Are flashcards effective for the CHST exam?

Yes. Flashcards use active recall — retrieving an answer from memory — which research shows is one of the most effective study methods, especially in short, spaced sessions. They're ideal for the CHST's many OSHA 1926 numbers and definitions, like the 6-foot fall trigger and soil classes.

What topics do the CHST flashcards cover?

All four CHST domains grounded in OSHA 29 CFR 1926: the Focus Four, the hierarchy of controls, fall protection, excavation and trenching, scaffolds and confined spaces, HazCom and silica, Lockout/Tagout, incident rates and recordkeeping, safety program development, and leadership and training.

How should I study with these CHST flashcards?

Lead with the highest-weighted domain — Hazard and Risk Identification and Control (~37%) — then drill the others. Mix the modes: flip to learn, type to test recall, match for speed, and quiz to check yourself before a full practice test.

Are the CHST flashcards free?

Yes — 100% free, all four study modes, no paywall and no sign-up.

Do these flashcards match the current CHST exam blueprint?

Yes. The cards are organized to the current BCSP CHST examination blueprint, covering all four content domains in their official proportions and grounded in OSHA construction standards.

Focus Four (Fatal Four)

OSHA's four leading causes of construction worker deaths: falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, and electrocution. They account for the majority of construction fatalities.

Fall protection trigger (general construction)

Under 29 CFR 1926.501 (Subpart M), fall protection is required for work 6 feet or more above a lower level — by guardrails, safety nets, or a personal fall arrest system.

Scaffold fall-protection trigger

Under 29 CFR 1926.451, fall protection is required for work more than 10 feet above a lower level on a scaffold — note this differs from the general 6-foot trigger.

Steel erection fall trigger

Generally 15 feet under 29 CFR 1926.760 (Subpart R). Remember the three numbers: 6 ft general, 10 ft scaffolds, 15 ft steel erection.

Hierarchy of controls

Controls ranked most to least effective: Elimination → Substitution → Engineering controls → Administrative controls → PPE. Always reach for the highest feasible level.

The most effective control: physically removing the hazard from the jobsite entirely (e.g., prefabricating at ground level so no one works at height).

Controls that isolate people from a hazard by design — guardrails, ventilation, water suppression, machine guards, GFCIs. They work without relying on worker behavior.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

The last line of defense (hard hats, harnesses, respirators, hearing protection). It does not remove the hazard and sits at the bottom of the hierarchy of controls.

Injury from a forcible moving object striking a worker — a vehicle, swinging load, or flying or falling object. No pinning element (that would be caught-in/between).

Caught-in/between hazard

Injury from being pinched, crushed, or compressed between objects, or buried — e.g., a trench cave-in or a worker pinned between a backing vehicle and a wall.

Electrocution (construction)

Death from electrical contact — overhead power lines, missing GFCIs, and damaged cords are leading causes. One of the Focus Four.

Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)

A device that interrupts a circuit when it detects a ground fault, preventing electric shock. Required for construction receptacles.

Per 29 CFR 1926.32, someone able to identify existing and predictable hazards AND authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. Both elements are required.

Someone who, by recognized degree, certificate, or extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has demonstrated the ability to solve problems relating to the specific work.

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA / JSA)

A technique that breaks a job into steps, identifies each step's hazards, then assigns controls — in that order. A JHA and a Job Safety Analysis are the same method.

Excavation protective-system trigger

Under 29 CFR 1926.652, a protective system is required when an excavation is 5 feet or more deep, unless it is made entirely in stable rock.

OSHA soil classification (most → least stable)

Stable Rock, Type A, Type B, Type C. Type A is cohesive soil ≥ 1.5 tons/ft²; Type C (granular, submerged, or freely seeping) is the least stable.

Excavation protective methods

Sloping, benching, shoring, and shielding (trench boxes). A competent person designs sloping/benching up to 20 ft deep; deeper requires a registered professional engineer.

Permit-required confined space

A confined space with a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment risk, entrapment configuration, or other serious hazard — requires a permit and atmospheric testing before entry.

Atmospheric testing order (confined space)

Test oxygen first, then combustible gases, then toxic gases. Oxygen is first because most combustible-gas sensors need adequate oxygen to read accurately.

Acceptable oxygen range

19.5% to 23.5% oxygen. Below 19.5% is oxygen-deficient; above 23.5% is oxygen-enriched, which significantly increases combustion risk.

Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom)

OSHA 1910.1200 (adopted for construction by 1926.59): requires a written program, container labels, a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical, and worker training.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

A standardized 16-section GHS document giving a chemical's hazards, handling, exposure controls, and emergency measures. Must be readily accessible to workers on site.

Six required elements: product identifier, signal word (Danger or Warning), hazard statements, pictograms, precautionary statements, and supplier information.

Respirable crystalline silica limits

Under 1926.1153, the construction PEL is 50 µg/m³ and the action level is 25 µg/m³ (8-hour TWAs). Control first with water suppression or ventilation; silicosis and lung cancer are the risks.

Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) sequence

Notify affected employees → shut down → isolate energy → apply locks and tags → release stored energy → verify zero energy. Verification is the step crews most often skip.

An authorization that controls tasks producing heat or sparks (welding, cutting, grinding) near flammable materials, ensuring they are done safely.

Personal fall arrest system (PFAS)

A system to stop a fall: a full-body harness, a connecting device (lanyard or self-retracting lifeline), and an anchorage capable of holding the arrest forces.

The maximum slope at which a pile of loose material remains stable without sliding — relevant to excavation spoil piles and stockpiled material.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

OSHA 1910.38 plan covering emergency reporting, evacuation routes, accounting for all employees, and rescue/medical duties. Must be written, except an employer with ≤10 employees may give it orally.

Accounting for employees after evacuation

A required EAP element: conduct a head count at the designated assembly area against a current roster (including subcontractors and visitors) to confirm everyone is out.

