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Safety Certification · CHST

BCSP Construction Health and Safety Technician Examination Practice Test

The CHST practice page focuses on construction-site health and safety decisions, including fall prevention, electrical hazards, excavation planning, tool use, and control of airborne and noise exposures. Its scenarios ask you to recognize unsafe conditions and select practical measures that protect workers during common construction activities.

Exam overview

Exam providerBoard of Certified Safety Professionals
Exam codeCHST
CategorySafety Certification

About the BCSP Construction Health and Safety Technician Examination Exam

Construction safety work involves anticipating hazards before tasks begin, coordinating controls with crews, and checking that protections remain effective as site conditions change. Relevant judgment includes planning safe access around roof openings, verifying temporary guardrails, locating buried utilities before excavation, and managing work near energized overhead lines. Questions also sample control choices for respirable crystalline silica and sustained noise, along with precautions for temporary electrical panels, powder-actuated tools, cut-off saws, and stairways used to move materials. For each scenario, consider the hazard, who could be exposed, and whether a more effective control can be applied before relying on personal protective equipment. This reasoning reflects practical field decisions such as pausing work to correct a deficient setup or selecting equipment and procedures suited to the task.

Sample Practice Questions

Review a selection from this exam's published US Practice Tests practice bank.

Question 1

A worker must access a roof through a hatch while carrying small tools. Which measure best reduces the risk of falling while transitioning through the opening?

  1. AKeep the opening protected with a secured cover or guardrail except during controlled access, and maintain appropriate fall protection during the transition
  2. BLeave the hatch open for the entire shift so workers can see it
  3. CPlace tools on the hatch cover to mark the opening
  4. DStep backward through the opening to keep both hands free
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Roof openings present fall hazards. Protect the opening when it is not in active use, and plan the transition so workers remain protected and can maintain secure footing and control of tools.

Question 2

A worker is preparing to use a powder-actuated fastening tool. Which precaution is most important before firing?

  1. AVerify that the tool is suitable for the base material and inspect it for damage
  2. BHold the tool away from the surface to reduce recoil
  3. CUse the tool only when the work area is crowded so others can assist
  4. DRemove the tool’s safety features if they slow the work
Show answerCorrect answer: A

The operator should use a tool appropriate for the material and ensure it is in safe working condition. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, use required protective equipment, and keep unauthorized people clear. Safety features must not be bypassed.

Question 3

A crew plans to use a temporary electrical distribution panel outdoors. Which condition should be addressed to help prevent electrical hazards?

  1. AKeep the panel accessible, protected from damage and weather as appropriate, and properly grounded or bonded as required
  2. BPlace the panel behind stacked materials so unauthorized workers cannot see it
  3. CLeave the panel door open so breakers can cool more quickly
  4. DRun cords through standing water if they are rated for outdoor use
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Temporary panels should be protected from physical and environmental damage, kept accessible for safe operation, and installed with appropriate grounding or bonding. Blocking access, leaving enclosures open, or routing cords through water creates additional hazards.

Question 4

Before excavating at a construction site, what is the most important first step for preventing damage to buried utilities?

  1. AReview current utility-location markings and have the excavation area checked through the applicable locating service
  2. BBegin digging with a backhoe and stop if resistance is encountered
  3. CAsk the equipment operator to estimate where utilities are likely to be
  4. DUse the project schedule to identify which utilities can be ignored
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Obtaining and verifying utility locations before excavation helps prevent strikes that can cause electrocution, fires, flooding, or service disruptions. Markings and required verification practices should be followed before digging.

Question 5

A crew is installing a temporary guardrail system. Which condition is most important for the system to provide reliable protection?

  1. AThe top rail is painted a highly visible color
  2. BThe system is installed and maintained to resist the loads it may encounter
  3. CWorkers inspect it only after a fall or impact occurs
  4. DThe rails are spaced to allow workers to pass materials through easily
Show answerCorrect answer: B

A guardrail must be properly designed, installed, and maintained so it can withstand anticipated forces and protect workers at the exposed edge. Visibility and convenient material passage do not compensate for inadequate strength or installation.

Question 6

A crew is placing reinforcing steel near an energized overhead power line. What is the safest planning measure before moving long conductive materials into the area?

  1. AAssign a spotter and establish a safe clearance from the line based on applicable requirements
  2. BCover the line with a tarp to prevent accidental contact
  3. CMove the steel quickly so it spends less time near the line
  4. DHave workers wear rubber-soled boots while carrying the steel
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Long conductive materials can contact or approach overhead lines unexpectedly. Plan the work to maintain required clearances, using a designated spotter and other controls as appropriate; a tarp, speed, or ordinary footwear does not make contact safe.

Question 7

Which practice is most effective for reducing exposure to respirable crystalline silica during concrete cutting?

  1. AUse water delivery at the cutting point or an effective local exhaust system designed for the task
  2. BIncrease cutting speed so the task ends sooner
  3. CHave nearby workers stand downwind without other controls
  4. DSweep accumulated dust while it is dry
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Applying water at the point of generation or using effective local exhaust can reduce airborne silica dust. Dry sweeping can re-suspend settled dust, and relying on wind direction is not a dependable exposure control.

How to use this practice test

Access is free. The published bank contains 50 questions; each practice session presents up to 20 selected at random. Use a session to test hazard recognition and compare control choices across construction scenarios. Results appear after the session, helping you identify which topics to revisit.

Preparation tips

  • For fall-protection scenarios, inspect the transition and work area around roof hatches, openings, stairs, and temporary guardrails; identify how workers can maintain protection while moving tools or materials.
  • Before excavation, plan utility locating and mark-out steps; for overhead-line work, assess the approach of long conductive materials and establish a safe work plan before movement begins.
  • Compare control options for silica dust and equipment noise, prioritizing feasible measures that reduce exposure at its source before relying on worker-worn protection.
  • Review task-specific precautions for temporary outdoor electrical panels, powder-actuated tools, and handheld cut-off saws, focusing on conditions that could cause shock, unintended firing, kickback, or loss of control.
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