OSHA 30 Construction — All Questions
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At what height is fall protection generally required in construction?
- a.10 feet
- b.2 feet
- c.6 feet above a lower level✓
- d.20 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.Bright paint on the floor
- c.A guardrail system✓
- d.A verbal reminder
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.Approximately 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches✓
- b.20 inches
- c.60 inches
- d.12 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.Sign, cone, and tape
- b.Ladder, rope, and bucket
- c.Helmet, gloves, and boots
- d.Anchorage, body harness, and connector such as a lanyard✓
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.No body wear needed
- b.A simple rope around the waist
- c.A body belt
- d.A full-body harness✓
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 make the harness lighter
- b.It is not important
- c.To save rope
- d.To reduce arresting forces and the chance of hitting a lower level✓
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.The color of the harness
- b.The time of day
- c.Only the worker's weight
- d.Total fall clearance, including lanyard length, deceleration distance, and harness stretch✓
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.Never
- b.Only once a year
- c.Before each work shift and after any event that could affect its integrity✓
- d.Only when it collapses
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.50 feet
- b.2 feet
- c.10 feet above a lower level✓
- d.25 feet
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.Planked with 12-inch gaps
- b.Left mostly open
- 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.Straight up vertically
- b.4 feet out for every 1 foot of height
- 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.Exactly at the landing edge
- b.It should stop below the landing
- c.10 feet above
- d.At least 3 feet above the landing surface✓
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.Tag it out of service and remove it from use until repaired or discarded✓
- b.Lend it to another crew
- c.Use it carefully
- d.Tape over the crack and continue
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.Designating an area where certain work may occur with access limited to authorized workers✓
- c.Parking equipment
- d.A break area
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 outdoors
- b.Never, holes are always safe
- c.When a worker could fall through or step into it, requiring covers or guardrails✓
- d.Only if larger than a door
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.The equipment vendor only
- b.No training is required
- c.Any coworker
- d.A competent person, through a fall protection training program✓
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.
Which OSHA subpart covers fall protection in construction?
- a.Subpart K
- b.Subpart X
- c.Subpart P
- d.Subpart M of 29 CFR 1926✓
Fall protection in construction is addressed in Subpart M, 29 CFR 1926.500 through 503. It sets the 6-foot trigger and the requirements for guardrails, nets, and personal fall arrest. Other subparts cover scaffolds and ladders separately.29 CFR 1926 Subpart M
Besides the 6-foot rule, fall protection is required at any height when working above what?
- a.A soft grassy lawn
- b.A shallow rain puddle
- c.A carpeted office floor
- d.Dangerous equipment✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(8), workers must be protected from falling into or onto dangerous equipment regardless of height. Otherwise the general construction trigger is 6 feet. Dangerous equipment includes machinery and impalement hazards.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(8)
A standard guardrail top rail must withstand a force of at least:
- a.20 pounds in any direction once the initial setup is complete
- b.5 pounds in any direction
- c.200 pounds applied downward or outward✓
- d.50 pounds in any direction
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(b), the top rail must withstand at least 200 pounds of force applied within 2 inches of the top edge, downward or outward. This ensures it can stop a worker who leans or falls against it. Midrails must resist 150 pounds.29 CFR 1926.502(b)
A guardrail midrail must be capable of withstanding a force of at least:
- a.1,000 pounds
- b.200 pounds
- c.10 pounds
- d.150 pounds✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(b), midrails, screens, and intermediate members must withstand at least 150 pounds applied in any downward or outward direction. The midrail sits about halfway between the top rail and the walking surface. It prevents workers from falling through the opening.29 CFR 1926.502(b)
Where midrails are used on a guardrail, they should be installed at approximately what height?
- a.About 60 inches above the surface when working away from the edge
- b.About 21 inches above the walking surface✓
- c.About 6 inches above the surface
- d.Level with the top rail itself
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(b), when midrails are used they must be installed midway between the top edge (about 42 inches) and the walking surface, roughly 21 inches high. Screens, mesh, or intermediate members may fill the gap instead. The goal is to prevent falls through the opening.29 CFR 1926.502(b)
A toeboard used for falling-object protection must be at least how tall?
- a.A full 12 inches high
- b.3.5 inches high✓
- c.A full 24 inches high
- d.One-half inch high
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(j), a toeboard must be at least 3.5 inches tall from the top edge to the walking surface, with no more than 0.25-inch clearance below. It keeps tools and materials from rolling off an edge. It must withstand at least 50 pounds of force.29 CFR 1926.502(j)
What is the anchorage strength requirement for a personal fall arrest system per attached worker?