Root cause analysis (RCA)

A structured investigation into the underlying system failures behind an incident, so corrective actions prevent recurrence — not finding someone to blame.

An RCA technique that repeatedly asks 'why' (typically about five times) to move past symptoms toward an underlying systemic root cause.

Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram

A cause-and-effect diagram that visually sorts potential incident causes into categories such as people, equipment, methods, materials, and environment.

An unplanned event that had the potential to cause injury, illness, or damage but did not. A leading indicator — capturing near misses surfaces hazards before they cause loss.

Incident investigation flow

Secure the scene and care for the injured → gather facts and evidence → analyze for root cause → develop, implement, and verify corrective actions.

Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)

(Recordable cases × 200,000) ÷ total hours worked. Expresses recordable injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time-equivalent workers.

Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred rate: (DART cases × 200,000) ÷ total hours worked. Same base as TRIR, but counts only the more serious cases.

The 200,000-hour base

The standardizing factor in OSHA incident rates: 100 full-time workers × 2,000 hours/year. It lets contractors of different sizes be compared per 100 workers.

A work-related case involving death, days away, restricted work or transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, or a significant diagnosis. Loss of consciousness is recordable regardless of treatment.

OSHA recordkeeping forms (300 / 301 / 300A)

300 = Log of each work-related injury/illness; 301 = Incident Report detail behind each entry; 300A = annual summary, posted Feb 1 – Apr 30 and certified by a company executive.

OSHA record retention period

Employers must keep the OSHA 300 Log, privacy case list, annual summary (300A), and 301 reports for five years following the calendar year the records cover.

OSHA program core elements

Seven elements: management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification/assessment, hazard prevention/control, education and training, program evaluation/improvement, and communication/coordination.

Proactive, predictive safety metrics measured before incidents — inspections completed, near-miss reports, training completion, corrective-action close-out. They help prevent the next injury.

Reactive safety metrics measured after incidents — TRIR, DART, lost workdays, fatalities. They tell you what already went wrong.

Your FREE CHST Flashcards 2026 – 200+ Cards

Realistic, CHST exam-style flashcards across all 4 BCSP domains — flip, match, type, and quiz yourself, grounded in OSHA 29 CFR 1926.

