OSHA Materials Handling & Storage Quiz — 29 CFR 1926.250-252 Practice Questions — Page 2 of 4
Free OSHA 30-Hour Construction materials handling and storage practice test with 40 realistic scenarios. Lumber stacking, rebar storage, rigging inspection, sling types, material hoists, debris disposal, housekeeping, and manual lifting with 29 CFR 1926 Subpart H references. (Page 2 of 4)
0 / 10
Q11/ 40
A construction site has stacks of lumber 16 feet high. The stacks are directly on the ground with no cross-stripping between layers, no dunnage, and the stack is slightly leaning. The lumber being accessed from the bottom. What violations exist?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.250(a)(1): materials stored inside buildings under construction shall not be placed within 6 feet of any hoistway or 10 feet of an exterior wall. 1926.250(a)(2): materials shall be stacked, blocked, interlocked, and limited in height so they are stable and secure. A leaning 16-foot lumber stack will collapse catastrophically if undermined. Pulling from the bottom is a well-known cause of stack collapse. Cross-stripping between layers ties the stack together. Nails in used lumber cause impalement hazards and must be removed or bent over per 1926.250(a)(2).
Q12/ 40
A 55-gallon drum of used motor oil is stored on a construction site on its side, bung facing down, with no secondary containment. The drum is in a corner near a floor drain. What storage requirements apply?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.250(b)(3): drums, barrels, and kegs shall be stacked symmetrically. While OSHA doesn't specifically require secondary containment for used oil, EPA 40 CFR 279 (Used Oil Management Standards) and the Clean Water Act require spill prevention. 1926.252(e): all solvent waste, oily rags, and flammable liquids shall be kept in fire-resistant covered containers. A leaking drum near a floor drain = EPA violation + potential OSHA citation under General Duty Clause. The drum should be upright (bung up to prevent leaks), on a spill pallet, labeled, and the floor drain should be sealed or the drum relocated.
Q13/ 40
A forklift operator moves a pallet of concrete blocks across a construction site. The load is stacked 8 feet high on the pallet, blocking the operator's forward view. The operator drives forward (load first, driving blind). A worker walks in front of the forklift. What's the correct procedure?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.602(c)(1)(i): all earthmoving and material handling equipment shall have a service brake system and an emergency brake system. While no specific OSHA standard addresses load-obstructed view, the General Duty Clause and 1926.20(a) require safe operations. Powered Industrial Truck standard 1910.178(n)(4): the driver shall be required to look in the direction of and keep a clear view of the path of travel. Industry standard: drive in reverse when load blocks forward view, or use a designated spotter. A blind operator driving forward is a struck-by fatality waiting to happen.
Q14/ 40
Bags of cement are stored outside on pallets directly on the ground. The weather forecast calls for heavy rain overnight. The foreman says 'the bags have plastic liners — they'll be fine.' In the morning, the lower bags are saturated and hardened. Is this a compliance issue?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.250(a)(2)(i): materials shall be stored in a manner to prevent falling or collapsing. Cement bags that partially harden in irregular shapes become unstable when stacked — they don't stack flat and can slide/fall. Additionally, wet cement bags weigh significantly more than dry ones (up to 2×), creating unexpected lifting hazards. Best practice: store cement on elevated, covered platforms with waterproof tarps. The plastic liners in cement bags are vapor barriers, not waterproof coatings — they prevent moisture vapor transmission, not liquid water penetration.
Q15/ 40
Steel rebar is being unloaded by hand from a delivery truck. Workers manually lift 40-foot #8 rebar (approx 107 lbs per 20-ft length = 214 lbs total). Two workers lift one end each. The rebar flexes and whips as they move it, nearly striking a third worker. What safe practices apply?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.250(a): materials shall be stored, handled, and transported in a safe manner. 1926.251(a)(1): rigging equipment shall be inspected before use. While no specific OSHA standard mandates mechanical handling for rebar, 1926.21(b)(2) requires training in safe material handling. Long, flexible rebar is particularly dangerous — it stores elastic energy when flexed and can whip violently if one worker loses grip. Mechanical handling (forklift with pipe boom, mobile crane with spreader bar) is the safe standard. If manual handling is necessary, 3+ workers with tag lines and a designated team leader should coordinate the lift.
