Job Site Safety: OSHA 1910/1926 and First Aid
29 CFR 1926 (Subparts E, F, K, L, M, P, X, Z, AA) · 29 CFR 1910 (1910.23, 1910.28, 1910.95, 1910.134, 1910.137, 1910.146, 1910.147, 1910.333, 1910.1200) · 29 CFR 1904 (recordkeeping and reporting) · American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED · Outline tasks 1.1.3
What NICET expects at Level I
Task 1.1.3 (Comply with job site safety requirements) belongs to the Installation domain (44–54% of the exam). Its references — OSHA 29 CFR 1910, OSHA 29 CFR 1926, and the American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Participant's Manual — are study-only: they are not allowed in the test center. You will have only the printed NFPA 72, NFPA 70, and Ugly's, so this page is a memorization sheet. The questions are practical: ladders over drop ceilings, drilling concrete overhead, working near energized panelboards, elevator machine rooms, and hot attics.
1926 or 1910? Part 1926 (construction) applies to new installation, renovation, and alterations. Part 1910 (general industry) applies to maintenance, inspection, and testing in existing buildings. If the question says construction site, think 1926; if it says annual testing in an occupied building, think 1910.
Portable ladders (1926 Subpart X; 1910.23)
| Rule | Number | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Side rails above the upper landing surface | ≥ 3 ft (0.9 m) | 1926.1053(b)(1); 1910.23(c)(11) |
| Angle (non-self-supporting ladder) | 1:4 — base out ¼ of the working length (≈ 75°) | 1926.1053(b)(5)(i) |
| Strength | 4 × the maximum intended load (extra-heavy-duty Type IA metal/plastic: 3.3 ×) | 1926.1053(a)(1) |
| Rung spacing | 10–14 in. | 1926.1053(a)(3)(i) |
| Break in elevation that requires a stairway or ladder | ≥ 19 in. | 1926.1051(a) |
| ANSI duty rating (person + tools + material) | IAA 375 · IA 300 · I 250 · II 225 · III 200 lb | ANSI A14 / ladder label |
- Never stand on the top cap or the top step of a stepladder, and never climb the rear cross-bracing (1926.1053(b)(13)–(14)).
- Nonconductive (fiberglass) side rails where the worker or the ladder could contact exposed energized parts ((b)(12)).
- Face the ladder and hold on with at least one hand; good practice: three points of contact. Do not carry objects that could cause loss of balance; do not move or extend an occupied ladder.
- Inspect before initial use in each work shift (1910.23(b)(9)); on construction sites a competent person inspects ladders periodically. If defective: tag Do Not Use and remove from service ((b)(16)).
Falls, scaffolds, and lifts
| Rule | Number | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger in construction (edges, holes) | 6 ft | 1926.501(b)(1) |
| Trigger in general industry | 4 ft | 1910.28(b)(1) |
| Trigger on scaffolds | more than 10 ft | 1926.451(g)(1) |
| Guardrail (Subpart M) | 42 in. ± 3 in.; top rail 200 lb; midrail 150 lb; not below 39 in. under load | 1926.502(b) |
| Scaffold guardrail (placed in service after 1/1/2000) | 38–45 in. | 1926.451(g)(4)(ii) |
| Scaffold capacity | its own weight + 4 × the intended load | 1926.451(a)(1) |
| Scaffold access (never by the cross braces) | platform more than 2 ft above/below the access point | 1926.451(e)(1) |
| Platform | width ≥ 18 in.; ≤ 14 in. from the work face; toeboard ≥ 3.5 in. | 1926.451(b), (h) |
| Fall arrest anchorage | 5,000 lb per person | 1926.502(d)(15) |
| Free fall / deceleration / maximum force | ≤ 6 ft / ≤ 3.5 ft / ≤ 1,800 lb with a harness | 1926.502(d)(16) |
| Hole covers | 2 × the load; secured; marked HOLE or COVER | 1926.502(i) |
- Scaffolds: a competent person inspects before each shift; a height-to-base ratio over 4:1 requires restraint; no ladders on the platform; casters of mobile scaffolds locked.