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CHST Flashcards

Focus Four (Fatal Four): OSHA's four leading causes of construction worker deaths: falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, and electrocution. They account for the majority of construction fatalities.
Fall protection trigger (general construction): Under 29 CFR 1926.501 (Subpart M), fall protection is required for work 6 feet or more above a lower level — by guardrails, safety nets, or a personal fall arrest system.
Scaffold fall-protection trigger: Under 29 CFR 1926.451, fall protection is required for work more than 10 feet above a lower level on a scaffold — note this differs from the general 6-foot trigger.
Steel erection fall trigger: Generally 15 feet under 29 CFR 1926.760 (Subpart R). Remember the three numbers: 6 ft general, 10 ft scaffolds, 15 ft steel erection.
Hierarchy of controls: Controls ranked most to least effective: Elimination → Substitution → Engineering controls → Administrative controls → PPE. Always reach for the highest feasible level.
Elimination: The most effective control: physically removing the hazard from the jobsite entirely (e.g., prefabricating at ground level so no one works at height).
Engineering controls: Controls that isolate people from a hazard by design — guardrails, ventilation, water suppression, machine guards, GFCIs. They work without relying on worker behavior.
Personal protective equipment (PPE): The last line of defense (hard hats, harnesses, respirators, hearing protection). It does not remove the hazard and sits at the bottom of the hierarchy of controls.
Struck-by hazard: Injury from a forcible moving object striking a worker — a vehicle, swinging load, or flying or falling object. No pinning element (that would be caught-in/between).
Caught-in/between hazard: Injury from being pinched, crushed, or compressed between objects, or buried — e.g., a trench cave-in or a worker pinned between a backing vehicle and a wall.
Electrocution (construction): Death from electrical contact — overhead power lines, missing GFCIs, and damaged cords are leading causes. One of the Focus Four.
Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI): A device that interrupts a circuit when it detects a ground fault, preventing electric shock. Required for construction receptacles.
Competent person: Per 29 CFR 1926.32, someone able to identify existing and predictable hazards AND authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. Both elements are required.
Qualified person: Someone who, by recognized degree, certificate, or extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has demonstrated the ability to solve problems relating to the specific work.
Job Hazard Analysis (JHA / JSA): A technique that breaks a job into steps, identifies each step's hazards, then assigns controls — in that order. A JHA and a Job Safety Analysis are the same method.
Excavation protective-system trigger: Under 29 CFR 1926.652, a protective system is required when an excavation is 5 feet or more deep, unless it is made entirely in stable rock.
OSHA soil classification (most → least stable): Stable Rock, Type A, Type B, Type C. Type A is cohesive soil ≥ 1.5 tons/ft²; Type C (granular, submerged, or freely seeping) is the least stable.
Excavation protective methods: Sloping, benching, shoring, and shielding (trench boxes). A competent person designs sloping/benching up to 20 ft deep; deeper requires a registered professional engineer.
Permit-required confined space: A confined space with a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment risk, entrapment configuration, or other serious hazard — requires a permit and atmospheric testing before entry.
Atmospheric testing order (confined space): Test oxygen first, then combustible gases, then toxic gases. Oxygen is first because most combustible-gas sensors need adequate oxygen to read accurately.
Acceptable oxygen range: 19.5% to 23.5% oxygen. Below 19.5% is oxygen-deficient; above 23.5% is oxygen-enriched, which significantly increases combustion risk.
Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom): OSHA 1910.1200 (adopted for construction by 1926.59): requires a written program, container labels, a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical, and worker training.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS): A standardized 16-section GHS document giving a chemical's hazards, handling, exposure controls, and emergency measures. Must be readily accessible to workers on site.
GHS label elements: Six required elements: product identifier, signal word (Danger or Warning), hazard statements, pictograms, precautionary statements, and supplier information.
Respirable crystalline silica limits: Under 1926.1153, the construction PEL is 50 µg/m³ and the action level is 25 µg/m³ (8-hour TWAs). Control first with water suppression or ventilation; silicosis and lung cancer are the risks.
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) sequence: Notify affected employees → shut down → isolate energy → apply locks and tags → release stored energy → verify zero energy. Verification is the step crews most often skip.
Hot work permit: An authorization that controls tasks producing heat or sparks (welding, cutting, grinding) near flammable materials, ensuring they are done safely.
Personal fall arrest system (PFAS): A system to stop a fall: a full-body harness, a connecting device (lanyard or self-retracting lifeline), and an anchorage capable of holding the arrest forces.
Angle of repose: The maximum slope at which a pile of loose material remains stable without sliding — relevant to excavation spoil piles and stockpiled material.
Emergency Action Plan (EAP): OSHA 1910.38 plan covering emergency reporting, evacuation routes, accounting for all employees, and rescue/medical duties. Must be written, except an employer with ≤10 employees may give it orally.
Accounting for employees after evacuation: A required EAP element: conduct a head count at the designated assembly area against a current roster (including subcontractors and visitors) to confirm everyone is out.
Root cause analysis (RCA): A structured investigation into the underlying system failures behind an incident, so corrective actions prevent recurrence — not finding someone to blame.
5 Whys: An RCA technique that repeatedly asks 'why' (typically about five times) to move past symptoms toward an underlying systemic root cause.
Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram: A cause-and-effect diagram that visually sorts potential incident causes into categories such as people, equipment, methods, materials, and environment.
Near miss: An unplanned event that had the potential to cause injury, illness, or damage but did not. A leading indicator — capturing near misses surfaces hazards before they cause loss.
Incident investigation flow: Secure the scene and care for the injured → gather facts and evidence → analyze for root cause → develop, implement, and verify corrective actions.
Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR): (Recordable cases × 200,000) ÷ total hours worked. Expresses recordable injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time-equivalent workers.
DART rate: Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred rate: (DART cases × 200,000) ÷ total hours worked. Same base as TRIR, but counts only the more serious cases.
The 200,000-hour base: The standardizing factor in OSHA incident rates: 100 full-time workers × 2,000 hours/year. It lets contractors of different sizes be compared per 100 workers.
OSHA recordable: A work-related case involving death, days away, restricted work or transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, or a significant diagnosis. Loss of consciousness is recordable regardless of treatment.
OSHA recordkeeping forms (300 / 301 / 300A): 300 = Log of each work-related injury/illness; 301 = Incident Report detail behind each entry; 300A = annual summary, posted Feb 1 – Apr 30 and certified by a company executive.
OSHA record retention period: Employers must keep the OSHA 300 Log, privacy case list, annual summary (300A), and 301 reports for five years following the calendar year the records cover.
OSHA program core elements: Seven elements: management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification/assessment, hazard prevention/control, education and training, program evaluation/improvement, and communication/coordination.
Leading indicators: Proactive, predictive safety metrics measured before incidents — inspections completed, near-miss reports, training completion, corrective-action close-out. They help prevent the next injury.
Lagging indicators: Reactive safety metrics measured after incidents — TRIR, DART, lost workdays, fatalities. They tell you what already went wrong.
Safety inspection: A point-in-time walk-through that identifies physical hazards and unsafe conditions on the jobsite.