- a.There is no strength requirement during the earlier phases of work as some contractors interpret the rule
- b.At least 5,000 pounds, or a design safety factor of two under a qualified person✓
- c.At least 500 pounds per worker
- d.At least 200 pounds per worker
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), anchorages for personal fall arrest must support at least 5,000 pounds per worker, or be designed and used under a qualified person's supervision with a safety factor of at least two. Anchorages must be independent of platform anchorages. A weak anchor defeats the system.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
A personal fall arrest anchorage must be independent of:
- a.The building structure itself as long as the tools look intact
- b.The ground surface far below
- c.The worker's own body harness
- d.Any anchorage used to support or suspend platforms✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), the anchorage for a personal fall arrest system must be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms. This keeps a platform failure from also failing the fall-arrest anchor. Anchor selection is critical to reliability.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
On a full-body harness used for fall arrest, the attachment point is generally located:
- a.On the wearer's left ankle
- b.At the front waist belt buckle for most residential-scale jobs
- c.At the center of the back near shoulder level (dorsal D-ring)✓
- d.On top of the hard hat
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), the attachment for fall arrest must be located in the center of the wearer's back near shoulder level, or above the head. The dorsal D-ring keeps the worker upright and reduces injury during arrest. Body belts are prohibited for fall arrest.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
Snaphooks used in a personal fall arrest system must be:
- a.Non-locking to save time
- b.Any spare keychain ring
- c.Self-closing, self-locking type✓
- d.Small plastic spring clips when only one worker is involved
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), snaphooks must be locking-type (self-closing and self-locking) and sized to prevent roll-out. Non-locking snaphooks can disengage under load. Connectors are inspected before each use.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
What is the maximum free fall distance allowed for a personal fall arrest system?
- a.A full 50 feet of free fall
- b.A full 20 feet of free fall under most routine jobsite conditions
- c.There is no free-fall limit
- d.6 feet, and never enough to hit a lower level✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), a personal fall arrest system must be rigged so a worker cannot free fall more than 6 feet or contact a lower level. Shorter free fall reduces arresting forces. Anchoring above the D-ring helps limit free fall.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
A personal fall arrest system must limit the deceleration distance to a maximum of:
- a.3.5 feet✓
- b.No limit exists
- c.A full 10 feet
- d.A full 20 feet
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), the system must limit maximum deceleration distance to 3.5 feet. Deceleration devices such as shock-absorbing lanyards extend to reduce forces on the body. This distance is part of the fall-clearance calculation.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
What must be done with a personal fall arrest system after it has arrested a fall?
- a.Lend it to another worker on site
- b.Keep using it for the rest of the shift
- c.Store it for reuse the following week
- d.Remove it from service immediately✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), fall-arrest components subjected to impact loading must be immediately removed from service and not used again until inspected and found undamaged by a competent person. Arrest forces can damage webbing and hardware. Reusing shock-loaded gear is dangerous.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
How often must personal fall arrest equipment be inspected?
- a.Only once every calendar year
- b.It never needs inspection
- c.Only when it is first purchased according to older industry practice
- d.Before each use, for wear and damage✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), personal fall arrest systems must be inspected prior to each use for wear, damage, and other deterioration, and defective components removed. Frequent inspection catches cuts, frays, and corrosion. Worn gear can fail during arrest.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
Why must an employer have a prompt rescue plan after a fall arrest?
- a.To save electricity on the site
- b.To recover the lanyard quickly for reuse unless a supervisor decides otherwise
- c.To avoid extra injury paperwork
- d.To prevent suspension trauma from prolonged hanging in the harness✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), employers must provide for prompt rescue of workers or ensure workers can rescue themselves. Prolonged suspension in a harness can cause suspension trauma. A rescue plan must be in place before work begins.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
A positioning device system that lets a worker work hands-free on a vertical surface must limit free fall to:
- a.A full 10 feet
- b.2 feet or less✓
- c.No limit at all
- d.A full 6 feet
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(e), positioning device systems must be rigged so a worker cannot free fall more than 2 feet, with anchorages supporting at least twice the potential impact load or 3,000 pounds. Positioning devices hold a worker in place but are not fall arrest. A back-up system may still be needed.29 CFR 1926.502(e)
A safety net must be installed no more than how far below the working surface?