- Scissor lift = mobile supported scaffold: the guardrails are the primary protection; never stand on them.
- Articulating or telescoping boom lift (1926.453): test the controls daily; full-body harness with the lanyard attached to the boom or basket; never tie off to adjacent structure; feet always on the basket floor. Body belts are not acceptable for fall arrest.
- Equipment that has arrested a fall is removed from service until a competent person approves it.
Electrical safety
Lockout/tagout sequence (1910.147(d); 1910.333(b)(2)):
- Prepare: identify every energy source.
- Shut the equipment down.
- Isolate: open the breaker or disconnect.
- Apply lock and tag: each worker applies his or her own; only the person who applied it removes it.
- Relieve stored energy.
- Verify zero energy before touching anything.
- A fire alarm panel has two sources: the 120-V branch circuit and the batteries. Disconnect both.
- Test for absence of voltage with a properly rated tester: live-dead-live (NFPA 70E, general awareness only). Only qualified persons work on parts that have not been de-energized (1910.333(c)(2)).
- Remove rings, watches, and metal chains near energized parts (1910.333(c)(8)).
- On construction sites: GFCI on every 120-V, single-phase, 15- and 20-A receptacle that is not part of the permanent wiring, or an assured equipment grounding conductor program (AEGCP): daily visual inspection and tests every ≤ 3 months (1926.404(b)(1)). NEC 2020 Art. 590 (temporary installations), which you do have in the printed NEC, also requires GFCI protection.
- Extension cords: three-wire, hard or extra-hard usage; no splices or taps; never through holes in walls or ceilings, and never as a substitute for fixed wiring (1926.405).
- Rubber insulating gloves: Class 00 = 500 V ac, Class 0 = 1,000 V ac; inspect and air test before each use; electrical test every 6 months (1910.137).
PPE and health hazards
| Topic | Key fact | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Noise | action level 85 dBA; PEL 90 dBA (8 h), 95 (4 h), 100 (2 h), 105 (1 h), 115 (¼ h) | 1910.95, Table G-16 |
| Eyes | ANSI Z87.1 with side protection | 1926.102 |
| Hard hat | ANSI Z89.1 (Class E 20,000 V; G 2,200 V; C no electrical protection) | 1926.100 |
| Required respirator | medical evaluation, fit test before use and every year, no facial hair at the seal | 1910.134 |
| Silica (handheld drill) | PEL 50 µg/m³; shroud with dust collection (filter ≥ 99%) and HEPA vacuum; no respirator | 1926.1153, Table 1 |
| Asbestos | PACM: thermal system insulation and surfacing material in buildings built in 1980 or earlier | 1926.1101 |
| Lead | PEL 50 µg/m³; action level 30 µg/m³ | 1926.62 |
| Safety Data Sheet (SDS) | 16 sections: 2 hazards, 4 first aid, 7 handling, 8 PPE | 1910.1200(g) |
| GHS label | product identifier, signal word (Danger > Warning), hazard statements, pictograms, precautionary statements, manufacturer | 1910.1200(f) |
For suspected asbestos (pipe insulation, fireproofing): stop, do not touch it, and report it. With silica: no dry sweeping and no blowing with compressed air.
Other job site hazards
- Permit-required confined space: hazardous atmosphere if O₂ < 19.5% or > 23.5%, or flammables > 10% of the LFL; test O₂ first, then flammables, then toxics. The attendant stays outside and summons rescue (1910.146; 1926 Subpart AA).
- Excavations: protective system from 5 ft deep; egress at 4 ft deep or more, within 25 ft of lateral travel; spoil at least 2 ft from the edge (1926.651–.652).
- Tools: guards in place (1926.300(b)); compressed air for cleaning below 30 psi; powder-actuated tools only with training on that tool, tested each day, and never into hard or brittle materials (1926.302).
