Safety Trained Supervisor Fall Protection Systems Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A supervisor is planning a task that requires an employee to work near the edge of a flat roof, 15 feet above the ground. According to the hierarchy of controls for fall protection, what is the MOST effective and preferred method to protect the employee?
- Ensuring the employee is wearing a properly inspected personal fall arrest system (PFAS).
- Implementing a warning line system and assigning a safety monitor.
- Installing a temporary guardrail system around the perimeter of the work area. (Correct answer)
- Training the employee on how to maintain a safe distance from the edge.
Correct answer: Installing a temporary guardrail system around the perimeter of the work area.
The hierarchy of controls prioritizes eliminating the hazard or using passive protection over active systems or administrative controls. A guardrail system is a form of passive protection (an engineering control) that provides a physical barrier, preventing a fall from occurring without requiring action from the worker. This is more effective than a personal fall arrest system (which only protects after a fall occurs), a warning line system, or training (which are administrative controls).
Question 2: According to OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502, what is the minimum strength requirement for a non-certified anchorage point used for a personal fall arrest system (PFAS)?
- 2,500 pounds per employee attached.
- 5,000 pounds per employee attached. (Correct answer)
- Twice the weight of the employee and their tools.
- 3,600 pounds per employee attached.
Correct answer: 5,000 pounds per employee attached.
OSHA's standard for fall protection in construction, 29 CFR 1926.502(d)(15), explicitly states that anchorages used for personal fall arrest equipment shall be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per employee attached, or be designed and installed as part of a complete system that maintains a safety factor of at least two under the supervision of a qualified person.
Question 3: A supervisor conducting a pre-use inspection on a full-body harness discovers a manufacturer's tag that is faded and completely unreadable. What is the correct action to take?
- Note the issue in the inspection log and allow the worker to use the harness for the day.
- Use a permanent marker to rewrite the essential information on a new tag.
- Clean the tag with a solvent to try and make it legible.
- Immediately remove the harness from service and tag it as unusable. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Immediately remove the harness from service and tag it as unusable.
OSHA and ANSI standards require that all personal fall protection equipment be inspected before each use. A critical part of this inspection is ensuring all labels and markings are present and legible. An unreadable tag means the supervisor cannot verify critical information like the date of manufacture, capacity, or inspection history. Therefore, the harness must be immediately removed from service.
Question 4: When using a safety net system for fall protection on a construction site, OSHA requires the net to be installed as close as practicable under the working surface, but no more than how many feet below that level?
- 10 feet
- 20 feet
- 30 feet (Correct answer)
- 50 feet
Correct answer: 30 feet
OSHA standard 29 CFR 1926.502(c)(1) states, "Safety nets shall be installed as close as practicable under the walking/working surface on which employees are working, but in no case more than 30 feet (9.1 m) below such level."
Question 5: A worker using a personal fall arrest system has fallen and is suspended motionless in their harness. The supervisor has initiated the emergency response. What is the most immediate and life-threatening hazard to the suspended worker?
- Hypothermia from exposure to the elements.
- Lacerations from the harness straps.
- Dehydration from being unable to drink.
- Suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance). (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance).
Suspension trauma, or orthostatic intolerance, is a critical medical emergency that can occur when a person is suspended motionless in a harness. The harness straps can cut off blood circulation, causing blood to pool in the legs, which can lead to unconsciousness and death in a short amount of time. OSHA requires employers to provide for the prompt rescue of employees to prevent this condition.
Question 6: In the construction industry, at what minimum height must fall protection be provided for an employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge?
- 4 feet
- 10 feet
- 6 feet (Correct answer)
- 8 feet
Correct answer: 6 feet
According to OSHA's construction standard 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1), "Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems."
