The OSHA 10 course isn’t designed to fail people — but walking in cold makes for two long, confusing days. Give it two weeks of light prep and the class becomes a review session.
The numbers that always show up
Nearly every OSHA 10 exam leans on the same handful of figures. Get these automatic first:
| Number | Rule |
|---|---|
| 6 ft | Fall protection required in construction |
| 5 ft | Trench/excavation protection required |
| 4:1 | Ladder setback ratio (1 ft out per 4 ft up) |
| 3 ft | Ladder extension above the landing |
| 10 ft | Minimum distance from overhead power lines (≤50kV) |
| 5,000 lb | Fall-arrest anchor rating per worker |
| 2 ft | Spoil pile setback from trench edge |
| 90 dBA | 8-hour noise level triggering protection |
Tip: the Quick Reference section of the SafePath OSHA 10 app keeps all of these on one card — including in Spanish.
The 2-week plan
Days 1–2 — Orientation. Read the Introduction to OSHA lessons: worker rights, employer duties, what inspections look like. Take the intro quiz.
Days 3–6 — The Focus Four, one per day. Falls, electrocution, struck-by, caught-in/between. Lesson first, quiz after, reread whatever you missed. Our Focus Four explainer ties the four together.
Days 7–9 — The supporting topics. PPE, health hazards, stairways and ladders.
Days 10–12 — Photo training. The SafePath app’s photo questions show real jobsite scenes — spot the missing guardrail, the metal ladder near power lines, the unshored trench. This builds the skill the course actually wants: seeing hazards.
Days 13–14 — Mock tests. Full-length runs in the app. Above 80% twice in a row and you’re ready.
Three habits that make it stick
- Read the explanation even when you’re right. The explanations tie each answer to the actual 1926 standard — that context is what the exam paraphrases.
- Study in your strongest language. Everything exists in Spanish too — see our full guide to OSHA training in Spanish.
- Little and often beats cramming. Ten questions at lunch every day outperforms a three-hour Sunday session. The app’s Daily Question exists for exactly this.
Remember: the card comes from an authorized trainer, not from any app. Book your course through the official trainer directory — then show up prepared and make it easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What score do I need to pass OSHA 10?
Online courses typically require about 70% on module quizzes and the final exam, with up to three attempts. In-person courses are usually pass-by-participation, though trainers may test.
How hard is the OSHA 10 exam?
With preparation, not hard — questions are practical and scenario-based. People fail when the vocabulary (competent person, GFCI, PFAS, 29 CFR 1926) is brand new on exam day.
What numbers should I memorize for OSHA 10?
The big ones: fall protection at 6 feet, trench protection at 5 feet, ladder angle 4:1, ladder 3 feet above landing, 10 feet from power lines, 5,000 lb anchor points, spoil piles 2 feet back, and 90 dBA noise over 8 hours.
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