- a.30 feet✓
- b.A full 100 feet
- c.A full 300 feet
- d.Just 5 inches
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(c), safety nets must be installed as close as practicable under the surface but never more than 30 feet below. The greater the fall into a net, the greater the forces. Nets must also extend outward a required distance.29 CFR 1926.502(c)
The mesh openings of a safety net must not exceed:
- a.A full 2 feet on a side in the absence of a written program
- b.36 square inches, nor 6 inches on a side✓
- c.A full 10 square feet
- d.There is no size limit
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(c), safety-net mesh openings must not exceed 36 square inches nor be longer than 6 inches on any side, and the border rope must have at least 5,000 pounds breaking strength. Small openings keep workers and tools from passing through. Nets are drop-tested or certified.29 CFR 1926.502(c)
Safety nets must pass a drop test using what test weight?
- a.A 400-pound bag of sand from the highest work surface✓
- b.No drop test is required at all
- c.A 2-pound ball from ground level as a general rule of thumb on site
- d.A 5-pound weight dropped once
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(c), nets must be drop-tested with a 400-pound bag of sand 28 to 32 inches in diameter dropped from the highest surface, or otherwise certified by a qualified person. This verifies the net and supports can absorb a fall. Testing follows installation and major repairs.29 CFR 1926.502(c)
A cover over a hole in a floor or roof must be able to support at least:
- a.No particular load at all
- b.Exactly the load with no margin where the foreman signs off on it
- c.Twice the maximum intended load crossing it✓
- d.Half of the expected load
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(i), hole covers must support at least twice the weight of workers, equipment, and materials that may cross them. Covers must be secured against displacement and marked. Unsecured covers are a common fall hazard.29 CFR 1926.502(i)
Hole covers on a construction floor must be:
- a.Secured against displacement and marked HOLE or COVER✓
- b.Made from thin scrap cardboard
- c.Left loose so they move easily
- d.Painted to match and left unmarked once the initial setup is complete
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(i), covers must be secured against accidental displacement by wind, equipment, or workers, and marked with HOLE or COVER or otherwise color-coded. Clear marking warns workers not to remove them. Loose or unmarked covers cause falls.29 CFR 1926.502(i)
For low-slope roofs, a warning line system must be set back at least how far from the edge?
- a.6 feet from the roof edge✓
- b.Right at the very edge
- c.A full 50 feet from the edge
- d.Only 6 inches from the edge
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(f), warning lines on low-slope roofs must be erected at least 6 feet from the edge, with greater distances where mechanical equipment is used parallel to the edge. The line marks the boundary of the safe area. Work outside the line needs added protection.29 CFR 1926.502(f)
A safety monitoring system relies on what to protect workers?
- a.A competent person who watches and warns of hazards✓
- b.A smartphone app used all alone
- c.A video camera with no one watching when working away from the edge
- d.A single written sign posted nearby
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(h), a safety monitoring system uses a competent person to recognize fall hazards and warn workers acting unsafely. The monitor must be on the same surface, within sight and voice range, and free of other duties. It is allowed only in limited situations.29 CFR 1926.502(h)
A warning line combined with a safety monitoring system is generally allowed for work on:
- a.Vertical reinforcing-steel walls
- b.Low-slope roofs✓
- c.Steep roofs over 6 feet high
- d.Suspended swing-stage scaffolds
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(10), on low-slope roofs employers may use combinations such as warning lines with a safety monitoring system. Steep roofs require conventional fall protection. The allowed methods depend on roof slope and width.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(10)
For steep roofs (slope greater than 4 in 12), what fall protection is required at 6 feet or more?
- a.No fall protection is required
- b.Warning lines used entirely alone
- c.A safety monitor used entirely alone during the earlier phases of work
- d.Guardrails with toeboards, safety nets, or personal fall arrest✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(11), workers on steep roofs 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by guardrails with toeboards, safety nets, or personal fall arrest. Warning lines and monitors alone are not sufficient for steep roofs. Slope drives the requirement.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(11)
In residential construction, at what height is fall protection generally required?
- a.6 feet or more above a lower level✓
- b.20 feet or more above a lower level
- c.Fall protection is never required
- d.Only above the second story
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13), residential construction workers 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by conventional fall protection. Alternative measures require a written, site-specific fall protection plan showing conventional systems are infeasible. The 6-foot trigger still applies.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13)
A written fall protection plan is permitted only for which work, and must be prepared by whom?
