ALC Fall Protection & Personal Protective Equipment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When working in a boom-supported aerial lift, OSHA requires operators to wear which of the following?
- A safety vest and steel-toed boots only
- A full-body harness with a lanyard or self-retracting lifeline attached to the anchor point (Correct answer)
- A waist belt connected to the boom structure
- A hard hat and safety glasses only
Correct answer: A full-body harness with a lanyard or self-retracting lifeline attached to the anchor point
OSHA 1926.453 requires operators in boom-supported aerial lifts to wear a full-body harness with a lanyard or self-retracting lifeline attached to the manufacturer-designated anchor point.
Question 2: What is the maximum free-fall distance permitted by OSHA for a personal fall arrest system (PFAS)?
- 3 feet
- 4 feet
- 6 feet (Correct answer)
- 10 feet
Correct answer: 6 feet
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502 limits free-fall distance to no more than 6 feet before the fall arrest system activates.
Question 3: Which component of a personal fall arrest system is designed to connect the full-body harness to the anchorage connector?
- Carabiner only
- Lanyard or self-retracting lifeline (Correct answer)
- Rope grab
- Safety net
Correct answer: Lanyard or self-retracting lifeline
The lanyard or self-retracting lifeline (SRL) is the connecting component between the harness dorsal D-ring and the anchorage point.
Question 4: To which point on an aerial lift should an operator attach their lanyard or self-retracting lifeline?
- The guardrail of the work platform
- Any structural cross-member of the boom
- The manufacturer-designated anchor point inside the basket or boom (Correct answer)
- The nearest available bolt or fixture
Correct answer: The manufacturer-designated anchor point inside the basket or boom
Lanyards must be attached only to manufacturer-designated anchor points, which are engineered to handle the arrest forces of a fall.
Question 5: What minimum tensile strength must a full-body harness used in fall protection be able to withstand?
- 2,500 lbs
- 3,600 lbs
- 5,000 lbs (Correct answer)
- 10,000 lbs
Correct answer: 5,000 lbs
OSHA and ANSI Z359.1 require full-body harness components to withstand a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 lbs.
Question 6: What should an aerial lift operator do BEFORE each use of their fall protection equipment?
- Submit the equipment for a laboratory pull test
- Perform a visual and tactile inspection for damage, wear, and defects (Correct answer)
- Replace the lanyard regardless of condition
- Obtain written sign-off from the safety officer
Correct answer: Perform a visual and tactile inspection for damage, wear, and defects
A pre-use inspection of all fall protection components for cuts, abrasions, frayed webbing, corrosion, or deformation is required before every use.
Question 7: Which of the following is NOT an acceptable form of fall protection when operating a scissor lift?
- Keeping all four wheels on a stable, level surface with guardrails in place
- Wearing a full-body harness attached to the anchor point
- Standing on the mid-rail and leaning out to extend reach (Correct answer)
- Ensuring the platform guardrail system meets OSHA height requirements
Correct answer: Standing on the mid-rail and leaning out to extend reach
Standing on mid-rails or leaning out of the guardrail system violates safe work practices and exposes the operator to uncontrolled fall risk.
ALC Fall Protection & Personal Protective Equipment 1
When working in a boom-supported aerial lift, OSHA requires operators to wear which of the following?