On one site a carpenter walks a floor joist 7 feet above the slab of a house being framed, while a labourer works 7 feet up at the unprotected open edge of a commercial building's second floor. Under the Cal/OSHA construction orders, who must be protected from falling?
Explanation
California does not use one height. Section 1670(a) requires approved personal fall protection in general construction where work exposes an employee to falling in excess of 7 1/2 feet, so the labourer at 7 feet on the commercial edge is below that trigger. Section 1716.2(e)(1) sets a different figure for residential-type framing: fall protection when employees walk or work on top plates, joists, rafters, trusses or beams 6 feet or more above the level below, so the carpenter at 7 feet is above it. Six feet is the FEDERAL construction trigger; in California it is the residential framing and residential roofing number, not the general one.
Law Reference: 8 CCR §1670(a); 8 CCR §1716.2(e)(1)This topic, taught in full in the CSLB Law & Business guide. CSLB Law & Business — Complete Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $24.99 · 14-day refund →
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