- a.All construction, with no author needed
- b.Leading-edge, precast, or residential work, prepared by a qualified person✓
- c.Office work, prepared by a receptionist
- d.Any work at all, prepared by any worker for most residential-scale jobs according to older industry practice
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(k), a fall protection plan is allowed only for leading-edge work, precast concrete erection, or residential construction where conventional protection is infeasible or creates a greater hazard, and it must be prepared by a qualified person. The plan is site-specific and current. It documents why conventional systems cannot be used.29 CFR 1926.502(k)
Workers on a walking surface with an unprotected edge 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by:
- a.Bright floor paint applied only when only one worker is involved
- b.Nothing, if they are careful
- c.A verbal reminder given once
- d.Guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1), each worker on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by a guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest system. These are the conventional systems. The choice depends on the task and site.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1)
Around the perimeter of a hoisting area where a worker could fall 6 feet or more, what is required?
- a.Protection only if the worker chooses under most routine jobsite conditions
- b.Protection only at 10 feet or more
- c.Guardrails or fall arrest, with a chain or gate across access openings✓
- d.No protection near hoisting areas
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(3), workers in a hoist area must be protected from 6-foot falls by guardrails or personal fall arrest. When a rail is removed to receive materials, a fall arrest system or gate must protect the worker. Hoist areas are high-exposure zones.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(3)
Workers must be protected from falling into holes, including skylights, more than 6 feet above a lower level by:
- a.A painted circle around it
- b.Covers, guardrails, or personal fall arrest✓
- c.A single caution sign only
- d.Nothing at all placed there as some contractors interpret the rule
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4), workers must be protected from falling through holes, including skylights, more than 6 feet above a lower level by personal fall arrest, covers, or guardrails. Skylights are treated as holes. Falls through skylights are frequently fatal.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4)
Formwork and reinforcing-steel work 6 feet or more above a lower level requires:
- a.Personal fall arrest, safety net, or positioning device systems✓
- b.No protection because rebar gives grip when the crew is short on time
- c.Only a pair of work gloves
- d.A safety monitor with no other system
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(5), workers on the face of formwork or reinforcing steel 6 feet or more above a lower level must use personal fall arrest, safety net, or positioning device systems. Rebar is also capped to prevent impalement. Height triggers protection regardless of handholds.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(5)
On ramps, runways, and other walkways, fall protection is required when a worker could fall:
- a.Only above 25 feet of height
- b.Only on the ground floor level according to older industry practice
- c.Never on any walkway at all
- d.6 feet or more to a lower level✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(6), each worker on a ramp, runway, or other walkway must be protected from falling 6 feet or more by a guardrail system. The 6-foot trigger is consistent across most construction tasks. Guardrails are the usual choice for walkways.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(6)
At the edge of an excavation 6 feet or more deep that is not readily seen, workers must be protected by:
- a.Guardrails, fences, barricades, or covers✓
- b.A single rope laid on the ground
- c.A shouted warning from a coworker
- d.Nothing, since the trench is obvious unless a supervisor decides otherwise
Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(7), workers at the edge of an excavation 6 feet or more deep must be protected when it is not readily seen because of plant growth or other barrier, using guardrails, fences, barricades, or covers. Wells, pits, and shafts are similarly protected. This prevents falls into deep openings.29 CFR 1926.501(b)(7)
Who must the employer have train each worker exposed to fall hazards, and on what?
- a.A vendor, on product pricing
- b.Any worker, on company history for the majority of standard tasks
- c.A competent person, on recognizing and minimizing the hazards✓
- d.No one; training is optional
Under 29 CFR 1926.503, a competent person must train workers to recognize fall hazards and to use the fall protection systems correctly. Training covers the nature of the hazards, correct procedures, and the systems in use. It must be understandable to the worker.29 CFR 1926.503
When must workers be retrained in fall protection?
- a.When changes or inadequate understanding make prior training obsolete✓
- b.Only once every ten years
- c.Never once initially trained
- d.Only after a jobsite fatality based on the project's own schedule for typical light-duty operations
Under 29 CFR 1926.503(c), retraining is required when changes in the workplace or fall protection systems render prior training obsolete, or when a worker shows inadequate knowledge or skill. Retraining keeps competency current. It is triggered by conditions, not a fixed clock.29 CFR 1926.503(c)
The employer's fall protection training must be documented with:
- a.No record kept at all
- b.A written certification with name, date, and trainer's signature✓
- c.A note of the worker's shoe size in the absence of a written program
- d.A verbal promise made once
Under 29 CFR 1926.503(b), the employer must prepare a written certification record with the employee's name, the training date(s), and the signature of the trainer or employer. The record verifies training occurred. It must be kept current.29 CFR 1926.503(b)
What is a 'leading edge' in fall protection terms?
