STSC Fall Protection and Prevention 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926, what is the maximum free-fall distance allowed when using a personal fall arrest system?
- 4 feet
- 6 feet (Correct answer)
- 8 feet
- 10 feet
Correct answer: 6 feet
OSHA limits free fall to 6 feet when using a personal fall arrest system on construction sites.
Question 2: A worker is installing roofing on a low-slope roof with a 4:12 pitch. What fall protection method is acceptable under OSHA 1926.502?
- Warning line system alone
- Safety monitoring system alone on roofs over 50 feet wide
- Guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest system (Correct answer)
- Slide guards only
Correct answer: Guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest system
On low-slope roofs, OSHA requires conventional fall protection (guardrails, safety nets, or PFAS) or a warning line system combined with other measures.
Question 3: What is the minimum breaking strength required for a safety net used as fall protection under OSHA standards?
- 2,500 pounds (Correct answer)
- 5,000 pounds
- 7,500 pounds
- 10,000 pounds
Correct answer: 2,500 pounds
OSHA 1926.502(c) requires safety nets to have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds — but the mesh must withstand a 400-pound drop test; nets must meet specific installation and drop-test criteria.
Question 4: When must debris and tools that fall into a safety net be removed?
- At the end of each work shift
- Within 24 hours of falling into the net (Correct answer)
- Before the end of each work day
- Weekly during net inspections
Correct answer: Within 24 hours of falling into the net
OSHA 1926.502(c)(15) requires that materials, scrap, and equipment that fall into safety nets be removed as soon as possible, and at least before the next work shift.
Question 5: A supervisor notices a snap hook on a worker's lanyard is connected to another snap hook (gate-to-gate). What is the hazard?
- Reduced lanyard length creates tripping risk
- Roll-out can cause accidental disengagement under load (Correct answer)
- The connection is too rigid and limits worker mobility
- The carabiner rating is exceeded by double connection
Correct answer: Roll-out can cause accidental disengagement under load
Connecting snap hook to snap hook (or other connectors not designed for it) creates roll-out risk, where the gate can open and disengage under a side-loading force.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a deceleration device in a personal fall arrest system?
- It anchors the system to the structure
- It connects the body harness to the lanyard
- It dissipates energy to limit arresting forces on the worker (Correct answer)
- It prevents the lanyard from tangling during use
Correct answer: It dissipates energy to limit arresting forces on the worker
A deceleration device (such as a shock-absorbing pack or self-retracting lifeline) limits the arresting force on the worker to 1,800 pounds maximum.
Question 7: Which condition requires a personal fall arrest system to be removed from service immediately?
- The lanyard is coiled for storage
- The harness has been subjected to fall arrest forces (Correct answer)
- The snap hook shows minor surface rust
- The harness webbing has a manufacturer's tag
Correct answer: The harness has been subjected to fall arrest forces
Any PFAS component subjected to fall arrest forces must be immediately removed from service and inspected or destroyed, as internal damage may not be visible.
STSC Fall Protection and Prevention 4
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926, what is the maximum free-fall distance allowed when using a personal fall arrest system?