100+ Free SAMTRAC Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: SAMTRAC Exam

100

Study Questions

MCQ Adaptation

60%

Passing Threshold

NOSA SafetyCloud

Sec 8 & 14

Core Legal Duties

OHS Act 85 of 1993

ISO 45001

Management Standard

ISO/Saiosh

HIRA

Core Safety Skill

NOSA SAMTRAC

TechSaiosh

Professional Pathway

Saiosh

Please note: Our 100 MCQs are an English-language MCQ study adaptation for SAMTRAC course assessments. SAMTRAC is South Africa's flagship occupational health and safety certificate accredited by Saiosh and offered by NOSA SafetyCloud. The exam assesses knowledge of the South African OHS Act 85 of 1993 (~25%), ISO 45001 management systems (~25%), Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) (~25%), and incident investigation, safety auditing, and emergency control (~25%).

Sample SAMTRAC Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your SAMTRAC exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under Section 8 of South Africa's Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993, what is the primary statutory duty of an employer?

A.To provide and maintain, as far as is reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of employees

B.To provide maximum financial compensation to injured workers regardless of negligence

C.To ensure all employees obtain tertiary safety qualifications within two years of employment

D.To eliminate all business operational risks completely regardless of financial feasibility

Explanation: Section 8(1) of the OHS Act 85 of 1993 mandates that every employer shall provide and maintain, as far as is reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of employees. This foundational statutory duty requires proactive hazard management, safe systems of work, and ongoing risk minimization. Financial compensation is governed separately by COIDA, while absolute risk elimination regardless of feasibility exceeds the legal standard of 'reasonably practicable'.

2Under Section 14 of the OHS Act 85 of 1993, which of the following is a mandatory duty of every employee at work?

A.To conduct formal monthly safety audits of the entire facility

B.To take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions

C.To purchase their own personal protective equipment (PPE) for specialized tasks

D.To report directly to the Department of Employment and Labour before informing site management

Explanation: Section 14(a) stipulates that every employee shall at work take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions. Employees are also legally required to co-operate with the employer, carry out lawful orders, and report unsafe conditions. Section 8 requires employers to provide PPE free of charge, while internal reporting precedes statutory department escalation.

3According to Section 17 of the OHS Act, when must an employer designate Health and Safety Representatives in writing?

A.Only after an employee suffers a fatal workplace injury

B.Only when requested in writing by a registered trade union

C.When an employer employs more than 20 employees at a workplace

D.When an employer operates in the mining sector under the Mine Health and Safety Act

Explanation: Section 17(1) of the OHS Act requires every employer who employs more than 20 employees at any workplace to designate in writing, for a specified period, health and safety representatives for such workplace or different sections thereof. This threshold triggers mandatory employee representation in safety governance. Mining operations are regulated separately under the Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996.

4What is the statutory minimum ratio for Health and Safety Representatives in a shop or office environment under Section 17 of the OHS Act?

A.At least two representatives per department regardless of headcount

B.At least one representative for every 50 employees or part thereof

C.At least one representative for every 20 employees or part thereof

D.At least one representative for every 100 employees or part thereof

Explanation: Under Section 17(2)(a), in shops and offices, the employer must appoint at least one health and safety representative for every 100 employees or part thereof. For workplaces other than shops and offices, Section 17(2)(b) requires at least one representative for every 50 employees or part thereof. This distinction accounts for the lower relative physical hazard level in commercial office settings.

5Under Section 19 of the OHS Act, an employer must establish one or more Health and Safety Committees if how many representatives are appointed?

A.Two or more Health and Safety Representatives

B.At least ten Health and Safety Representatives

C.Only when five or more distinct shifts exist

D.Whenever an inspector issues an administrative compliance directive

Explanation: Section 19(1) of the OHS Act mandates that an employer shall establish one or more health and safety committees in respect of a workplace where two or more health and safety representatives have been designated. The committee serves as the formal consultative body bringing together employee representatives and management to review safety performance and recommendations.

6How frequently must a statutory Health and Safety Committee meet according to Section 20 of the OHS Act?

A.At least once every week

B.At least once every three months

C.At least once every calendar year

D.Only when an occupational disease is diagnosed

Explanation: Section 20(2) of the OHS Act states that a health and safety committee shall hold meetings as often as may be necessary, but at least once every three months. Committees may meet more frequently if agreed upon by members or required by workplace risk profiles. Quarterly meetings ensure continuous monitoring of health and safety recommendations, incident reports, and risk assessments.

7Under Section 16(1) of the OHS Act 85 of 1993, who holds ultimate legal accountability for ensuring the employer complies with the Act?

A.The appointed Health and Safety Officer

B.The Department of Employment and Labour inspector

C.The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or managing director

D.The chairperson of the Health and Safety Committee

Explanation: Section 16(1) explicitly establishes that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) shall as far as is reasonably practicable ensure that the duties of the employer as contemplated in the Act are properly discharged. While duties can be delegated under Section 16(2) to qualified managers, ultimate legal accountability rests with executive leadership.

8When a Chief Executive Officer delegates safety management duties to subordinate managers under Section 16(2) of the OHS Act, what condition must be met?

