NABCEP Workplace Safety and OSHA 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: OSHA's 'Two-Block' or 'Two-Touch' rule for ladder safety requires that workers maintain at least how many points of contact with the ladder at all times?
- Two
- Three (Correct answer)
- Four
- One hand and two feet only
Correct answer: Three
The 'three points of contact' rule requires two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, on the ladder at all times to prevent falls.
Question 2: A solar contractor must provide a written Hazard Communication program that includes all of the following EXCEPT:
- A list of hazardous chemicals on-site
- Procedures for labeling containers
- Documentation of employee medical surveillance results (Correct answer)
- Methods for informing employees of non-routine task hazards
Correct answer: Documentation of employee medical surveillance results
A written HazCom program requires a chemical inventory, labeling procedures, SDS access, and employee training—not medical surveillance records.
Question 3: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.95, when must an employer pay for employee PPE?
- Only when PPE costs exceed $50 per item
- When PPE is required by an OSHA standard, except for some everyday-use items (Correct answer)
- Only for PPE used in confined spaces
- Never; cost-sharing with employees is always acceptable
Correct answer: When PPE is required by an OSHA standard, except for some everyday-use items
Employers must pay for required PPE, with limited exceptions for everyday-use items like non-specialty safety-toe footwear and prescription eyewear worn off the job.
Question 4: When performing electrical work on a PV system operating above 50 volts DC, NFPA 70E classifies workers performing the task as:
- Unqualified persons
- Qualified electrical workers (Correct answer)
- Authorized persons only
- General trade workers
Correct answer: Qualified electrical workers
NFPA 70E defines a 'qualified person' as one trained and knowledgeable about the construction and operation of equipment at or above 50 volts and trained to recognize and avoid hazards.
Question 5: A rooftop solar crew is working near a roof edge with a 15-foot drop. Which fall protection method provides the most reliable passive protection?
- Safety monitoring system
- Warning line system set 6 feet from the edge
- Guardrail system at the roof edge (Correct answer)
- Personal fall arrest system tied to a structural anchor
Correct answer: Guardrail system at the roof edge
A guardrail system is a passive, physical barrier that stops falls without requiring worker action, making it the most reliable passive fall protection.
Question 6: OSHA requires employers to conduct a jobsite hazard assessment for PPE selection and document it. Which item must the written certification include?
- The cost of each PPE item selected
- The date the assessment was performed and the certifier's name (Correct answer)
- Employee signatures confirming PPE receipt
- The brand names of PPE meeting the hazard requirements
Correct answer: The date the assessment was performed and the certifier's name
29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2) requires a written certification identifying the workplace, the date, and the signature of the person who performed the assessment.
Question 7: An OSHA compliance officer arrives unannounced at a solar installation site. Under the OSH Act, the employer may:
- Refuse entry until a warrant is obtained
- Require the officer to return during a scheduled inspection window
- Ask for the officer's credentials and then allow entry (Correct answer)
- Demand that all employees leave the site before the inspection begins
Correct answer: Ask for the officer's credentials and then allow entry
An employer may request to see the CSHO's credentials (official identification) before granting entry, but refusing entry is legally risky; courts generally support OSHA's inspection authority.
NABCEP Workplace Safety and OSHA 5
OSHA's 'Two-Block' or 'Two-Touch' rule for ladder safety requires that workers maintain at least how many points of contact with the ladder at all times?