- Fire extinguishers on construction sites: one 2A per 3,000 ft², travel ≤ 100 ft (1926.150). Classes: A ordinary combustibles, B flammable liquids, C energized equipment, D metals, K cooking oils. PASS technique.
Rights, responsibilities, and records
- Employer: a workplace free of recognized hazards (General Duty Clause, Sec. 5(a)(1)), comply with standards, train, and provide most PPE at no cost. Employee: comply with the standards (Sec. 5(b)).
- Reporting hazards is a right; a retaliation complaint (Sec. 11(c)) must be filed within 30 days.
- OSHA 300 log: record within 7 calendar days; the 300A is posted February 1 to April 30; records kept 5 years. First aid cases are not recorded.
- Report to OSHA: a fatality within 8 h; an in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye within 24 h (1904.39).
First aid, CPR, and AED (Red Cross)
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Emergency action steps | Check (scene safe; responsiveness and breathing ≤ 10 s) → Call (911, AED) → Care |
| Adult CPR | 100–120/min; ≥ 2 in.; full recoil; 30:2; minimal interruptions |
| AED | turn on → expose and dry the chest → pads (upper right / lower left) → "CLEAR" → analyze → shock → resume CPR immediately |
| Electrical injury | shut off power before touching; 911; CPR/AED; entry and exit burns |
| Severe bleeding | direct pressure; tourniquet 2–3 in. above the wound, not on a joint; note the time |
| Thermal burn | cool running water ≥ 10 min; no ice and no butter |
| Shock | have the person lie flat on the back, keep from getting chilled, 911, nothing to eat or drink |
| Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke | exhaustion: cool place and fluids; heat stroke (confusion, very hot skin): 911 and rapid cooling, ideally cold-water immersion |
| Adult choking | 5 back blows + 5 abdominal thrusts, repeat |
| Eye | chemical: flush with water continuously; embedded object: do not remove it, stabilize, get medical care |
Frequent traps: confusing 6 ft (construction), 4 ft (general industry), and more than 10 ft (scaffolds); 42 ± 3 in. (Subpart M guardrail) with 38–45 in. (scaffold); 5,000 lb (anchorage) with 1,800 lb (maximum arresting force); 85 dBA (action level) with 90 dBA (PEL); believing a scissor lift is an "aerial lift" that requires tying off to the structure; thinking a locked-out breaker de-energizes a panel that has batteries; using a tag alone without a lock; CPR "at least 100" instead of 100–120/min.
How to memorize it (OSHA and Red Cross books are not allowed in the test center)
Number ladder: 3 – 4 – 6 – 10 = 3 ft of side rail, 1:4 angle and 4 ft in general industry, 6 ft in construction, 10 ft on scaffolds. Harness: "5-6-3.5-18" = 5,000 lb anchorage, 6 ft free fall, 3.5 ft deceleration, 1,800 lb force. Four times: ladders and scaffolds hold 4 × their load. CPR: "100–120, 2 inches, 30 and 2". Reports: "8 hours fatality, 24 hours hospital, 7 days to the 300 log". Drill these with flash cards — you cannot look them up on exam day.
