COSS Walking and Working Surfaces 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is NOT a required component of a personal fall arrest system (PFAS)?
- Anchorage
- Body harness
- Connecting means (lanyard, lifeline, or deceleration device)
- Safety net as backup (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Safety net as backup
A PFAS consists of an anchorage, body harness, and connecting means; a safety net is a separate fall protection system, not a required component of a PFAS.
Question 2: After a personal fall arrest system has arrested a fall, what must happen before it is returned to service?
- Inspect it visually and return it if no damage is found
- Clean and lubricate all components before reuse
- Remove it from service and have it inspected by the manufacturer or a qualified person (Correct answer)
- Replace only the lanyard and inspect the harness for reuse
Correct answer: Remove it from service and have it inspected by the manufacturer or a qualified person
Any PFAS that has arrested a fall must be removed from service immediately and inspected by the manufacturer or a qualified person before it can be reused.
Question 3: When must an employer conduct a hazard assessment for walking-working surfaces under 29 CFR 1910.22?
- Only when new construction or renovation occurs
- Regularly and as needed when conditions change (Correct answer)
- Annually, documented in writing
- Only after a slip-and-fall incident occurs
Correct answer: Regularly and as needed when conditions change
OSHA 1910.22(d) requires employers to regularly and as needed inspect walking-working surfaces for hazardous conditions and correct or guard against any hazards found.
Question 4: A worker on a fixed ladder equipped with a personal fall arrest system experiences a free-fall. What is the maximum permissible free-fall distance allowed by OSHA?
- 3.5 feet
- 6 feet (Correct answer)
- 2 feet
- 4 feet
Correct answer: 6 feet
OSHA 1910.140(c)(2) limits the free-fall distance in a PFAS to 6 feet, and the total fall distance including deceleration must not allow the worker to contact a lower level.
Question 5: Which of the following surfaces would be considered a 'walking-working surface' under the OSHA definition?
- The inside of a storage tank during confined space entry only
- Any horizontal or vertical surface on or through which an employee walks, works, or gains access (Correct answer)
- Only permanently installed floors, aisles, and stairways
- Any surface above 4 feet where work is performed
Correct answer: Any horizontal or vertical surface on or through which an employee walks, works, or gains access
OSHA 1910.21 broadly defines a walking-working surface as any horizontal or vertical surface on or through which an employee walks, works, or gains access, including floors, roofs, ramps, bridges, and similar surfaces.
Question 6: An outdoor loading dock surface becomes slippery due to ice. What is the employer's PRIMARY obligation under OSHA's walking-working surfaces standard?
- Post a warning sign at the dock entrance
- Ensure the surface is maintained in dry or slip-resistant condition or provide slip-resistant footwear (Correct answer)
- Temporarily close the area until the ice melts naturally
- Increase the lighting level in the dock area
Correct answer: Ensure the surface is maintained in dry or slip-resistant condition or provide slip-resistant footwear
OSHA 1910.22(a)(2) requires employers to keep walking-working surfaces free of ice, snow, and other slip hazards, or otherwise provide equivalent protection such as slip-resistant surfaces or footwear.
Question 7: What is the minimum toe-board height required by OSHA on elevated platforms where a falling-object hazard exists?
- 2.5 inches
- 3.5 inches
- 4 inches (Correct answer)
- 6 inches
Correct answer: 4 inches
OSHA 1910.29(h)(1) requires toe boards to be a minimum of 3.5 inches tall; however, OSHA's general industry standard specifies at least 3.5 inches with 4 inches being the common accepted standard.
COSS Walking and Working Surfaces 5
Which of the following is NOT a required component of a personal fall arrest system (PFAS)?