CHST Study Guide 2027-20281,200 practice questions with explained answers · 2,000 flashcards · 26.1-hour audiobook · AI tutor

5 sample CHST questions from the guide

Taken from the practice tests in the book, with the answer and the explanation the guide gives.

1. 1. A concrete deck crew is pouring a roof in sections. The finished edge advances with each pour, and workers stand near the open perimeter. What does this condition represent, and what is an appropriate way to protect the workers?

   • A. It is a fixed edge; a warning line alone is adequate for workers.
   • B. It is a leading edge; workers should be protected by a personal fall arrest system anchored independently of the work surface.
   • C. It is a low-slope roof; a safety monitor may be used for all employees.
   • D. It is a hole protection situation; a strengthened cover is required for the open area.
   Show the answer

   Correct answer: B. A leading edge is an unprotected edge that changes location as the work progresses. A personal fall arrest system anchored to an independent support is a standard method of fall protection for leading-edge work.

2. 2. During a weekly planning meeting, a team assigns probability and severity ratings to four hazards and calculates scores of 4, 6, 9, and 12. The supervisor then declares that only the score of 12 requires action. Which step is missing from the team's use of the risk matrix?

   • A. Treating the calculated scores as a conversation starter to discuss why each rating was chosen and what controls are already in place.
   • B. Having each worker sign the score sheet before any hazard is accepted.
   • C. Averaging the four scores to determine a single site risk priority.
   • D. Expanding the matrix to allow scores above 25.
   Show the answer

   Correct answer: A. The matrix ranks competing risks so the team can make a defensible decision; it does not automatically decide which hazards need action. The missing step is the conversation that examines the ratings and controls behind the numbers.

3. 3. A crew is removing old epoxy coating from a concrete floor in a poorly ventilated pump room. Which control is an example of substitution?

   • A. Providing chemical-resistant coveralls, gloves, and a full-face respirator
   • B. Limiting each worker to two 30-minute periods of stripping per shift
   • C. Switching from a methylene chloride based paint stripper to a water-based, low-volatility stripper that meets the project specification
   • D. Connecting a high-volume exhaust fan to a window and ventilating the room before entry
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   Correct answer: C. Substitution replaces the hazardous material or process with a less hazardous one, so switching strippers is the correct response. Ventilation is an engineering control, the time limit is administrative, and protective clothing is PPE.

4. 4. A construction site's emergency action plan includes a simple map of current exits, extinguishers, shutoffs, and the assembly area. How often should this site map be updated?

   • A. Once when the emergency action plan is first written
   • B. When the fire department schedules its annual visit
   • C. Only after an evacuation drill reveals a problem
   • D. At least once per week and whenever the physical site layout changes
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   Correct answer: D. The map is a living control that must be rechecked weekly and after any change such as a closed road, new crane, trench, or relocated trailer. A map written once cannot reflect changing site conditions.

5. 5. Several trade employees need to pass near a controlled incident scene to reach an unaffected work area. How should the investigator manage access to the scene itself?

   • A. Establish one entry point and have one designated person log every individual who enters or exits
   • B. Permit only the project manager and safety manager to enter the scene
   • C. Let the responding law enforcement officer admit personnel without logging, because the officer is trained to preserve evidence
   • D. Allow each trade foreman to enter and retrieve tools as needed because they are familiar with the site
   Show the answer

   Correct answer: A. A single, logged entry point controls who is in the scene and creates a record of possible contamination. Unlogged or multiple entries make the evidence chain unreliable.