2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
EM 385-1-1 Final Exam 2024-2026 | 250 Verified Q&A | AHA & APP Requirements, Fall
Protection (6ft Trigger), Excavation & Trenching, LHE/Crane Safety, LOTO, and
HAZWOPER
Pass the 40-Hour USACE Safety Course with this -question master study guide covering the most
heavily weighted sections of the EM 385-1-1 (March 2024 Revision). This document features 100%
verified answers and detailed rationales for critical topics including Activity Hazard Analysis
(AHA), 6-foot Fall Protection triggers, Excavation sloping (Type A, B, C soils), and Crane/Lifting
(LHE) standards. Perfectly formatted for quick memorization, this guide ensures you understand the
"why" behind the safety requirements to guarantee a passing score on your final proctored exam.
1. Who is responsible for the overall management of the Safety and Occupational Health
(SOH) program on a USACE project?
A. The Subcontractor
B. The SSHO (Site Safety and Health Officer)
C. The Contractor’s Project Manager
D. The GDA (Government Designated Authority)
Answer: C
Rationale: While the SSHO implements the program, the Contractor's corporate leadership
and Project Manager hold ultimate responsibility for SOH program management.
2. What is the minimum training requirement for a Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO)
on a USACE contract?
A. 10-hour OSHA Construction
B. 30-hour OSHA Construction or 40-hour EM 385-1-1 course
C. 2-hour awareness training
D. No formal training required if they have 10 years experience
Answer: B
Rationale: Per Section 1, an SSHO must have completed a 30-hour OSHA course or a 40-
hour EM 385-1-1 course within the last 5 years.
3. An Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA) must be developed for which of the following?
A. Only for high-risk work like demolition
B. For every major phase of work
C. Only when the GDA requests one
D. Once a year for the entire project
Answer: B
, 2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
Rationale: Section 01.A.14 requires an AHA for each define phase of work. It must be
reviewed and accepted by the GDA before that work begins.
4. What is the "mishap" reporting requirement for a fatal accident on a USACE project?
A. Within 24 hours
B. Within 8 hours
C. Immediately, but no later than 1 hour
D. By the end of the work week
Answer: C
Rationale: All accidents resulting in a fatality or permanent total disability must be reported
immediately (within 1 hour) to the GDA.
5. How often must the Accident Prevention Plan (APP) be reviewed and updated?
A. Every 5 years
B. Only if a death occurs
C. At least annually or when changes in work occur
D. Never, once it is accepted
Answer: C
Rationale: The APP is a living document. It must be updated as the project evolves or at a
minimum of once per year.
6. What is the minimum width for a primary access walkway or footbridge?
A. 18 inches
B. 24 inches
C. 36 inches
D. 48 inches
Answer: C
Rationale: Section 18.B.02 states that walkways intended for primary access must be at least
36 inches wide.
7. At what height is fall protection mandatory for general construction workers under
EM 385-1-1?
A. 4 feet
B. 6 feet
C. 10 feet
D. 15 feet
Answer: B
Rationale: Unlike OSHA’s varying heights, EM 385-1-1 maintains a strict 6-foot trigger height
for fall protection in almost all construction activities.
8. What is the required ratio for a portable ladder set against a wall?
A. 2:1
B. 3:1
C. 4:1
, 2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
D. 5:1
Answer: C
Rationale: The base of the ladder must be 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet of ladder
height.
9. How many feet must a ladder extend above the landing surface?
A. 1 foot
B. 2 feet
C. 3 feet
D. 5 feet
Answer: C
Rationale: Ladders used to access a roof or platform must extend at least 3 feet above the
point of support.
10. Before an excavation is started, what must be done regarding underground utilities?
A. Start digging slowly to find them
B. Check old hand-drawn maps
C. Contact local utility companies/811 to locate and mark lines
D. Excavation does not require utility marking on federal land
Answer: C
Rationale: Section 25.A.02 requires all underground utilities to be located and physically
marked before any "breaking of ground."
