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What is the primary purpose of new employee safety orientation?

To complete required paperwork for HR files

To introduce employees to workplace hazards and safety expectations

To assign employee ID badges and parking permits

To schedule employees for their first performance review

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: STS Exam

70%

Passing Score

70/100 questions

100

Questions

Multiple choice

2 hours

Exam Duration

Computer-based

$185

Exam Fee

BCSP

Domains

STS5 2026 Blueprint

The STS (Safety Trained Supervisor) exam requires a 70% score to pass (70/100 questions). The 2-hour exam covers 6 domains: Safety Program Implementation & Management, Hazard Awareness, Hazard Controls, Basic Industrial Hygiene, Emergency Preparedness & Management, and Life Critical Activities. The exam fee is $185.

Sample STS Practice Questions

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1What is the primary purpose of new employee safety orientation?

A.To complete required paperwork for HR files

B.To introduce employees to workplace hazards and safety expectations

C.To assign employee ID badges and parking permits

D.To schedule employees for their first performance review

Explanation: New employee safety orientation introduces workers to workplace hazards, safety rules, emergency procedures, and the company's safety culture. It ensures employees understand expectations before beginning work. While HR paperwork may be part of orientation, the primary safety purpose is hazard awareness and expectation setting.

2A supervisor observes an employee performing a task incorrectly and unsafely. What should be the supervisor's FIRST action?

A.Document the incident for the employee's personnel file

B.Immediately correct the unsafe behavior and ensure the task is performed safely

C.Wait until the end of the shift to discuss the issue privately

D.Report the violation to upper management

Explanation: When unsafe behavior is observed, the supervisor's immediate priority is to stop the unsafe act and correct the behavior to prevent injury. Documentation and reporting are important follow-up steps, but the first action must address the immediate hazard. Waiting to address the issue could result in an accident.

3Which of the following is an essential element of a Job Safety Analysis (JSA)?

A.Employee salary information

B.Breaking down the job into specific steps and identifying hazards for each

C.Production quotas for the job

D.Customer satisfaction ratings

Explanation: A JSA breaks down a job into specific sequential steps, identifies hazards associated with each step, and develops controls to eliminate or reduce those hazards. Salary, production quotas, and customer satisfaction are not elements of a JSA, which focuses exclusively on safety.

4During an incident investigation, a supervisor should focus on:

A.Determining who is at fault and should be disciplined

B.Identifying root causes to prevent recurrence

C.Minimizing the company's legal liability

D.Completing the investigation as quickly as possible

Explanation: Effective incident investigation focuses on identifying root causes rather than assigning blame. The goal is to understand what happened, why it happened, and how to prevent similar incidents. A blame-focused approach discourages reporting and prevents learning from incidents.

5A supervisor notices an employee appears fatigued and is having difficulty concentrating. What is the BEST course of action?

A.Ignore it unless the employee makes a mistake

B.Assess fitness for duty and consider reassigning safety-sensitive tasks

C.Send the employee home without pay immediately

D.Document the observation for the next performance review

Explanation: Supervisors have a responsibility to assess fitness for duty. Fatigue can impair judgment and reaction time, creating safety risks. The appropriate response is to assess the situation and consider temporary reassignment of safety-sensitive tasks while addressing the underlying cause. Immediate suspension without pay is premature without understanding the cause.

6What is the purpose of conducting safety audits?

A.To identify deficiencies in the safety program and ensure compliance

B.To find employees who are not following procedures

C.To satisfy insurance requirements only

D.To reduce the frequency of safety meetings

Explanation: Safety audits systematically evaluate the effectiveness of safety programs, identify deficiencies, and ensure compliance with regulations and company policies. While audits may reveal non-compliance, their primary purpose is program improvement, not punishment. They are proactive tools for continuous improvement.

7When developing a safety program for a work crew, which approach is MOST effective?

A.Have management create all rules without employee input

B.Involve employees in identifying hazards and developing solutions

C.Copy another company's safety program exactly

D.Focus only on OSHA compliance requirements

Explanation: Employee involvement in safety program development creates ownership, improves hazard identification (workers know their jobs best), and increases compliance. Programs imposed without input often fail to address actual workplace conditions and lack employee buy-in. OSHA compliance is the minimum, not the goal.