Safety audit: A systematic evaluation of whether the safety management system itself is in place, documented, and effective. A common finding: a gap between the written program and field practice.
Safety culture vs. safety climate: Safety culture is the deep, enduring shared values and beliefs about safety; safety climate is a snapshot of workers' current perceptions, often measured by a survey.
Program sustainment: Embedding safety responsibilities into defined roles, procedures, and routine reviews so the system persists regardless of personnel, with corrective actions tracked to verified closure.
Multi-employer worksite: A construction site with a general contractor and subcontractors. Safety depends on communication and coordination across all employers and aligned site-wide rules and signage.
Toolbox talk: A short (5–15 minute), informal, job-specific safety meeting, often held before a shift. Most effective when the topic matches the day's tasks and hazards.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.21 training duty: Employers must instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to their work environment.
Best method to train a physical skill: Hands-on demonstration and practice with a competency check — e.g., having workers demonstrate correct donning, inspection, and tie-off of a harness — beats lecture or video alone.
Safety training documentation: Record the topic, date, trainer or presenter, and the names of the workers who attended each session — proof that specific workers were trained on specific hazards.
Safety leadership: Visibly committing resources, setting clear expectations, and modeling safe behavior so the workforce follows. Leaders participate in briefings and respond to reports without blame.
Communicating with a multilingual workforce: Use bilingual signage, standardized safety pictograms, and a qualified interpreter for training — and verify comprehension rather than assuming it.
Blame-free near-miss reporting: Respond to reports without blame, act visibly on the findings, and thank workers for reporting. Blame kills reporting and leaves the real hazard in place.
Subpart M (Fall Protection): 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M sets construction fall-protection requirements: the 6-foot trigger, criteria for guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest, plus training and fall-protection plans.
Guardrail top rail height: A standard guardrail top rail must be 42 inches (±3 inches) above the walking/working surface and withstand a 200-pound force applied outward or downward.
Midrail requirement: When there is no wall or parapet at least 21 inches high, a guardrail system needs a midrail installed about halfway (roughly 21 inches) between the top rail and the walking surface.
Toeboard: A vertical barrier at floor level, at least 3.5 inches high, on guardrails to prevent tools and materials from falling on workers below; openings limited so a half-inch object cannot pass.
Hole cover requirements: Covers over floor holes and openings must support at least twice the maximum intended load, be secured against displacement, and be color-coded or marked 'HOLE' or 'COVER'.
Maximum free-fall distance (PFAS): A personal fall arrest system must limit free fall to a maximum of 6 feet and not let the worker contact a lower level; arresting forces are limited to 1,800 pounds with a full-body harness.
Anchorage strength (fall arrest): Anchorages for personal fall arrest must support at least 5,000 pounds per worker, or be designed with a safety factor of at least two under the supervision of a qualified person.
Total fall distance / clearance: The sum of free fall, deceleration distance, harness stretch, D-ring shift, and a safety margin used to confirm a worker will not strike a lower level before the system arrests the fall.
Self-retracting lifeline (SRL): A connecting device that pays out and retracts a lifeline, locking quickly on a fall to limit free fall and reduce arrest distance; allows mobility while keeping the line taut.
Shock-absorbing lanyard: A lanyard with a deceleration device that elongates during a fall to reduce arrest forces on the body to 1,800 pounds or less; adds to total fall clearance and must be accounted for.
Positioning device system: A body harness rigged to let a worker be supported on an elevated vertical surface (such as a wall) and work with both hands free; rigged so a fall is limited to 2 feet.
Warning line system: A rope, wire, or chain barrier on low-slope roofs that flags the edge zone; set at least 6 feet from the edge (10 feet where mechanical equipment is used) to keep workers back.
Controlled access zone (CAZ): An area where certain work (like leading-edge or overhand bricklaying) may proceed without conventional fall protection, with access limited to authorized, trained workers by a control line.
Safety net systems: Fall-protection nets installed as close as practicable under a surface, never more than 30 feet below; must be drop-tested or certified and extend outward based on the fall height.
Subpart L (Scaffolds): 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L governs scaffolds: design by a qualified person, a 4:1 height-to-base ratio for supported scaffolds, capacity of 4x intended load, and competent-person inspection.
Scaffold capacity rating: Every scaffold and its components must support its own weight plus at least 4 times the maximum intended load without failure (the 4:1 safety factor).
Supported scaffold height-to-base ratio: A supported scaffold more than 4 times taller than its least base width must be restrained from tipping by guying, tying, or bracing (the 4:1 rule).
Scaffold platform planking gap: Scaffold platforms must be fully planked, with the space between planks and uprights no more than 1 inch, and planks overlapping a support by at least 6 inches (max 12 unless cleated).
Scaffold access requirement: When a scaffold platform is more than 2 feet above or below an access point, a ladder, stair tower, or ramp must be provided; cross-braces may not be used for access.
Scaffold competent-person inspection: A competent person must inspect scaffolds and components before each work shift and after any event (weather, impact) that could affect structural integrity.
Aerial lift requirements: Workers in a boom-supported aerial lift must wear a harness with a lanyard attached to the boom or basket; never tie off to an adjacent structure; do not exceed load and reach limits.
Scaffold clearance from power lines: Scaffolds must keep clearance from energized power lines — at least 3 feet for insulated lines up to 300 volts and 10 feet for uninsulated or higher-voltage lines.
Subpart P (Excavations): 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P governs excavations and trenching: protective systems at 5 feet, daily competent-person inspection, spoil setback, access, and atmospheric testing where needed.
Trench vs. excavation definition: An excavation is any man-made cut, cavity, or depression in the earth surface; a trench is a narrow excavation deeper than it is wide, generally no wider than 15 feet at the bottom.
Spoil pile setback: Excavated material, equipment, and other loads must be kept at least 2 feet back from the edge of an excavation to prevent them from falling or rolling into the trench.
Excavation egress (ladder) requirement: In a trench 4 feet or more deep, a ladder, stairway, or ramp must be within 25 feet of lateral travel of every worker so they can exit quickly in a cave-in or flood.
Type A soil: Cohesive soil with an unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 tons/ft² or greater (e.g., clay); the most stable soil class but reclassified if fissured, disturbed, or vibrated.
Type C soil: The least stable soil: granular soils, submerged soil, or soil from which water is freely seeping; sloped no steeper than 1.5 horizontal to 1 vertical (1.5:1, about 34 degrees).
Maximum allowable slope (Type A): For Type A soil up to 20 feet deep, the maximum allowable slope is three-quarters horizontal to one vertical (0.75:1, about 53 degrees).
Benching: A protective method that excavates the sides of a trench into a series of horizontal steps; permitted in cohesive (Type A and B) soils but never in Type C soil.
Trench box (shield): A protective structure that resists soil loads to protect workers in the trench; it does not prevent cave-in of surrounding soil but shields those inside if the wall fails.
Registered professional engineer (excavation): Required to design protective systems for excavations deeper than 20 feet, or for sloping/shoring designs that go beyond the appendices' tabulated data.
Excavation atmospheric testing trigger: Testing for oxygen deficiency, combustible gases, and toxics is required in excavations deeper than 4 feet where a hazardous atmosphere exists or could reasonably be expected.
