempt regardless of size. Healthcare is classified as a high-hazard industry and is not exempt.

10A serious injury occurs at a manufacturing facility on Monday at 8 a.m. The employee is hospitalized. When must the employer notify OSHA?

A.Within 8 hours of learning of the hospitalization

B.Within 24 hours of the incident

C.Within 3 business days of the incident

D.Only if the employee is hospitalized for more than 72 hours

Explanation: Under 29 CFR 1904.39, employers must report any in-patient hospitalization of one or more employees to OSHA within 8 hours of learning about it. Work-related amputations and losses of an eye must be reported within 24 hours. Fatalities must also be reported within 8 hours.

About the OSHA 30 Exam

The OSHA 30-Hour General Industry training covers workplace safety and health regulations under 29 CFR 1910. Topics include the OSH Act, hazard communication/GHS, PPE, lockout/tagout, electrical safety, confined spaces, fire protection, machine guarding, materials handling, bloodborne pathogens, respiratory protection, and more. Completion earns the OSHA 30-Hour card recognized by employers nationwide.

Questions

200 scored questions

Time Limit

30 hours (multiple sessions)

Passing Score

Course completion (no pass/fail score)

Exam Fee

$175–$350 (varies by authorized trainer) (OSHA / OSHA-Authorized Trainers (OTI Education Centers))

OSHA 30 Exam Content Outline

15%

OSH Act, Recordkeeping & Worker Rights

General Duty Clause, OSHA penalties, worker rights (inspect, refuse unsafe work, report injuries), injury/illness recordkeeping under 29 CFR 1904, multi-employer worksites

15%

Hazard Communication & GHS

HazCom 2012 (29 CFR 1910.1200), GHS pictograms and signal words, 16-section SDS, container labeling requirements, hierarchy of controls

15%

PPE, Walking-Working Surfaces & Fire Protection

PPE selection and hazard assessment, fall protection, ladders, scaffolds, housekeeping, fire extinguisher types (PASS), emergency action plans, evacuation procedures

20%

Lockout/Tagout, Electrical Safety & Machine Guarding

29 CFR 1910.147 LOTO procedures, authorized vs. affected employees, stored energy control, electrical hazard recognition, grounding, GFCIs, point-of-operation guarding, guard types

15%

Confined Spaces & Materials Handling

Permit-required confined space entry (29 CFR 1910.146), atmosphere testing sequence, attendant/entrant/entry supervisor roles, sling inspection, rigging, safe stacking

20%

Respiratory Protection, Bloodborne Pathogens, Ergonomics & PSM

Written respiratory protection program, fit testing, APF, supplied-air vs. air-purifying respirators; BBP exposure control plan, universal precautions, HBV vaccine; ergonomic risk factors; PSM 14 elements, PHA, MOC

How to Pass the OSHA 30 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Course completion (no pass/fail score)
Exam length: 200 questions
Time limit: 30 hours (multiple sessions)
Exam fee: $175–$350 (varies by authorized trainer)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

OSHA 30 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the hierarchy of controls in order: Elimination → Substitution → Engineering Controls → Administrative Controls → PPE. OSHA tests this hierarchy across multiple topic areas (HazCom, ergonomics, LOTO, respiratory protection)

2For lockout/tagout (1910.147): know the difference between authorized employees (perform LOTO), affected employees (operate equipment), and other employees (work in the area). Attendants in confined spaces NEVER enter the space

3Memorize the atmosphere testing order for confined spaces: (1) oxygen content, (2) flammable/combustible gases, (3) toxic contaminants. The acceptable O2 range is 19.5–23.5%

4HazCom/GHS pictograms: know what each symbol means — especially the exclamation mark (irritant), skull/crossbones (acute toxicity), and flame (flammable). Signal words: 'Danger' for more severe hazards, 'Warning' for less severe

5For electrical safety: Class C fires (energized electrical) require a CO2 or dry chemical extinguisher — NEVER water. Know GFCI requirements for construction and wet locations

6OSHA reporting timelines: fatality or in-patient hospitalization of 3+ workers = report within 8 hours. Amputation or loss of an eye = report within 24 hours. Both go to the nearest OSHA area office or 1-800-321-OSHA

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the OSHA 30-Hour General Industry course?

The OSHA 30-Hour General Industry course is a voluntary training program administered by OSHA-authorized trainers (OTI Education Centers). It provides workers and supervisors with comprehensive training on workplace safety and health hazards covered under 29 CFR 1910 General Industry standards. Completion earns an OSHA 30-Hour wallet card recognized by employers nationwide.

Is there a written test for the OSHA 30-Hour card?

There is no single national written exam for the OSHA 30-Hour card. Individual training providers may administer quizzes or knowledge checks as part of their curriculum, but the card is earned by completing all required contact hours with an OSHA-authorized trainer — not by passing a standardized test.

How long does the OSHA 30-Hour General Industry training take?

The course requires a minimum of 30 contact hours. OSHA requires it be completed over at least 4 days, with no more than 7.5 hours of training per day. The course includes required topics (OSH Act, HazCom, PPE, recordkeeping, walking/working surfaces, egress) plus elective topics chosen by the trainer from an approved list.

What topics are covered in OSHA 30-Hour General Industry?

Required topics include: Introduction to OSHA, walking/working surfaces, exit routes/emergency action plans, electrical (introduction), PPE, and hazard communication. Elective topics (trainer selects) typically include lockout/tagout, confined spaces, machine guarding, materials handling, fire protection, bloodborne pathogens, respiratory protection, powered industrial trucks, ergonomics, and process safety management.

How much does the OSHA 30-Hour card cost?

Course fees vary by provider and format. In-person courses typically cost $175–$350. Online OSHA 30-Hour courses (through OSHA-authorized online providers) often cost $149–$189. Employers frequently pay for the course as it demonstrates commitment to safety compliance.

How long is the OSHA 30-Hour card valid?

The OSHA 30-Hour card itself does not have an official expiration date printed on it. However, many employers and contractors require renewal every 5 years to ensure workers stay current with updated standards. Some states (like New York construction) mandate OSHA 30 for certain roles without specifying renewal periods — always check your state or employer requirements.