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Free CHST Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free CHST practice test to study every exam domain.

Question 1

A concrete cutting operation generates significant silica dust. Which sequence correctly applies the hierarchy of controls?

  1. Evaluate if the cut is necessary (elimination), then wet cutting methods (engineering), then respiratory protection (PPE) for residual exposure
  2. Install local exhaust ventilation (engineering), then provide N95 masks (PPE), then post warning signs (administrative)
  3. Use wet cutting methods (engineering), then rotate workers to limit exposure (administrative), then provide safety training (administrative)
  4. Implement administrative controls first (job rotation), then engineering controls (ventilation), then elimination (avoid cutting)
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Evaluate if the cut is necessary (elimination), then wet cutting methods (engineering), then respiratory protection (PPE) for residual exposure

Question 2

An excavation is 4 feet deep in gravelly soil with visible seepage. A laborer argues that no protective system is needed because the trench is less than 5 feet deep. The safety technician should:

  1. Agree - no protective system is needed under 5 feet
  2. Allow work if the laborer signs a waiver
  3. Disagree - soil conditions indicate cave-in risk requiring protection
  4. Agree if the worker stays in the trench less than 15 minutes
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Disagree - soil conditions indicate cave-in risk requiring protection

Question 3

A safety technician reviews atmospheric monitoring data for a confined space and sees: O₂ = 20.5%, LEL = 8%, CO = 12 ppm, H₂S = 5 ppm. Is the atmosphere safe for entry?

  1. No - the LEL reading is too close to the 10% action level
  2. Yes - all readings are within acceptable limits
  3. No - the CO level exceeds the PEL
  4. No - the H₂S level exceeds the PEL
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Yes - all readings are within acceptable limits

Question 4

A crane boom contacts a 13.8kV power line. Workers on the ground feel a tingling sensation. The crane operator should:

  1. Jump off the crane immediately
  2. Climb down using three-point contact
  3. Stay in the cab and attempt to move away from the line
  4. Have another worker disconnect the boom from the line
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Stay in the cab and attempt to move away from the line

Question 5

A worker is hospitalized overnight for observation after a fall on a construction site. This event is reportable to OSHA as:

  1. A non-recordable event
  2. Recordable but not reportable
  3. A near-miss only
  4. An in-patient hospitalization
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - An in-patient hospitalization

Question 6

A plumbing subcontractor removes a guardrail to install pipe and does not replace it. An electrical subcontractor's workers then walk near the unguarded edge. The plumbing sub is the _____ employer and the electrical sub is the _____ employer.

  1. Creating; exposing
  2. Correcting; creating
  3. Exposing; controlling
  4. Controlling; correcting
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Creating; exposing

Question 7

A company worked 600,000 hours last year and had 12 recordable incidents. The TRIR is:

  1. 2.0
  2. 6.0
  3. 4.0
  4. 3.0
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - 4.0

Question 8

A worker slips and falls on a wet surface. Applying the 5 Whys: Why wet? → Pipe leak. Why leak? → Corroded fitting. Why corroded? → Not replaced per maintenance schedule. Why not replaced? → No preventive maintenance program. The ROOT cause is:

  1. The corroded fitting
  2. No preventive maintenance program
  3. The wet surface
  4. Inadequate worker training
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - No preventive maintenance program

Question 9

A project superintendent visibly violates a safety rule (not wearing a hard hat in a required area). The impact on safety culture is:

  1. Severely damaging - it signals that rules don't apply equally and undermines the entire safety program
  2. Minimal - workers understand that superintendents have different risk assessments and training levels
  3. Neutral - safety culture depends on written policies rather than individual behavior examples
  4. Limited - the violation only affects safety culture if workers are directly injured as a result
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Severely damaging - it signals that rules don't apply equally and undermines the entire safety program

Question 10

A safety technician observes that workers on a high-rise project are not clipping in their lanyards to the anchorage points even though the PFAS is provided. Applying behavior analysis, the technician should investigate:

  1. Only whether the workers were trained
  2. Nothing - discipline is the only answer
  3. Only the workers' personal attitudes toward safety
  4. Why the behavior occurs and what factors may be influencing non-compliance
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Why the behavior occurs and what factors may be influencing non-compliance

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