Underground utility location: Before excavating, estimated utility locations must be determined (call 811/One-Call) and utilities supported or protected; locate and verify before digging near them.
Subpart K (Electrical): 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K covers construction electrical safety: GFCI or an assured equipment grounding conductor program, approach distances, and de-energizing before work.
Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP): A written alternative to GFCIs for construction: scheduled inspection and testing of cord sets and equipment grounding conductors, with documentation, to ensure grounding integrity.
Minimum approach distance (power lines): Maintain at least 10 feet of clearance from overhead lines up to 50 kV; add 4 inches for each additional 10 kV above 50 kV when working or operating equipment near them.
Arc flash: An explosive release of energy from an electrical fault, producing intense heat, light, and pressure; protected against with proper PPE rated by incident energy (cal/cm²) and boundaries.
Energized work permit: Authorization required before working on or near exposed energized parts when de-energizing is infeasible; documents the justification, controls, PPE, and approval.
Stored energy hazards: Residual energy after shutdown — capacitors, springs, hydraulics, pneumatics, gravity, steam — that must be released, blocked, or dissipated during lockout/tagout before work begins.
Group lockout: A LOTO procedure for multiple workers using a group lock box or multi-lock hasp so the energy source cannot be re-energized until every worker removes a personal lock.
Subpart C (General Safety and Health): 29 CFR 1926 Subpart C sets general provisions: the employer's duty to initiate and maintain safety programs, frequent and regular inspections by a competent person, and training duties.
Subpart E (PPE): 29 CFR 1926 Subpart E requires employers to assess hazards, select appropriate PPE, and ensure its use for eyes, face, head, hands, feet, hearing, and respiratory protection.
Hard hat classes: ANSI Z89.1: Type I protects against top impact, Type II against top and lateral impact; Class G (general, 2,200 V), Class E (electrical, 20,000 V), Class C (conductive, no electrical protection).
Eye and face protection standard: Per 1926.102, eye and face protection must meet ANSI Z87.1; required where there is a risk of flying particles, molten metal, chemicals, gases, or harmful light radiation.
Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): The OSHA-enforceable maximum airborne concentration of a substance a worker may be exposed to, usually as an 8-hour time-weighted average; some have ceiling or short-term limits.
Action level: An exposure level (typically half the PEL) that triggers monitoring, training, or medical surveillance even though it is below the PEL; an early-warning compliance threshold.
Time-Weighted Average (TWA): The average airborne exposure over a work period, normally 8 hours; how most PELs are expressed so brief peaks are averaged against lower-exposure periods.
Permissible noise exposure: OSHA caps noise at 90 dBA as an 8-hour TWA with a 5-dB exchange rate; an 85-dBA action level requires a hearing conservation program with monitoring and audiometric testing.
Hearing conservation program trigger: Required when noise exposure equals or exceeds an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA (the action level): monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protection, and training.
Respirator fit testing: Required before first use, annually, and on facepiece change for tight-fitting respirators; qualitative or quantitative methods confirm a proper seal for the specific worker.
Assigned Protection Factor (APF): The expected workplace protection a properly functioning respirator provides — e.g., 10 for a half-mask, 50 for a full-facepiece, 1,000 for a tight-fitting PAPR; used to select a respirator.
IDLH atmosphere: Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health: an atmosphere posing an immediate threat to life or that would cause irreversible health effects; requires supplied-air or SCBA respiratory protection.
Respirator medical evaluation: A required evaluation before fit testing or use, since respirator wear stresses the heart and lungs; a physician or other licensed health professional determines fitness to wear one.
Air-purifying respirator (APR): A respirator with filters or cartridges that remove specific contaminants from breathing air; only for atmospheres with adequate oxygen and contaminants below IDLH levels.
GHS pictograms: Nine standardized red-bordered diamond symbols (health hazard, flame, exclamation mark, gas cylinder, corrosion, exploding bomb, flame over circle, environment, skull and crossbones).
Signal words (GHS): Two words conveying hazard severity on a label: 'Danger' for the more severe hazards and 'Warning' for the less severe; only one appears per label, based on the most severe hazard class.
Flash point: The lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapor to form an ignitable mixture in air near its surface; lower flash points mean greater fire hazard.
Flammable vs. combustible liquid: Under GHS/OSHA, flammable liquids have a flash point below 100°F (category-based); combustible liquids have a flash point at or above 100°F. Flammables ignite more readily.
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): The minimum concentration of a flammable vapor or gas in air that will ignite; below it the mixture is too lean to burn. Confined-space alarms commonly trip at 10% of LEL.
Fire tetrahedron: The four elements needed for fire: fuel, oxygen, heat, and a sustained chemical chain reaction; removing any one extinguishes the fire.
Fire extinguisher classes: Class A (ordinary combustibles), B (flammable liquids/gases), C (energized electrical), D (combustible metals), K (cooking oils/fats); a multipurpose ABC extinguisher is common on sites.
Fire extinguisher placement (construction): Per 1926.150, provide one rated 2A extinguisher for every 3,000 sq ft of building area, with travel distance to the nearest unit no more than 100 feet.
Fire watch: A trained person posted during and for at least 30 minutes after hot work to watch for and extinguish fires; required when combustibles are within 35 feet and cannot be removed or shielded.
Subpart CC (Cranes and Derricks): 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC governs cranes in construction: assembly/disassembly, operator certification, power-line clearance, ground conditions, and signal-person qualification.
Crane power-line clearance: For lines up to 350 kV, keep at least 20 feet of clearance from a crane (Table A); above 350 kV requires 50 feet, unless the line is de-energized and grounded or an encroachment plan is used.
Crane operator certification: Under Subpart CC, crane operators must be certified or licensed, and the employer must evaluate each operator's competency for the specific equipment and tasks before solo operation.
Qualified signal person: A signal person must know standard crane signals, understand the equipment's operation and limitations, and demonstrate competency; required when the operator's view of the load path is obstructed.
Rigging inspection: Slings and rigging hardware must be inspected by a competent person before each shift; remove from service any sling with excessive wear, broken wires, kinks, cracks, or distortion.
Sling angle effect: As the angle between a sling leg and the horizontal decreases, the tension in the sling increases sharply; low (small) angles dramatically raise the load on each sling leg.
Tag line: A rope attached to a suspended load and held by a worker to control the load's movement and rotation from a safe distance, keeping hands out of the pinch points.
Working load limit (WLL): The maximum load a rigging component may carry in service, established by the manufacturer with a built-in safety factor; never exceed it, and de-rate for sling angle and configuration.
Ladder fall-protection extension: A portable ladder used to access an upper landing must extend at least 3 feet above the landing surface, or be secured and have a grasping device, to allow a safe transition.
Ladder 4-to-1 rule: A non-self-supporting (extension) ladder should be set so the base is one-quarter of the working length out from the wall (a 4:1 pitch) for stable footing.
Three-point contact: When climbing a ladder, keep three of four limbs (two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand) on the ladder at all times; carry tools in a belt or hoist them separately.
Stairway fall protection trigger: Stairways with four or more risers, or rising more than 30 inches, must have at least one handrail and a stair-rail system along each unprotected side or edge.
Heat illness controls: Water, rest, and shade — plus acclimatization for new or returning workers — are the core controls; recognize heat exhaustion versus heat stroke (a medical emergency).