11. A "Competent Person" for excavation must inspect the trench at what frequency?
A. Once a week
B. Daily, before each shift, and after every rain event
C. Only if a wall collapses
D. Every 4 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Daily inspections are mandatory to ensure soil stability hasn't changed due to
weather or vibration.
12. At what depth does an excavation require a protective system (shoring/trench box)?
A. 3 feet
B. 4 feet
C. 5 feet
D. 6 feet
Answer: C
Rationale: Any trench 5 feet or deeper must have a protective system. Trenches less than 5
feet may still require one if the Competent Person deems the soil unstable.
13. What is the minimum distance a spoil pile must be kept from the edge of an
excavation?
A. 1 foot
, 2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
B. 2 feet
C. 3 feet
D. 5 feet
Answer: B
Rationale: Spoil piles and heavy equipment must be at least 2 feet from the edge to prevent
cave-ins caused by surcharged loads.
14. What is the required illumination (foot-candles) for general construction work areas?
A. 3 fc
B. 5 fc
C. 10 fc
D. 30 fc
Answer: B
Rationale: Section 07.A.03 requires at least 5 foot-candles for general construction area
lighting.
15. Standard guardrails must be able to withstand a force of how many pounds applied
in any outward or downward direction?
A. 100 lbs
B. 150 lbs
C. 200 lbs
D. 300 lbs
Answer: C
Rationale: Top rails must be strong enough to support 200 lbs of force to prevent a falling
worker from breaking through.
16. What is the required height for the top rail of a standard guardrail system?
A. 36 inches (+/- 3")
B. 42 inches (+/- 3")
C. 45 inches (+/- 3")
D. 48 inches (+/- 3")
Answer: B
Rationale: Section 21.F.01 sets the standard top rail height at 42 inches.
17. How often must a PFAS (Personal Fall Arrest System) be inspected by the user?
A. Monthly
B. Weekly
C. Daily/Before each use
D. Annually by a professional
Answer: C
Rationale: Users must inspect their harness, lanyard, and connectors for damage or
deployment before every use.
EM 385-1-1 Final Exam 2024-2026 | 250 Verified Q&A | AHA & APP Requirements, Fall
Protection (6ft Trigger), Excavation & Trenching, LHE/Crane Safety, LOTO, and
HAZWOPER
Pass the 40-Hour USACE Safety Course with this -question master study guide covering the most
heavily weighted sections of the EM 385-1-1 (March 2024 Revision). This document features 100%
verified answers and detailed rationales for critical topics including Activity Hazard Analysis
(AHA), 6-foot Fall Protection triggers, Excavation sloping (Type A, B, C soils), and Crane/Lifting
(LHE) standards. Perfectly formatted for quick memorization, this guide ensures you understand the
"why" behind the safety requirements to guarantee a passing score on your final proctored exam.
1. Who is responsible for the overall management of the Safety and Occupational Health
(SOH) program on a USACE project?
A. The Subcontractor
B. The SSHO (Site Safety and Health Officer)
C. The Contractor’s Project Manager
D. The GDA (Government Designated Authority)
Answer: C
Rationale: While the SSHO implements the program, the Contractor's corporate leadership
and Project Manager hold ultimate responsibility for SOH program management.
2. What is the minimum training requirement for a Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO)
on a USACE contract?
A. 10-hour OSHA Construction
B. 30-hour OSHA Construction or 40-hour EM 385-1-1 course
C. 2-hour awareness training
D. No formal training required if they have 10 years experience
Answer: B
Rationale: Per Section 1, an SSHO must have completed a 30-hour OSHA course or a 40-
hour EM 385-1-1 course within the last 5 years.
3. An Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA) must be developed for which of the following?
A. Only for high-risk work like demolition
B. For every major phase of work
C. Only when the GDA requests one
D. Once a year for the entire project
Answer: B
, 2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
Rationale: Section 01.A.14 requires an AHA for each define phase of work. It must be
reviewed and accepted by the GDA before that work begins.
