OSHA Materials Handling & Storage Quiz — 29 CFR 1926.250-252 Practice Questions — Page 1 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.
0 / 10
Q1/ 40
A construction site has stacks of lumber stored near the main access path. The stacks are 16 feet high, and the bottom layer is on 4×4 runners. The piles have no cross-stripping and some boards are visibly leaning. Workers walk between the stacks. What does 1926.250(b)(1) require for this lumber storage?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.250(b)(1): all lumber shall be stacked on level and solidly supported sills. 1926.250(b)(4): lumber piles shall not exceed 16 feet in height if handled manually, nor 20 feet if handled by a forklift. 1926.250(b)(5): lumber shall be stacked so as to be stable and self-supporting. Cross-stripping every 4 feet vertically prevents the stack from shifting. Workers walking between leaning, un-stripped piles risk being crushed if a stack collapses.
Q2/ 40
A 55-gallon drum of used motor oil is being stored on a construction site. The drum is on its side with the bung at the bottom, directly on the dirt. No secondary containment is provided. A slow leak develops. What does OSHA require?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.252(e): all solvent waste, oily rags, and flammable liquids shall be kept in fire-resistant covered containers until removed from worksite. While this subsection primarily addresses fire hazards, the General Duty Clause requires employers to prevent recognized hazards — used oil on dirt creates a slip hazard and environmental contamination. EPA SPCC regulations may also apply. Storing a drum on its side with the bung at the bottom means hydrostatic pressure forces the leak; upright storage is standard practice.
Q3/ 40
A forklift operator is moving a pallet of concrete blocks across a construction site. The load blocks the operator's forward view. The operator is driving in the forward direction, leaning to the side to see around the load. What does 1926.602(c)(1) require?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.602(c)(1)(vi) incorporating 1910.178(n)(4): when the load obstructs forward view, the driver shall be required to travel with the load trailing. Driving forward with an obstructed view is prohibited — the operator cannot see the path ahead, creating a struck-by hazard. If the grade is too steep to drive load-trailing, a spotter must guide the operator. Leaning to one side provides only a partial view and creates an ergonomic/control hazard.
Q4/ 40
Bags of cement are stored outside on pallets. The forecast calls for heavy rain overnight. The foreman decides to leave them uncovered because 'the bags are paper and the outer layer will protect the cement.' By morning, the bags are soaked, the cement is hardened, and workers must manually break up the hardened bags. What two problems exist?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.250(a)(1): all materials stored in tiers shall be stacked, racked, blocked, interlocked, or otherwise secured to prevent sliding, falling, or collapse. While there's no specific 'tarp your cement' rule, the standard requires materials to be secured from damage. More importantly, hardened cement being broken up generates respirable crystalline silica — the silica standard (1926.1153) applies, requiring engineering controls (water, local exhaust ventilation) and respiratory protection. The foreman's oversight created both a material loss and a silica exposure hazard.
Q5/ 40
Steel rebar is being delivered to a construction site. Workers are manually unloading 40-foot #8 rebar from a flatbed truck by hand, carrying it on their shoulders while walking backward. A worker trips and the rebar strikes another worker. What does this reveal about the site's material handling plan?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.250(a)(2): maximum safe load limits shall be posted for floors and roofs. While most materials handling standards address storage, 1926.250(a)(1) and the General Duty Clause require the employer to implement safe material handling procedures. 40-foot #8 rebar is heavy (approximately 107 lbs per bar) and unwieldy — manual handling by workers walking backward combines struck-by, trip, and ergonomic hazards. A proper plan includes: mechanical handling, taglines to control the load, designated drop zones, and spotters.
Advertisement
Google AdSense — Responsive In-Article Ad
Q6/ 40
A construction site has scrap lumber, bent nails, and debris accumulating around work areas. Workers are stepping over piles and a laborer punctures his boot on a nail protruding from a board. What does 1926.25(a) require regarding housekeeping?
✅ 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, in and around buildings or other structures. This is NOT optional — it's a specific standard. Protruding nails from lumber are a puncture/impalement hazard. 1926.25(b): combustible scrap and debris shall be removed at regular intervals. Good housekeeping also prevents trip hazards and fire fuel accumulation.
Q7/ 40
A crew is using a material hoist to lift bundles of drywall to the 5th floor. The hoist is a temporary installation on the exterior of the building. Workers on the 5th floor are leaning over the edge to signal the operator below. No fall protection is being used at the landing because 'it's just a loading operation.' What does 1926.552(b) require for the material hoist landing?
✅ Correct Answer: A
1926.552(b)(3): overhead protection shall be provided where the hoist extends above a building. 1926.552(b)(2)(ii): the requirements of Subpart M (Fall Protection) apply to material hoist installations. At the 5th-floor landing, workers are near an unprotected edge 40+ feet above grade — 1926.501(b)(1) requires guardrails, safety nets, or PFAS. 'It's just a loading operation' does not exempt the edge. Guardrails at the landing must be either permanently installed or removable only when the hoist car is present.
Q8/ 40
Masonry blocks are being stored on a supported scaffold platform during bricklaying operations. The blocks are stacked 24 inches high along the back edge of the 29-inch-wide platform. Workers are working from the scaffold, handling blocks from the stack. What does OSHA require regarding material storage on scaffolds?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.451(f)(1): scaffolds shall not be loaded in excess of their maximum intended loads or rated capacities. The combined weight of workers + stacked blocks must be below the scaffold rating. Additionally, 1926.451(h)(1): toeboards must be provided where there is a danger of falling objects. A 24-inch stack of blocks on a 29-inch platform leaves workers working near the edge — the blocks could shift/fall. The scaffold must be rated for the load (likely heavy-duty, 75 psf for masonry).
Q9/ 40
Workers are manually lifting and carrying 94-lb bags of Portland cement from a delivery truck into a storage container. No mechanical aids are provided. By the end of the day, workers have moved 80 bags each. One worker reports severe lower back pain. What does the employer need to consider under OSHA's approach to ergonomic hazards?
✅ Correct Answer: B
Although OSHA's ergonomics standard was repealed and no specific construction ergonomics standard exists, the General Duty Clause applies to recognized serious hazards. Manual handling of 94-lb bags is widely recognized as a risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders. NIOSH recommends a maximum lifting limit of 51 lbs under ideal conditions. At 94 lbs per bag × 80 bags = 7,520 lbs moved per worker per day, this far exceeds safe manual handling limits. Engineering controls (mechanical handling equipment) are the primary solution under the hierarchy of controls.
Q10/ 40
A worker is using a nylon web sling to lift a steel beam with sharp, un-padded edges. The sling is rated for 4,000 lbs in a vertical hitch. The beam weighs 1,800 lbs. During the lift, the sling contacts the sharp edge and the outer webbing cuts through, causing the load to drop. What went wrong?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.251(b)(3): slings shall be padded or protected from the sharp edges of their loads. Nylon and polyester web slings have excellent strength-to-weight ratios but are extremely vulnerable to cutting on sharp edges. The 4,000-lb rating applies when the sling is used with protected contact — an unprotected sharp edge can cut the sling at a fraction of its rated load. Corner protectors, wear pads, or softeners are mandatory, not optional. Additionally, 1926.251(b)(6)(i) requires damaged slings be immediately removed from service.