Acclimatization: The gradual physiological adaptation to working in heat over 7–14 days; new workers face the highest heat-illness risk, so gradually increase their exposure and workload.
Reinforcing steel (rebar) impalement protection: Protruding rebar onto which workers could fall must be guarded with caps, troughs, or by bending the ends over to eliminate the impalement hazard, per 1926.701.
Concrete formwork shoring: Formwork and shoring must be designed, fabricated, erected, and braced to support all anticipated loads; drawings or plans must be on site, and shoring inspected before, during, and after the pour.
Demolition engineering survey: Before demolition, a competent person must conduct an engineering survey of the structure's condition and the possibility of unplanned collapse, in writing, per 1926.850.
Asbestos abatement classes: 29 CFR 1926.1101 defines Class I–IV work; Class I (removing thermal system insulation/surfacing) is the highest hazard, requiring the most stringent controls and a regulated area.
Lead exposure in construction: 29 CFR 1926.62 sets a lead PEL of 50 µg/m³ and an action level of 30 µg/m³ (8-hr TWA); abrasive blasting, welding, and demolition of painted surfaces are common sources.
Mobile equipment backing hazards: Struck-by risk from reversing vehicles is controlled with backup alarms, spotters, internal traffic control plans, and high-visibility apparel; keep workers out of the blind zone.
High-visibility apparel: ANSI/ISEA 107 garments (Class 2 or 3) required for workers exposed to traffic or moving equipment so operators can see them; Class 3 for higher speeds and lower visibility.
Compressed gas cylinder storage: Store cylinders upright and secured, with valve caps on, away from heat and ignition; separate oxygen from fuel gases by 20 feet or a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet high.
Flammable liquid storage limits: Limit flammable liquids in a work area; quantities above 25 gallons must be in an approved storage cabinet, and bulk storage requires fire-rated rooms with ventilation and grounding.
Housekeeping (construction): Keeping work areas, passageways, and stairs clear of debris and tripping hazards; a primary control for slips, trips, falls, and fire load, addressed by 1926.25.
Silica exposure control plan: Required under 1926.1153: a written plan describing tasks, engineering and work-practice controls (Table 1 methods), respiratory protection, and a designated competent person.
Bloodborne pathogens (construction): 29 CFR 1910.1030 applies where occupational exposure to blood is reasonably anticipated; requires an exposure control plan, training, and universal precautions for first-aid responders.
Permit-required confined space rescue: Per 1926 Subpart AA, employers must provide rescue capability; non-entry retrieval (harness and lifeline) is preferred, and entry rescuers must be trained and able to respond in time.
Confined-space attendant: A trained person stationed outside a permit space who monitors entrants and conditions, controls entry, and summons rescue; the attendant never enters to attempt rescue.
Entry supervisor (confined space): The person responsible for authorizing entry, signing the permit, verifying tests and controls, and terminating entry when the job ends or conditions change.
Continuous atmospheric monitoring: Ongoing measurement of a permit space's atmosphere during entry (where conditions may change), so entrants are alerted and can evacuate if oxygen, LEL, or toxics move out of range.
Engulfment: The surrounding and capture of a person by a finely divided flowable solid or liquid (such as grain, sand, or water) that can crush, suffocate, or drown — a defining permit-space hazard.
Material Safety vs. Safety Data Sheet: GHS replaced the old variable-format MSDS with the standardized 16-section SDS in a fixed order, making chemical hazard information consistent and easier to use across employers.
Cumulative trauma / ergonomic hazard: Repetitive motion, awkward postures, and forceful exertions that cause musculoskeletal disorders over time; controlled by job design, mechanical aids, and rotation rather than PPE.
Pre-task planning: A daily, crew-level review of the day's tasks, hazards, and controls before work begins (often a pre-task or 'plan-of-the-day' card) to surface risks proactively.
Site-Specific Safety Plan (SSSP): A written plan tailored to a particular project's hazards, scope, and conditions, defining roles, controls, and emergency procedures for that site rather than a generic corporate program.
Risk assessment matrix: A grid that plots a hazard's severity against its probability to assign a risk level (low to extreme), prioritizing which risks to control first.
Severity: The magnitude of harm a hazard could cause if the event occurs (from minor first aid to fatality); one of the two axes, with probability, in risk assessment.
Probability (likelihood): The chance that a hazardous event will occur given the exposure and conditions; combined with severity to rank risk and decide how urgently to apply controls.
Residual risk: The risk that remains after controls are applied; if it is still unacceptable, additional or higher-level controls are needed before the work proceeds.
ANSI Z10: A voluntary American national consensus standard for occupational health and safety management systems built on the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle of continual improvement.
ISO 45001: The international standard for occupational health and safety management systems, using the Plan-Do-Check-Act framework and emphasizing worker participation and risk-based thinking.
Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA): The continual-improvement cycle underlying safety management systems: plan controls, do (implement), check (measure/audit), act (correct and improve), then repeat.
Experience Modification Rate (EMR): A workers' compensation factor comparing a company's loss history to industry average; 1.0 is average, below 1.0 lowers premiums and is often a bid prequalification benchmark.
OSHA General Duty Clause: Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act: each employer must furnish a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious harm, used where no specific standard applies.
OSHA citation classifications: Other-than-serious, serious, willful, repeat, and failure-to-abate; willful and repeat carry the highest penalties, and willful violations causing death can bring criminal charges.
Imminent danger: A condition where a hazard could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm immediately; OSHA prioritizes these for inspection and can seek to halt the work.
OSHA inspection priorities: In order: imminent danger, fatalities/catastrophes, worker complaints and referrals, programmed/targeted inspections, and follow-up inspections.
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP): An OSHA recognition program for worksites with exemplary, self-sustaining safety management systems; participants are exempt from programmed inspections while in good standing.
Competent person designation (program): A program element assigning, in writing where required, who is the competent person for each regulated activity (scaffolds, excavations, fall protection) and confirming their authority.
Prequalification of subcontractors: Screening subcontractors before award using safety metrics (EMR, TRIR, OSHA history, programs and training) to ensure they meet the project's safety expectations.
Corrective action tracking: A program element that logs each identified deficiency with an owner, due date, and verified closure, so findings from inspections, audits, and incidents are actually resolved.
Management of Change (MOC): A process to review and control the safety impacts of changes to equipment, processes, personnel, or site conditions before they are implemented.
Behavior-Based Safety (BBS): An observation-and-feedback process that identifies at-risk behaviors and reinforces safe ones through peer observation, data, and positive feedback rather than discipline.
Stop-work authority: An empowerment giving any worker the right and responsibility to stop a task they believe is unsafe, without fear of reprisal, until the hazard is resolved.
Recordkeeping exemption (partial): Employers with 10 or fewer employees, and establishments in certain low-hazard industries, are partially exempt from routinely keeping OSHA 300 logs (but must still report severe events).
Written hazard communication program: A required HazCom element describing how the employer handles labels, SDS access, training, and a chemical inventory list for the workplace.
Safety committee: A joint management-and-worker group that reviews incidents, inspections, and concerns, driving worker participation and surfacing hazards across the project.
Cost of safety (direct vs. indirect): Direct costs are insured (medical, comp) while indirect (uninsured) costs — lost time, retraining, schedule delay, damage, morale — are typically several times larger and often hidden.