- a.The edge of an office desk
- b.An edge of a floor or roof that changes location as work progresses✓
- c.The top of a portable ladder
- d.The front bumper of a work truck as a general rule of thumb on site provided the weather stays clear
Under 29 CFR 1926.500, a leading edge is the edge of a floor, roof, or formwork that changes location as additional sections are placed. Workers constructing a leading edge 6 feet or more up need fall protection. Leading-edge work is a recognized high-hazard activity.29 CFR 1926.500
A horizontal lifeline used for fall arrest must be:
- a.Designed and used under a qualified person with a safety factor of two✓
- b.Rigged by any worker on the spot
- c.Made from any spare rope available where the foreman signs off on it during the earlier phases of work
- d.Used with no engineering at all
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), horizontal lifelines must be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person as part of a complete system maintaining a safety factor of at least two. Forces in a horizontal lifeline can far exceed the worker's weight. Engineering prevents anchor overload.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
A self-retracting lifeline that limits free fall to 2 feet or less must sustain a minimum tensile load of:
- a.3,000 pounds✓
- b.50 pounds
- c.200 pounds
- d.No minimum at all
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), self-retracting lifelines and lanyards that limit free fall to 2 feet or less must sustain a minimum tensile load of 3,000 pounds. Those that do not limit free fall to 2 feet must sustain 5,000 pounds. SRLs reduce free-fall distance and arrest forces.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
What does 'total fall distance' include when calculating clearance?
- a.Only the length of the lanyard for typical light-duty operations for most residential-scale jobs
- b.Free fall, deceleration distance, harness stretch, and a safety margin✓
- c.Only the time of day at work
- d.Only the worker's own height
For the clearance calculation under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), total fall distance combines the free fall, the deceleration (shock-absorber) distance, harness stretch, and a safety factor, measured from the anchor. If this exceeds the distance to the lower level, the worker hits the ground. This matters most when anchoring below the D-ring.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
A body belt may be used today for which purpose?
- a.Positioning or restraint, but not fall arrest✓
- b.Fall arrest as the primary system when working away from the edge
- c.No permitted purpose at all
- d.Lifting heavy loads by hand
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), body belts are prohibited for fall arrest because they can cause internal injuries and let a worker slip out. They may still be used in positioning device systems. A full-body harness is required for fall arrest.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
Guardrail systems used around holes for passing materials must:
- a.Be left fully open on all sides
- b.Rely on only a warning sign
- c.Never be installed at holes at all provided the weather stays clear under most routine jobsite conditions
- d.Have no more than two removable sides and be closed when not in use✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(b), when guardrails are used around holes used to pass materials, no more than two sides may have removable sections, and when not passing materials the hole must be guarded on all unprotected sides. This limits open edges. Workers are protected between transfers.29 CFR 1926.502(b)
Wire rope used as a guardrail top rail must be:
- a.Left plain and difficult to see during the earlier phases of work
- b.Coated heavily with waste oil
- c.Flagged at least every 6 feet with high-visibility material✓
- d.Removed entirely during the day
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(b), when wire rope is used for top rails it must be flagged at least every 6 feet with high-visibility material and resist 200 pounds. Flagging makes the rope visible. It must maintain the required height under load.29 CFR 1926.502(b)
How many workers may be attached to a single vertical lifeline at one time?
- a.As many as can physically fit as long as the tools look intact
- b.One worker per vertical lifeline✓
- c.Two workers to share the load
- d.Up to five workers at once
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), each worker must be attached to a separate vertical lifeline unless the system is specifically engineered for more. If one worker falls, a shared line could jeopardize others. Independent lines protect each worker.29 CFR 1926.502(d)
Guardrail systems must be surfaced to prevent which secondary hazard?
- a.Chemical liquid spills
- b.Loud grinding noises
- c.Fires started by friction for most residential-scale jobs
- d.Punctures, lacerations, and snagged clothing✓
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(b), guardrail systems must be built so they do not cause punctures or lacerations or snag clothing, and rail ends must not overhang terminal posts. Smooth surfaces prevent injuries when workers contact the rail. This detail improves usability.29 CFR 1926.502(b)