8A near-miss incident occurs on a work site. According to safety management principles, how should the supervisor respond?

A.Ignore it since no one was injured

B.Investigate it the same as an actual injury incident

C.Document it only if management requires it

D.Wait to see if similar incidents occur before taking action

Explanation: Near-misses are opportunities to prevent future injuries. They indicate system failures that could result in injuries under slightly different circumstances. Best practice is to investigate near-misses with the same rigor as injury incidents to identify and correct root causes before injuries occur.

9What is the primary purpose of workplace safety inspections?

A.To identify and correct hazards before they cause injuries

B.To catch employees breaking safety rules

C.To satisfy insurance company requirements

D.To document that safety meetings occurred

Explanation: Safety inspections are proactive tools to identify workplace hazards before they result in injuries or illnesses. The goal is hazard identification and correction, not punitive enforcement. Regular inspections are a fundamental component of an effective safety program.

10Stop Work Authority means that:

A.Only supervisors can stop work when unsafe conditions exist

B.Any employee has the right and obligation to stop unsafe work

C.Work can only be stopped during scheduled breaks

D.Work stoppage requires approval from company headquarters

Explanation: Stop Work Authority empowers any employee to immediately stop work activities when they identify unsafe conditions or behaviors without fear of retaliation. This safety culture element recognizes that anyone can identify hazards and prevents the "it's not my job" mentality that leads to accidents.

About the STS Exam

Professional certification for supervisors overseeing workers in safety-sensitive industries. The STS exam covers 6 domains based on the STS5 2026 blueprint.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$185 (BCSP)

STS Exam Content Outline

15%

Safety Program Implementation & Management

New employee orientation, JSA elements, incident investigation, fitness for duty

20%

Hazard Awareness

Safety inspections, Stop Work Authority, hazard documentation, safety audits

20%

Hazard Controls

Hierarchy of controls, energy isolation, LOTO, hazardous materials handling

12%

Basic Industrial Hygiene

Chronic/acute health hazards, hearing conservation, environmental conditions

11%

Emergency Preparedness & Management

Emergency equipment, shutoff procedures, emergency response plans

22%

Life Critical Activities

Confined space entry, hot work permits, elevated work, excavation safety

How to Pass the STS Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70%
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 2 hours
Exam fee: $185

Keys to Passing

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

STS Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus on the three largest domains: Hazard Awareness, Hazard Controls, and Life Critical Activities (62% combined)

2Understand the hierarchy of controls and when each level is appropriate

3Master Life Critical Activities requirements - confined spaces, hot work, and fall protection

4Complete at least 200 practice questions before scheduling your exam

5Review OSHA regulations and ANSI standards referenced in the exam blueprint

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the STS exam?

The Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) exam is a professional certification from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) designed for supervisors who oversee workers in safety-sensitive industries. It validates that supervisors have the knowledge to identify hazards, implement controls, and maintain safe work environments.

What is the passing score for the STS exam?

You need a score of 70% (70 correct answers out of 100 questions) to pass the STS exam. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and you have 2 hours to complete it.

How much does the STS exam cost?

The STS exam fee is $185. This does not include any study materials or preparation courses you may choose to purchase.

What are the STS exam domains?

The STS5 2026 blueprint covers 6 domains: (1) Safety Program Implementation & Management (15%), (2) Hazard Awareness (20%), (3) Hazard Controls (20%), (4) Basic Industrial Hygiene (12%), (5) Emergency Preparedness & Management (11%), and (6) Life Critical Activities (22%).

How should I prepare for the STS exam?

To prepare for the STS exam: 1) Study all 6 domains, focusing on Hazard Awareness, Hazard Controls, and Life Critical Activities (62% combined). 2) Complete at least 200 practice questions. 3) Review BCSP study materials and ANSI/ASSP standards. 4) Aim for 80%+ on practice exams before scheduling.

Who should take the STS exam?

The STS certification is designed for supervisors in construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, and other safety-sensitive industries who oversee workers but are not primarily safety professionals. It is ideal for foremen, lead workers, and operations supervisors with safety responsibilities.