Fall Protection and Scaffolding Flashcards
7 cards from real CSS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Fall Protection and Scaffolding flashcards as text
A CSS discovers that workers are using a ladder to access a scaffold platform that is 14 feet above the ground. What specific OSHA violation is likely present if no scaffold stairway exists?
Answer: A portable ladder must be secured and extend at least 3 feet above the landing
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1) requires portable ladders used for scaffold access to be secured and extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface.
Under OSHA's scaffold standard, what is the maximum height-to-base ratio for a freestanding (mobile) scaffold before it must be restrained?
Answer: 4:1
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.452(w)(6) limits mobile scaffold height-to-minimum-base-width ratios to 4:1 before tying or guying is required.
Which of the following best describes a 'qualified person' in the context of OSHA fall protection standards?
Answer: Someone with recognized degree, certificate, or extensive knowledge to solve problems
OSHA defines a 'qualified person' as one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, professional standing, or extensive knowledge and experience, can solve problems relating to the subject matter.
What is the OSHA-required maximum interval between vertical lifelines when using a rope grab fall arrest system on a scaffold?
Answer: There is no interval requirement — one lifeline per worker is required
OSHA requires each worker using a personal fall arrest system on a scaffold to be attached to a separate independent lifeline — there is no horizontal interval; it's one per worker.
A CSS inspects a tubular welded frame scaffold and finds horizontal diagonal braces installed only on alternate panels. What is the primary hazard this creates?
Answer: Reduced load capacity from inadequate shear transfer
Omitting diagonal bracing in alternating panels reduces the scaffold's shear transfer capacity, undermining lateral stability and overall load-carrying ability.
When installing a guardrail system as fall protection on a construction site, the top rail must be at a height between:
Answer: 39–45 inches
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502(b)(1) requires the top edge of guardrails to be 39–45 inches above the walking/working surface.
What is the purpose of a 'safety monitoring system' under OSHA's fall protection standards for low-slope roofs?
Answer: A designated competent person who warns workers when they approach a fall hazard
A safety monitoring system consists of a competent person who actively monitors workers and warns them when they approach unprotected edges or fall hazards.