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Key Facts: OSHA 30 Exam

30 hrs

Required Training Hours

OSHA Outreach General Industry Procedures (2024)

4+ days

Minimum Training Days

OSHA minimum requirement

Optional

Testing

OSHA Outreach FAQ (testing not required)

Varies

Course Fee

Set by the authorized trainer

No expiry

OSHA Card Expiration

OSHA Outreach FAQ

200+

Practice Questions Here

OpenExamPrep question bank

The OSHA 30-Hour General Industry course is a voluntary Outreach training class, not a certification exam: students earn a course completion card by attending at least 30 contact hours with an OSHA-authorized trainer, at most 7.5 hours a day, so over at least four days. Twelve required hours cover Introduction to OSHA, Managing Safety and Health, walking-working surfaces, exit routes and fire protection, electrical, PPE, materials handling and hazard communication; 10 elective hours cover at least five listed topics; 8 hours are optional. OSHA cards do not expire.

Sample OSHA 30 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the OSHA 30 exam. 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 in 2026?
A.$16,550 per violation
B.$70,000 per violation
C.$165,514 per violation
D.$1,000,000 per violation
Explanation: OSHA adjusts civil penalties for inflation. For 2026, the maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations is $165,514 per violation. Serious and other-than-serious violations each carry a maximum of $16,550 per violation, and failure-to-abate is up to $16,550 per day. Knowing penalty tiers helps safety professionals prioritize abatement of the most serious hazards.
5Which type of OSHA violation describes a workplace condition that has a substantial probability of causing death or serious physical harm, where the employer knew or should have known of the hazard?
A.Willful violation
B.Repeat violation
C.Serious violation
D.Other-than-serious violation
Explanation: A "serious" violation exists when there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazardous condition AND the employer knew, or with reasonable diligence should have known, about the hazard. A "willful" violation involves intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements; a "repeat" violation is a substantially similar violation found at a prior inspection; an "other-than-serious" violation relates to job safety/health but would not by itself cause death or serious harm.
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.

Exam sponsor: OSHA / OSHA-Authorized Trainers (OTI Education Centers). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

30 hours (multiple sessions)

Passing Score

Course completion (no pass/fail score)

Exam / Certification Fees

Set by each authorized trainer or online provider; OSHA does not set course fees

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Not published. OSHA publishes no completion rate; testing is optional in Outreach classes Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

1 hour (required)

Introduction to OSHA

Workers' rights, employer responsibilities, how to file a complaint, and safety and health resources; OSHA prescribes the content of this module.

2 hours (required)

Managing Safety and Health

Injury and illness prevention programs, job-site inspections, accident investigations, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, safety meetings, and supervisory communication.

1 hour (required)

Walking and Working Surfaces, including fall protection

Walking-working surface and fall hazards, ladders, and fall protection.

2 hours (required)

Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, Fire Prevention Plans, and Fire Protection

Exit routes, emergency action and fire prevention plans, and fire protection.

2 hours (required)

Electrical

Electrical hazard recognition and control.

1 hour (required)

Personal Protective Equipment

Hazard assessment and selection, fit, and use of PPE.

2 hours (required)

Materials Handling

Safe handling, storage, and rigging of materials, including slings.

1 hour (required)

Hazard Communication

Labels, safety data sheets, and employee training under the Hazard Communication Standard.

10 hours (at least five topics)

Elective topics

Chosen from Hazardous Materials; Permit-Required Confined Spaces; Lockout/Tagout; Machine Guarding; Welding, Cutting, and Brazing; Introduction to Industrial Hygiene; Bloodborne Pathogens; Ergonomics; Fall Protection; Safety and Health Programs; and Powered Industrial Vehicles (at least 30 minutes each).

8 hours

Optional topics

Other general industry hazards or policies, or more time on required or elective topics (at least 30 minutes each).

Preparing for the OSHA 30 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Course completion (no pass/fail score)
  • Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
  • Time limit: 30 hours (multiple sessions)
  • Exam / certification fees: Set by each authorized trainer or online provider; OSHA does not set course fees Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 200 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

OSHA 30: Suggested Study Strategy

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 stay outside until relieved by another attendant
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: report a work-related fatality within 8 hours, and any in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye within 24 hours (29 CFR 1904.39). Call the nearest OSHA office or 1-800-321-OSHA, or report online.

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 at least 30 contact hours. Training is limited to 7.5 contact hours per calendar day, so a 30-hour class takes at least four days. It has 12 required hours, 10 elective hours (at least five topics from OSHA's list) and 8 optional hours chosen by the trainer.

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

Required topics (12 hours): Introduction to OSHA, Managing Safety and Health, Walking and Working Surfaces including fall protection, Exit Routes/Emergency Action Plans/Fire Prevention Plans/Fire Protection, Electrical, Personal Protective Equipment, Materials Handling, and Hazard Communication. Electives (10 hours, at least five topics): Hazardous Materials, Permit-Required Confined Spaces, Lockout/Tagout, Machine Guarding, Welding/Cutting/Brazing, Introduction to Industrial Hygiene, Bloodborne Pathogens, Ergonomics, Fall Protection, Safety and Health Programs, and Powered Industrial Vehicles.

How much does the OSHA 30-Hour card cost?

OSHA does not set course prices. Authorized Outreach trainers are independent providers whose schedules and fees vary, and Authorized Training Organizations may also charge a fee for the student course completion card. OSHA suggests contacting several trainers to compare.

How long is the OSHA 30-Hour card valid?

OSHA General Industry course completion cards do not have an expiration date. Some states, municipalities, employers, unions and other organizations set their own training requirements and may ask for refresher training, so check what your employer or jurisdiction accepts. A replacement card can be issued only for a class taken within the last five years.