Heinrich's safety triangle: A ratio model that for every serious injury there are many minor injuries and far more near misses; addressing the wide base of near misses reduces serious events at the top.
OSHA 30-hour construction training: An OSHA Outreach course giving supervisors and workers a broad orientation to construction hazards and worker rights; widely required on jobsites but not a substitute for site-specific training.
OSHA 10-hour construction training: An entry-level OSHA Outreach course covering recognition and avoidance of common construction hazards; awareness-level, often required of craft workers on projects.
Competent-person training (fall protection): Required training under 1926.503 so the designated person can identify fall hazards, select and inspect systems, and supervise correct use; documented with the trainer and date.
Retraining trigger: Workers must be retrained when changes in the workplace, equipment, or procedures make prior training obsolete, or when their performance shows inadequate knowledge or skill.
Learning objectives: Clear, measurable statements of what a worker should be able to do after training; they drive content and let you verify comprehension rather than assume attendance equals learning.
Adult learning principles (andragogy): Adults learn best when training is relevant to their job, draws on their experience, is problem-centered and hands-on, and respects them as self-directed learners.
Demonstration-performance method: An instructional method where the trainer demonstrates a skill, then the learner performs it under observation with feedback; the most effective way to teach a psychomotor safety skill.
Training needs assessment: A systematic review of incident data, job hazards, regulations, and worker performance to identify gaps and determine who needs which training before building a program.
Kirkpatrick training evaluation levels: Four levels of measuring training effectiveness: reaction, learning, behavior, and results; moving from 'did they like it' to 'did it change behavior and outcomes on site'.
Active listening: A communication skill of fully attending to the speaker, confirming understanding, and responding to concerns — key to investigations, near-miss reports, and earning crew trust.
Positive reinforcement: Recognizing and rewarding safe behavior to increase its frequency; generally more effective at sustaining safe behavior than relying on discipline alone.
Transformational safety leadership: A leadership style that inspires and engages workers around a shared safety vision, models commitment, and develops people — linked to stronger safety climate and fewer incidents.
Coaching (safety): Guiding a worker toward safer performance through observation, questions, and feedback in the moment, building competence and ownership rather than simply correcting.
Safety orientation (new hire): Initial training given before a worker starts on a site, covering site rules, hazards, emergency procedures, PPE, and reporting; first and critical exposure-reduction step.
Comprehension verification: Confirming workers actually understood training through questions, demonstrations, or quizzes rather than assuming a signed attendance sheet equals learning.
Two-way communication: Information flowing both up and down — management sets expectations and workers report hazards and feedback; essential on multi-employer sites and for hazard recognition.
Standard hand signals (cranes): A standardized set of arm and hand gestures the signal person uses to direct crane operations (hoist, lower, swing, stop) so communication is unambiguous when voice is impractical.
Safety incentive program (best practice): Programs should reward leading indicators (participation, hazard reporting, training) rather than the absence of recorded injuries, which can suppress reporting.
Anti-retaliation requirement: OSHA prohibits retaliation against workers for reporting injuries or safety concerns; incentive and discipline policies must not discourage reporting, per 1904.35/36.
Severe injury reporting (OSHA): Employers must report a work-related fatality within 8 hours, and any inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye within 24 hours, to OSHA.
Preserve the scene: After caring for the injured, secure and preserve the incident scene and evidence (positions, equipment, conditions) before normal operations resume, so the investigation is accurate.
Corrective action hierarchy (investigation): Apply the hierarchy of controls to investigation findings — prefer engineering fixes over administrative changes or added PPE — so recurrence is prevented, not just re-trained.
Fault tree analysis: A top-down, deductive investigation technique that diagrams the logical combinations of events and conditions (using AND/OR gates) that could lead to a top undesired event.
Causal factors: The specific actions, conditions, and decisions that, if eliminated, would have prevented the incident or reduced its severity; the bridge between the timeline and root causes.
Contributing factor: A condition or action that influenced an incident's occurrence or outcome but, by itself, would not have caused it; addressing them reduces overall risk.
Witness interview best practice: Interview witnesses separately and as soon as possible, in a neutral setting, with open-ended questions, focusing on facts not blame, to preserve accurate, uninfluenced recollections.
Incident timeline / sequence of events: A chronological reconstruction of what happened before, during, and after an incident; the factual foundation from which causal factors and root causes are identified.
First aid vs. medical treatment: First aid (a specific OSHA list — bandages, hot/cold packs, non-prescription medication at OTC dose) is not recordable; treatment beyond that list makes a case recordable.
Work-relatedness: An injury or illness is presumed work-related if an event or exposure in the work environment caused or contributed to it or significantly aggravated a pre-existing condition.
Restricted work case: A recordable case where, due to a work-related injury, an employee cannot perform routine job functions or work a full shift but is not kept away from work entirely.
Days away from work case: A recordable case where the employee misses one or more days of work after the day of injury; count calendar days and cap the count at 180 days on the OSHA 300 log.
Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR): A lagging metric of lost-time injuries per standardized number of hours worked; like TRIR but counting only cases that resulted in time away from work.
Severity rate: A lagging metric expressing the number of lost or restricted workdays per standardized hours worked, capturing how serious injuries are, not just how frequent.
Emergency assembly point / muster point: A predesignated safe location away from hazards where evacuated workers gather for a head count; clearly marked and communicated in the emergency action plan.
Evacuation routes and exits: Marked, unobstructed paths and exits identified in the EAP; must be kept clear, lit where needed, and known to all workers through orientation and drills.
Emergency drills: Practiced runs of evacuation, rescue, or other emergency responses that test the plan, build worker familiarity, and reveal gaps before a real emergency occurs.
Spill response / containment: Planned actions to stop, contain, and clean up a chemical release using SDS guidance, spill kits, and trained responders; large or hazardous spills require trained HAZWOPER responders.
HAZWOPER: Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (29 CFR 1910.120/1926.65): training tiers (awareness, operations, technician) and an emergency response plan for hazardous-substance releases.
Severe weather plan: Procedures for lightning, high wind, tornado, or flooding — including stop-work triggers (such as the 30/30 lightning rule), shelter locations, and crane/lift shutdown thresholds.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED): A portable device that analyzes heart rhythm and delivers a shock to restore normal rhythm in sudden cardiac arrest; pairs with CPR and is part of medical emergency readiness.
Medical services and first aid (1926.50): Requires provisions for prompt medical attention; where a clinic or hospital is not in near proximity, a person trained in first aid must be available on site, with adequate supplies.
Incident Command System (ICS): A standardized, scalable emergency management structure defining roles (command, operations, planning, logistics, finance) so responders coordinate effectively during a major incident.
Post-incident review / lessons learned: A structured debrief after an incident or emergency to capture what worked, what failed, and what to change; feeds corrective actions and improves future response and prevention.

