CSLB General Building (B) — All Questions
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At what height is fall protection generally required in construction?
- a.20 feet
- b.10 feet
- c.6 feet above a lower level✓
- d.2 feet
In construction, fall protection is generally required at 6 feet or more above a lower level. Different thresholds apply in other industries, such as 4 feet in general industry. The 6-foot rule is a core concept in construction safety.
Which of the following is a conventional fall protection system?
- a.A warning sign only
- b.A verbal reminder
- c.Bright paint on the floor
- d.A guardrail system✓
Guardrail systems, safety net systems, and personal fall arrest systems are the conventional means of fall protection. Each physically prevents a fall or arrests it before the worker reaches a lower level. Signs and reminders alone are not conventional fall protection.
What is the required top rail height for a standard guardrail system?
- a.12 inches
- b.60 inches
- c.20 inches
- d.Approximately 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches✓
A standard guardrail top rail must be about 42 inches high, plus or minus 3 inches, above the walking or working surface. A midrail is installed roughly halfway between the top rail and the surface. Guardrails must withstand at least 200 pounds of force applied outward or downward.
What are the three main components of a personal fall arrest system (PFAS)?
- a.Ladder, rope, and bucket
- b.Helmet, gloves, and boots
- c.Anchorage, body harness, and connector such as a lanyard✓
- d.Sign, cone, and tape
A personal fall arrest system consists of an anchorage, a full-body harness, and a connecting device such as a shock-absorbing lanyard or self-retracting lifeline. All three parts, sometimes remembered as the ABCs, must work together. A missing or defective component can render the system useless.
What type of body wear is required in a personal fall arrest system today?
- a.A body belt
- b.A full-body harness✓
- c.A simple rope around the waist
- d.No body wear needed
A full-body harness is required in modern personal fall arrest systems because it distributes arrest forces across the body. Body belts are no longer permitted for fall arrest because they can cause internal injuries. The harness must fit properly and be inspected before each use.
What is the maximum arresting force a personal fall arrest system should place on a worker's body?
- a.1,800 pounds when using a full-body harness✓
- b.5,000 pounds
- c.10,000 pounds
- d.There is no limit
A personal fall arrest system must limit the maximum arresting force on a worker to 1,800 pounds when a full-body harness is used. Shock-absorbing lanyards help keep forces within this limit. Exceeding this force could cause serious injury even during a successful arrest.
Why is it important to minimize free fall distance in a fall arrest system?
- a.To reduce arresting forces and the chance of hitting a lower level✓
- b.To save rope
- c.To make the harness lighter
- d.It is not important
Minimizing free fall distance reduces the forces on the body and the risk of striking a lower level or obstruction. OSHA generally limits free fall to 6 feet or less. Anchoring at or above the D-ring and accounting for total fall clearance are essential.
What must be considered to prevent a worker from hitting the ground during a fall arrest?
- a.Only the worker's weight
- b.Total fall clearance, including lanyard length, deceleration distance, and harness stretch✓
- c.The color of the harness
- d.The time of day
Fall clearance calculations must account for the lanyard length, deceleration distance, harness stretch, and a safety margin. If total clearance exceeds the distance to the lower level, the worker could still hit the ground. This calculation is critical when anchoring at foot level.
When must a scaffold be inspected?
- a.Only once a year
- b.Only when it collapses
- c.Before each work shift and after any event that could affect its integrity✓
- d.Never
Scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person before each work shift and after any occurrence that could affect their structural integrity, such as a storm. Defective scaffolds must be tagged and taken out of service. Regular inspection prevents scaffold collapses and falls.
At what height must most scaffold platforms have fall protection?
- a.2 feet
- b.25 feet
- c.50 feet
- d.10 feet above a lower level✓
Most scaffold platforms require fall protection when they are more than 10 feet above a lower level. This may be provided by guardrails or personal fall arrest systems depending on the scaffold type. The 10-foot scaffold threshold differs from the general 6-foot construction rule.
How must scaffold platforms be planked to prevent workers or tools from falling through?