Advertisement
Google AdSense — Responsive In-Article Ad
Q16/ 40
A construction site has scrap lumber, bent nails, and debris accumulating around work areas. Workers have stepped on nails protruding from scrap boards twice this week, both requiring tetanus shots. The foreman says 'we'll do a cleanup at the end of the project.' What is the violation?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.25(a): during the course of construction, form and scrap lumber with protruding nails and all other debris shall be kept cleared from work areas, passageways, and stairs. 1926.252: debris shall be regularly removed. The standard says 'during the course of construction,' not 'at the end.' Waiting until project completion means workers are exposed to puncture hazards for the entire project duration. Nail punctures are a leading cause of injuries on construction sites, and the debris also creates trip hazards, fire hazards, and harbors pests.
Q17/ 40
A crew is using a material hoist to lift bundles of drywall to the 5th floor. The hoist is temporary, installed on the building exterior. Workers on the 5th floor reach into the hoist car through the open side to pull out drywall while the car is still at the 5th floor level. The hoist has no landing gate. Is this compliant?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.552(b)(2): landing openings shall be provided with gates or bars. 1926.552(b)(3): gates shall be not less than 42 inches high and shall be of material that can withstand a 200-lb load. Even when stationary, the lack of a gate exposes workers to falling into the hoistway. Additionally, 1926.552(b)(4): two-way communication must be provided between each landing and the operator. The open-sided hoistway is a fall hazard — workers reaching in for materials could fall 5+ stories.
Q18/ 40
Masonry blocks are being stored on a supported scaffold platform during bricklaying. The scaffold is rated at 50 psf (medium duty). The mason has 400 standard concrete blocks (approx 38 lbs each = 15,200 lbs) on a 7-foot × 5-foot platform (35 sq ft). What's the issue?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.451(a)(6): scaffolds shall not be loaded in excess of the maximum intended load. 400 blocks × 38 lbs = 15,200 lbs + workers = ~16,000 lbs on 35 sq ft = 457 psf. A medium-duty scaffold is rated for 50 psf (2,400 lbs for masonry operations). This scaffold is carrying nearly 7× its rated capacity. The platform planks, bearers, and frame legs are all critically overloaded. Blocks should be staged on the floor/ground level and only the amount needed for immediate use (~50-75 blocks) should be on the scaffold at any time. This is a catastrophic collapse waiting to happen.
Q19/ 40
A worker manually lifts a 94-lb bag of Portland cement from a delivery truck. The worker bends at the waist (not the knees), twists while lifting, and carries the bag 30 feet to a stack. This is repeated for 50 bags. The worker reports severe back pain the next day. What ergonomic principles were violated?
✅ Correct Answer: B
While OSHA has no specific ergonomics standard for construction, the General Duty Clause requires employers to address recognized serious hazards. The NIOSH Lifting Equation recommends a maximum of 51 lbs under ideal conditions (close to body, no twisting, no vertical distance). At 94 lbs — nearly double — with twisting (worst back-loading motion), bending at waist (not knees), and 50 repetitions, this worker is at extreme risk. 1926.21(b)(2) requires training in safe material handling. Mechanical aids (forklift, hand truck, pallet jack with lift gate) would eliminate the hazard.
Q20/ 40
A worker uses a nylon web sling to lift a steel beam with sharp, un-padded edges. The sling is rated for 5,000 lbs in a vertical hitch. The beam weighs 2,800 lbs. After the lift, the sling shows a 1/4-inch cut on one edge. Is this sling still usable?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.251(b)(6)(i): synthetic web slings shall be removed from service when the sling exhibits: (A) cuts, tears, or snags; (B) broken or worn stitching in load-bearing splices; (C) excessive abrasive wear; (D) knots; (E) visible red core warning yarns; (F) acid or caustic burns; (G) melting or charring; (H) missing or illegible identification tags. The root cause is the sharp un-padded beam edge — 1926.251(b)(5) requires slings to be protected from sharp edges with corner protectors/padding. Without edge protection, even a new sling can be cut on the first lift.