MHIC Safety and Regulations 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Maryland OSHA regulations, when must a contractor provide fall protection for workers on a residential roof?
- When the fall height exceeds 6 feet (Correct answer)
- When the fall height exceeds 10 feet
- Only on roofs steeper than 4:12 pitch
- Fall protection is optional on residential projects
Correct answer: When the fall height exceeds 6 feet
Maryland follows federal OSHA standards requiring fall protection when workers are exposed to falls of 6 feet or more in construction.
Question 2: A Maryland home improvement contractor discovers asbestos-containing materials during a renovation. What is the correct first step?
- Remove it immediately using standard PPE
- Stop work and notify MDE before disturbing the material (Correct answer)
- Encapsulate it and continue work
- Notify the homeowner and proceed if they consent
Correct answer: Stop work and notify MDE before disturbing the material
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) must be notified before any asbestos-containing material is disturbed during renovation or demolition.
Question 3: Which type of ladder is NOT approved for use near energized electrical equipment on a job site?
- Fiberglass ladder
- Wood ladder
- Aluminum ladder (Correct answer)
- Non-conductive composite ladder
Correct answer: Aluminum ladder
Aluminum ladders conduct electricity and must never be used near energized electrical equipment; fiberglass or wood ladders should be used instead.
Question 4: What is the required minimum number of air changes per hour when applying solvent-based coatings indoors under OSHA ventilation standards?
- 2 air changes per hour
- 6 air changes per hour
- 10 air changes per hour (Correct answer)
- Ventilation is only required when fumes are visible
Correct answer: 10 air changes per hour
OSHA requires at least 10 air changes per hour when spray-applying solvent-based coatings in enclosed spaces to prevent flammable vapor accumulation.
Question 5: Under Maryland law, a contractor who fails to obtain a required building permit before starting work may face:
- Only a warning for a first offense
- Fines, stop-work orders, and potential license suspension (Correct answer)
- Civil liability only with no regulatory penalty
- No penalty if the work passes final inspection
Correct answer: Fines, stop-work orders, and potential license suspension
Unpermitted work in Maryland can result in fines, mandatory stop-work orders, and referral to the MHIC for license disciplinary action.
Question 6: What does the Maryland Healthy Homes Protection Act require contractors to disclose to homeowners?
- All subcontractor identities before work begins
- Presence of lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 homes (Correct answer)
- Material cost markups exceeding 15%
- Any prior insurance claims on the contractor's policy
Correct answer: Presence of lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 homes
Maryland law requires contractors to inform homeowners about lead-based paint hazards in homes built before 1978, consistent with EPA RRP rules.
Question 7: When is a confined space entry permit required during residential home improvement work in Maryland?
- Whenever workers enter any basement space
- When entering spaces with limited egress and potential atmospheric hazards such as crawl spaces with sewage exposure (Correct answer)
- Only on commercial projects, never residential
- When the space is smaller than 50 square feet
Correct answer: When entering spaces with limited egress and potential atmospheric hazards such as crawl spaces with sewage exposure
Permit-required confined space entry applies when a space has restricted means of entry/exit and contains or has the potential to contain a serious safety hazard.
MHIC Safety and Regulations 4
Under Maryland OSHA regulations, when must a contractor provide fall protection for workers on a residential roof?