- a.Left mostly open
- b.Planked with 12-inch gaps
- c.Not planked at all
- d.Fully planked or decked with gaps generally no more than 1 inch around uprights✓
Scaffold platforms must be fully planked or decked, with the space between planks and between the platform and uprights generally not exceeding 1 inch. Larger gaps are only allowed where necessary to fit around uprights. Full planking prevents workers and tools from falling through.
How should a straight or extension ladder be positioned against a wall (the 4-to-1 rule)?
- a.4 feet out for every 1 foot of height
- b.Straight up vertically
- c.1 foot out at the base for every 4 feet of working height✓
- d.At a 90-degree angle
The 4-to-1 rule means the base of the ladder should be placed 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet of vertical working height. This angle provides stability and reduces the chance of the ladder sliding out. Setting the ladder too steep or too shallow increases fall risk.
How far above a landing must an extension ladder extend for safe access?
- a.It should stop below the landing
- b.At least 3 feet above the landing surface✓
- c.Exactly at the landing edge
- d.10 feet above
A ladder used to access an upper landing must extend at least 3 feet above the landing surface. This gives the worker something to hold while stepping on and off. If it cannot extend, a grab rail must be provided.
What is the '3-point contact' rule when climbing a ladder?
- a.Keep three limbs in contact with the ladder at all times✓
- b.Touch the ladder three times before climbing
- c.Use only three rungs
- d.Have three workers hold it
Three-point contact means keeping two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, on the ladder at all times while climbing. This maintains stability and reduces the chance of falling. Workers should carry tools in a belt or hoist them separately rather than in their hands.
Why should you never stand on the top cap or top step of a stepladder?
- a.It creates instability and a serious fall hazard✓
- b.It voids the warranty
- c.It scratches the ladder
- d.It is perfectly safe to do so
Standing on the top cap or top step of a stepladder raises the center of gravity and makes the ladder unstable, creating a serious fall hazard. Manufacturers label these areas as not for standing. Choosing a taller ladder is the correct solution when more height is needed.
What should be done with a ladder that has a cracked rail or broken rung?
- a.Use it carefully
- b.Tag it out of service and remove it from use until repaired or discarded✓
- c.Tape over the crack and continue
- d.Lend it to another crew
A ladder with structural defects such as a cracked rail or broken rung must be tagged out of service and removed from use. It should be repaired to original condition or destroyed. Using a damaged ladder can lead to sudden failure and a fall.
What is the purpose of a safety net system?
- a.Decoration
- b.To store tools
- c.To catch a falling worker when other fall protection is not feasible✓
- d.To block sunlight
Safety net systems catch a falling worker and are used where guardrails or personal fall arrest are not practical. Nets must be installed as close as practicable under the work surface, never more than 30 feet below. They must be inspected and drop-tested or otherwise certified.
What is a 'controlled access zone' used for in fall protection?
- a.Storing vehicles
- b.Parking equipment
- c.A break area
- d.Designating an area where certain work may occur with access limited to authorized workers✓
A controlled access zone is an area where certain work, such as leading-edge or overhand bricklaying, may take place and where access is limited to authorized workers. It is defined by control lines and used with a safety monitoring system in specific situations. It is a form of alternative fall protection where conventional systems are infeasible.
When is a floor hole or opening a fall hazard that must be protected?
- a.Only if larger than a door
- b.Never, holes are always safe
- c.Only outdoors
- d.When a worker could fall through or step into it, requiring covers or guardrails✓
Holes and openings in floors or roofs through which a worker could fall must be protected with covers, guardrails, or personal fall arrest. Covers must be secured and marked, and be able to support the intended loads. Unprotected openings are a common and preventable fall hazard.
Who is required to train workers on fall hazards and the fall protection systems they will use?
- a.Any coworker
- b.The equipment vendor only
- c.A competent person, through a fall protection training program✓
- d.No training is required
OSHA requires that a competent person train each worker exposed to fall hazards to recognize those hazards and use the fall protection systems correctly. Retraining is required when conditions change or when a worker shows inadequate understanding. Training must be documented with a written certification.