4. What is the "mishap" reporting requirement for a fatal accident on a USACE project?
A. Within 24 hours
B. Within 8 hours
C. Immediately, but no later than 1 hour
D. By the end of the work week
Answer: C
Rationale: All accidents resulting in a fatality or permanent total disability must be reported
immediately (within 1 hour) to the GDA.
5. How often must the Accident Prevention Plan (APP) be reviewed and updated?
A. Every 5 years
B. Only if a death occurs
C. At least annually or when changes in work occur
D. Never, once it is accepted
Answer: C
Rationale: The APP is a living document. It must be updated as the project evolves or at a
minimum of once per year.
6. What is the minimum width for a primary access walkway or footbridge?
A. 18 inches
B. 24 inches
C. 36 inches
D. 48 inches
Answer: C
Rationale: Section 18.B.02 states that walkways intended for primary access must be at least
36 inches wide.
7. At what height is fall protection mandatory for general construction workers under
EM 385-1-1?
A. 4 feet
B. 6 feet
C. 10 feet
D. 15 feet
Answer: B
Rationale: Unlike OSHA’s varying heights, EM 385-1-1 maintains a strict 6-foot trigger height
for fall protection in almost all construction activities.
8. What is the required ratio for a portable ladder set against a wall?
A. 2:1
B. 3:1
C. 4:1
, 2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
D. 5:1
Answer: C
Rationale: The base of the ladder must be 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet of ladder
height.
9. How many feet must a ladder extend above the landing surface?
A. 1 foot
B. 2 feet
C. 3 feet
D. 5 feet
Answer: C
Rationale: Ladders used to access a roof or platform must extend at least 3 feet above the
point of support.
10. Before an excavation is started, what must be done regarding underground utilities?
A. Start digging slowly to find them
B. Check old hand-drawn maps
C. Contact local utility companies/811 to locate and mark lines
D. Excavation does not require utility marking on federal land
Answer: C
Rationale: Section 25.A.02 requires all underground utilities to be located and physically
marked before any "breaking of ground."
11. A "Competent Person" for excavation must inspect the trench at what frequency?
A. Once a week
B. Daily, before each shift, and after every rain event
C. Only if a wall collapses
D. Every 4 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Daily inspections are mandatory to ensure soil stability hasn't changed due to
weather or vibration.
12. At what depth does an excavation require a protective system (shoring/trench box)?
A. 3 feet
B. 4 feet
C. 5 feet
D. 6 feet
Answer: C
Rationale: Any trench 5 feet or deeper must have a protective system. Trenches less than 5
feet may still require one if the Competent Person deems the soil unstable.
13. What is the minimum distance a spoil pile must be kept from the edge of an
excavation?
A. 1 foot
, 2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS DOWNLOAD
B. 2 feet
C. 3 feet
D. 5 feet
Answer: B
Rationale: Spoil piles and heavy equipment must be at least 2 feet from the edge to prevent
cave-ins caused by surcharged loads.
14. What is the required illumination (foot-candles) for general construction work areas?
A. 3 fc
B. 5 fc
C. 10 fc
D. 30 fc
Answer: B
Rationale: Section 07.A.03 requires at least 5 foot-candles for general construction area
lighting.
15. Standard guardrails must be able to withstand a force of how many pounds applied
in any outward or downward direction?
A. 100 lbs
B. 150 lbs
C. 200 lbs
D. 300 lbs
Answer: C
Rationale: Top rails must be strong enough to support 200 lbs of force to prevent a falling
worker from breaking through.
16. What is the required height for the top rail of a standard guardrail system?
A. 36 inches (+/- 3")
B. 42 inches (+/- 3")
C. 45 inches (+/- 3")
D. 48 inches (+/- 3")
Answer: B
Rationale: Section 21.F.01 sets the standard top rail height at 42 inches.
17. How often must a PFAS (Personal Fall Arrest System) be inspected by the user?
A. Monthly
B. Weekly
C. Daily/Before each use
D. Annually by a professional
Answer: C
Rationale: Users must inspect their harness, lanyard, and connectors for damage or
deployment before every use.
