Safety Trained Supervisor Fall Protection Systems 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: At what height does OSHA require fall protection for general industry?
- 4 feet (Correct answer)
- 6 feet
- 8 feet
- 10 feet
Correct answer: 4 feet
General industry requires fall protection at 4 feet or more above a lower level.
General industry at 4 feet (29 CFR 1910), construction at 6 feet (29 CFR 1926), shipyard at 5 feet. The general industry standard was updated in 2017 with a hierarchy of protection systems.
Question 2: What is the maximum free fall distance with a personal fall arrest system?
- 4 feet
- 6 feet (Correct answer)
- 8 feet
- 12 feet
Correct answer: 6 feet
OSHA limits maximum free fall to 6 feet with a personal fall arrest system.
The system must also prevent contact with lower levels. Maximum deceleration distance is 3.5 feet with maximum arresting force of 1,800 pounds. Self-retracting lifelines limit free fall to about 2 feet.
Question 3: What minimum anchorage strength is required for a fall arrest system?
- 1,800 pounds
- 3,000 pounds
- 3,600 pounds
- 5,000 pounds (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 5,000 pounds
Anchorages must support at least 5,000 pounds per attached worker.
The 5,000-pound requirement provides safety factor above the 1,800-pound maximum arresting force. Anchorages should be at or above the D-ring connection point when possible to minimize free fall distance.
Question 4: How often must fall arrest equipment be inspected?
- Monthly by a competent person
- Before each use by the worker and annually by a competent person (Correct answer)
- Weekly by safety department
- Only after a fall event
Correct answer: Before each use by the worker and annually by a competent person
Equipment needs worker pre-use inspection and periodic competent person inspection.
Users inspect for frayed webbing, damaged stitching, cracked hardware, and label legibility. Equipment subjected to fall arrest forces must be immediately removed from service. Most manufacturers require destruction after a fall arrest.
Question 5: What is a self-retracting lifeline and its advantage?
- A shorter standard lanyard
- A device that auto-adjusts length and limits free fall to about 2 feet (Correct answer)
- A guardrail on retractable cable
- A manual rope descent device
Correct answer: A device that auto-adjusts length and limits free fall to about 2 feet
An SRL auto-adjusts and activates braking within about 2 feet of a fall.
SRLs reduce fall distance from up to 6 feet to about 2 feet, significantly reducing forces. They also eliminate excess lanyard trip hazards and require less total fall clearance distance.
Question 6: What is a rescue plan and why is it required for fall arrest systems?
- A document for OSHA about equipment inventory
- A plan for promptly rescuing a worker after fall arrest to prevent suspension trauma (Correct answer)
- Manufacturer return policy
- An insurance claim procedure
Correct answer: A plan for promptly rescuing a worker after fall arrest to prevent suspension trauma
Rescue plans prevent suspension trauma which can be fatal within 15-30 minutes.
Suspension trauma occurs when blood pools in the legs due to harness compression. Death can occur within 15-30 minutes. OSHA requires employers to provide for prompt rescue. Simply calling 911 is generally inadequate.
Safety Trained Supervisor Fall Protection Systems 2
At what height does OSHA require fall protection for general industry?