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By Career EmployerUpdated Jun 20, 2026

200+ free CHST flashcards — 4 ways to study

CHST Flashcard of the Day

The classic card. Do you know this one?

Click Study Flashcards above to open the flashcard hub — dozens of CHST cards you can flip, match, type, or quiz yourself on. Every card is drawn from the four official BCSP content domains and grounded in OSHA 29 CFR 1926, so you study exactly what the Construction Health and Safety Technician exam tests.^[2] Pair them with our free practice test and study guide.

CHST Flashcard Study Modes

Most flashcard sites give you one thing: a card to flip. Ours has four modes so you can both learn the material and prove you know it — the difference between recognizing an answer and recalling it under exam pressure.

Flip (Study) — the classic card. Flip term ↔ definition, shuffle the deck, and mark each card “Got it” or “Still learning.”
Match (Game) — a timed game: pair each term to its definition as fast as you can. Great for cementing OSHA 1926 terminology.
Type (Recall) — read the definition and type the term. Typing forces true active recall instead of passive recognition.
Quiz (Test) — multiple-choice questions generated from the cards, so you self-test exactly like exam day.

Free CHST flashcards from Career Employer — active recall for the BCSP Construction Health and Safety Technician exam

Why Flashcards Work for the CHST

Flashcards aren’t busywork — they’re built on active recall: pulling an answer out of memory strengthens it far more than re-reading notes. Pair that with spacing — short sessions across several days rather than one cram — and you retain more in less time.

The CHST is dense with OSHA 1926 specifics — fall-trigger heights, soil classes, the Focus Four, exposure limits, incident-rate formulas, and recordkeeping rules.^[3] Spaced flashcards are the most efficient way to keep it all fresh. Used alongside our practice test and study guide, they turn review time into measurable progress.

CHST Flashcards by Domain

The cards are organized by the four official BCSP content domains. Drill the highest-weighted one first — Hazard and Risk Identification and Control is more than a third of the exam:^[2]

CHST flashcards by content domain and weight
Domain	Exam weight
Hazard and Risk Identification and Control	~37%
Safety Program Development, Implementation, and Sustainment	~22%
Leadership, Communication, and Training	~21%
Emergency Preparedness, Incident Investigation, and Response	~20%

How to Get the Most Out of These Flashcards

Lead with the heavy domain. Hazard and Risk Identification and Control is ~37% of the exam — start there, with the Focus Four and the hierarchy of controls.
Use Type and Quiz, not just Flip. Recognizing the right answer is easy; recalling and choosing it is the real test.
Drill your weakest domain. Pick a single domain deck and grind it until the Match time drops and the Quiz score climbs.
Then prove it. When the cards feel easy, confirm with a full practice test — aim comfortably above passing before exam day.

CHST Flashcards FAQ

Dozens of free CHST flashcards, organized across all four BCSP blueprint domains — Hazard and Risk Identification and Control, Safety Program Development, Leadership and Training, and Emergency Preparedness and Response. They're free with no account required.

References

1.Board of Certified Safety Professionals. “Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST).” bcsp.org. ↑
2.Board of Certified Safety Professionals. “CHST Examination Blueprint.” bcsp.org. ↑
3.Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “Construction Focus Four Hazards.” osha.gov. ↑

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