What to tab in your books
| Section | Why |
|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1) | Side rails 3 ft above the upper landing surface |
| 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(5)(i) | 1:4 angle (base = ¼ of the working length) |
| 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(12)–(16) | Nonconductive near energized parts; no standing on the top cap; inspection and Do Not Use tag |
| 29 CFR 1926.1051(a) | Stairway or ladder at a break in elevation of 19 in. or more |
| 29 CFR 1926.451(a)(1), (e)(1), (g)(1) | Scaffolds: 4 × load, access above 2 ft, fall protection above 10 ft |
| 29 CFR 1926.451(g)(4)(ii) | Scaffold guardrail 38–45 in. |
| 29 CFR 1926.453(b)(2) | Aerial lifts: daily control test, tie off to the boom or basket |
| 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1) / 1910.28(b)(1) | Fall protection trigger: 6 ft / 4 ft |
| 29 CFR 1926.502(b), (d), (i) | Guardrail 42 ± 3 in. and 200 lb; anchorage 5,000 lb; free fall 6 ft; hole covers |
| 29 CFR 1910.147(d), (e)(3), (f)(3) | Lockout steps, lock removal, group lockout |
| 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2), (c)(8) | Electrical lockout, verification, conductive jewelry |
| 29 CFR 1926.404(b)(1) | GFCI or AEGCP on construction sites |
| 29 CFR 1926.405(a)(2), (g) | Extension cords and flexible cords |
| 29 CFR 1910.95, Table G-16 | Noise: 85 dBA action level, 90 dBA PEL |
| 29 CFR 1926.102 / 1910.134 | Z87.1 eye protection; respirators |
| 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g) | GHS labels and 16-section SDS |
| 29 CFR 1926.1153, Table 1 | Silica: controls for drills |
| 29 CFR 1910.146 | Permit-required confined spaces |
| 29 CFR 1926.150(c) | Construction site extinguishers: 2A per 3,000 ft², 100 ft |
| Red Cross CPR/AED | 100–120/min, ≥ 2 in., 30:2, AED |
Chapter vocabulary
- Competent person
- Person capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards and authorized to take prompt corrective measures (1926.32(f)).
- Qualified person
- Person trained in the construction and operation of the equipment and its hazards; in electrical work, the only one allowed to work on parts that are not de-energized.
- Authorized employee
- The person who applies lockout/tagout to service or maintain the equipment.
- Affected employee
- A person who operates or works near the locked-out equipment; must be notified before and after the lockout.
- Lockout/tagout (LOTO)
- Procedure to isolate energy with locks and tags and verify zero energy before work.
- Energy-isolating device
- Breaker, disconnect, or valve that physically prevents the transmission of energy; a push button is not one.
- Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)
- Device that opens the circuit when it detects leakage current to ground; protects people from shock.
- Assured equipment grounding conductor program (AEGCP)
- Written alternative to GFCIs on construction sites: daily inspection and continuity and connection tests every ≤ 3 months.
- Personal fall arrest system (PFAS)
- Anchorage, connector, and full-body harness that stop a fall in progress.
- Free fall
- Distance a person falls before the system starts to slow the fall; 6 ft maximum.
- Guardrail system
- Top rail, midrail, and posts that prevent falls from an edge.
- Toeboard
- Low barrier (≥ 3.5 in.) at the platform edge that keeps objects from falling.
- Side rail
- Either of the two long side members of a ladder.
- Top cap
- The top of a stepladder; never used as a step.
- Duty rating
- Maximum ladder load (person + tools + material): IAA 375, IA 300, I 250, II 225, III 200 lb.
- Permit-required confined space
- Confined space with a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment or entrapment hazard, or other serious hazard.
- Attendant
- Person who stays outside the confined space, monitors the entrants, and summons rescue.
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- 16-section document with a chemical's hazards, PPE, and first aid.
- Signal word
- "Danger" (more severe hazard) or "Warning" (less severe) on a GHS label.
- Action level
- Exposure that triggers measures such as monitoring or conservation programs (for example, 85 dBA for noise).
- Permissible exposure limit (PEL)
- Maximum legal exposure, usually as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).
- Time-weighted average (TWA)
- Average exposure over the work shift, usually 8 hours.
- Presumed asbestos-containing material (PACM)
- Thermal system insulation and surfacing material in buildings constructed in 1980 or earlier.
- Automated external defibrillator (AED)
- Device that analyzes the heart rhythm and delivers a shock if needed.
- Tourniquet
- Band tightened 2–3 in. above a limb wound to stop life-threatening bleeding.
55 practice questions cover this chapter, each with an explanation and the code section. Get lifetime access or try the free practice exam.
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