Challenge Your Exam Readiness With Our Free STSC Practice Questions

Protruding rebar presents a high-severity impalement hazard. Effective controls prioritize engineering and isolation. Approved protective caps designed for impalement protection (not simple mushroom caps for abrasion only) or mechanically bending the rebar ends to eliminate the spearing geometry significantly reduces injury potential. Combining this with restricted access—barriers, signage, and alternate pathways—further lowers exposure. Administrative measures like “be careful” or caution tape alone are weak and unreliable, especially in congested construction environments. PPE such as long sleeves does not prevent impalement. An STSC validates that caps are rated for impact, inspects that all exposed bars are protected, coordinates with scheduling to avoid overlapping trades in the hazard zone, and audits controls during the shift. Documented inspections and corrective actions support continuous improvement and align with hazard control hierarchy and supervisor responsibilities emphasized in STSC competencies.