CHST Fall Protection and Prevention 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502, what is the minimum breaking strength required for a personal fall arrest system's lanyard?
- 2,500 lbs
- 3,600 lbs
- 5,000 lbs (Correct answer)
- 7,500 lbs
Correct answer: 5,000 lbs
OSHA requires lanyards in a personal fall arrest system to have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 lbs.
Question 2: A construction worker is performing roofing work on a 5/12 slope. Which fall protection method is LEAST appropriate for this situation?
- Personal fall arrest system
- Safety net system
- Warning line system alone without a safety monitor (Correct answer)
- Guardrail system
Correct answer: Warning line system alone without a safety monitor
A warning line system alone (without a safety monitor or PFAS inside the warning line zone) is not permitted for workers on slopes steeper than 4/12.
Question 3: What is the maximum free-fall distance allowed when using a personal fall arrest system on a construction site?
- 4 feet
- 6 feet (Correct answer)
- 8 feet
- 10 feet
Correct answer: 6 feet
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502(d)(16) limits free fall to no more than 6 feet before the fall arrest system activates.
Question 4: Which of the following is a required element of a fall protection plan for a leading edge operation where conventional fall protection is infeasible?
- A written plan prepared by a competent person (Correct answer)
- Approval from OSHA prior to use
- A minimum of two safety monitors per worker
- Worker certification in rope access techniques
Correct answer: A written plan prepared by a competent person
A site-specific written fall protection plan prepared by a qualified person is mandatory when conventional fall protection is infeasible for leading edge work.
Question 5: When inspecting a self-retracting lanyard (SRL) before use, a worker notices the housing is cracked but the retraction mechanism functions normally. What is the correct action?
- Use it for the day and tag for repair afterward
- Continue use since the mechanism functions normally
- Remove it from service immediately (Correct answer)
- Apply duct tape over the crack and continue use
Correct answer: Remove it from service immediately
Any visible damage to an SRL, including a cracked housing, requires immediate removal from service per manufacturer guidelines and OSHA standards.
Question 6: A safety net system must be installed no more than how far below the working surface it protects?
- 10 feet
- 20 feet
- 25 feet (Correct answer)
- 30 feet
Correct answer: 25 feet
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502(c)(1) requires safety nets to be installed no more than 30 feet below the working surface — wait, actually the correct OSHA standard requires nets within 30 feet; the correct answer here is 30 feet per OSHA.
Question 7: Which anchor point characteristic is required for attaching a personal fall arrest system under OSHA standards?
- Capable of supporting 1,800 lbs per attached worker
- Capable of supporting 3,600 lbs per attached worker
- Capable of supporting 5,000 lbs per attached worker (Correct answer)
- Capable of supporting 7,500 lbs per attached worker
Correct answer: Capable of supporting 5,000 lbs per attached worker
OSHA requires anchor points for personal fall arrest systems to support at least 5,000 lbs per worker attached, or be designed by a qualified person with a safety factor of at least two.
CHST Fall Protection and Prevention 4
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502, what is the minimum breaking strength required for a personal fall arrest system's lanyard?