A.The delegation relieves the CEO of all legal criminal liabilities completely

B.The delegation automatically converts the manager into an independent contractor

C.The delegation must be approved by a high court judge prior to signing

D.The delegation must be in writing, clearly defining the assigned area of control and responsibilities

Explanation: Section 16(2) allows the CEO to assign any duty contemplated in Section 16(1) to any person under his control, provided that such assignment is made in writing and specifies the duties and jurisdiction. However, Section 16(2) appointees act under the control and authority of the CEO; the delegation does not completely absolve executive leadership if adequate resources and oversight are neglected.

9Under Section 37(2) of the OHS Act, how can an employer avoid vicarious criminal liability for offenses committed by mandatory contractors?

A.By entering into a written agreement specifying that the contractor shall comply with all OHS Act provisions

B.By verbally informing the contractor to work safely before starting work

C.By requiring contractors to purchase insurance policies covering criminal fines

D.By designating contractor employees as temporary state inspectors

Explanation: Section 37(1) establishes that an employer is liable for acts or omissions of mandataries (contractors). However, Section 37(2) provides that this vicarious liability shall not apply if the parties enter into a formal written agreement outlining the arrangements and procedures to ensure compliance with the Act. This written 37(2) agreement is a critical risk control document in South African contractor management.

10Under the Environmental Regulations for Workplaces, what is the minimum required illuminance level for general office work and writing?

A.50 lux

B.300 lux

C.100 lux

D.1000 lux

Explanation: The Schedule to the Environmental Regulations for Workplaces under the OHS Act stipulates minimum illuminance levels for various tasks. General office work, reading, writing, and typing require a minimum of 300 lux to prevent eye strain and ensure worker safety. Rough tasks like storage corridors require lower lux (50-100 lux), while high-precision micro-assembly requires 1000+ lux.

About the SAMTRAC Exam

SAMTRAC (Safety Management Training Course) is one of South Africa's most recognized occupational health and safety qualifications. Accredited by Saiosh and administered by NOSA SafetyCloud, SAMTRAC equips safety officers and managers with comprehensive knowledge of the OHS Act 85 of 1993, ISO 45001 management systems, Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA), incident investigation, and safety auditing.

Assessment

100 multiple-choice questions covering 4 key OHS domains

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

60%

Exam Fee

Included in course (NOSA (SafetyCloud) / Saiosh Accredited)

SAMTRAC Exam Content Outline

25%

OHS Act 85 of 1993 Legal Framework & Duties

South African OHS legislation, duties of employers (Sec 8) and employees (Sec 14), H&S representatives (Sec 17/18), H&S committees (Sec 19/20), COIDA basics, and General Safety Regulations.

25%

ISO 45001 OHS Management Systems & Policy

ISO 45001 clauses, Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, safety policy development, leadership commitment, hazard elimination, worker consultation, and continual improvement.

25%

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA)

Baseline, continuous, and issue-based HIRA methodologies, 5x5 risk matrices, residual risk, hierarchy of controls, and safe work procedures.

25%

Incident Investigation, Auditing & Emergency Control

Section 24 statutory reporting, root cause analysis (5-Whys, Fishbone), emergency response planning, safety audit procedures (NOSA 5-Star system), and occupational hygiene monitoring.

How to Pass the SAMTRAC Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 60%
Assessment: 100 multiple-choice questions covering 4 key OHS domains
Time limit: 2 hours
Exam fee: Included in course

Keys to Passing

Work through all 100 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

SAMTRAC Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize Section 8 (Employer Duties) and Section 14 (Employee Duties) of South Africa's OHS Act 85 of 1993.

2Understand the statutory requirements for appointing Health and Safety Representatives (Section 17) and establishing H&S Committees (Section 19).

3Master the Hierarchy of Controls (Elimination, Substitution, Engineering, Administrative, PPE) and apply it to HIRA scenarios.

4Learn the 5x5 Risk Matrix calculation (Risk = Likelihood x Consequence) and distinguish baseline from issue-based risk assessments.

5Review ISO 45001 Plan-Do-Check-Act clauses and how worker participation is integrated.

6Understand Section 24 incident reporting criteria (fatalities, 14-day unconsciousness/incapacitation, chemical spills) to the Department of Employment and Labour.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SAMTRAC and who accredits it?

SAMTRAC (Safety Management Training Course) is a premier South African qualification in occupational health and safety management. It is owned and delivered by NOSA (SafetyCloud) and recognized by Saiosh (South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) for professional registration as a Technical Member (TechSaiosh).

Are these 100 practice questions official NOSA exam items?

No. Our 100 MCQs are an English-language MCQ study adaptation for SAMTRAC course assessments. They are designed to help students master the key principles, legal requirements, HIRA methodologies, and ISO standards tested in SAMTRAC.

What key topics are covered in the SAMTRAC exam?

The exam covers four main areas: (1) OHS Act 85 of 1993 legal framework and employer/employee duties, (2) ISO 45001 OHS management systems, (3) Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA), and (4) Incident investigation, safety auditing, and emergency control.

What is the passing score for SAMTRAC?

Candidates must achieve a minimum of 60% across written evaluations, multiple-choice exams, and practical risk assessment assignments to earn the SAMTRAC certificate.

How does SAMTRAC help with Saiosh registration?

Completing SAMTRAC meets the formal qualification criteria for Saiosh Technical Membership (TechSaiosh), allowing graduates to use the TechSaiosh designation and earn continuing professional development (CPD) points.