OSHA safety: New Mexico Contractor Business & Law Practice Questions

What does the OSH Act's general duty clause require of every employer?

Section 5(a)(1) requires each employer to furnish employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm, even where no specific standard applies.

Under 29 CFR 1926.20, who must start and maintain the accident prevention program on a construction job?

The employer must initiate and maintain safety programs, including frequent and regular inspections of sites, materials and equipment by competent persons it designates.

How does OSHA define a competent person?

A competent person can identify existing and predictable hazards and has authority to take prompt corrective measures. Many standards (excavations, scaffolds, ladders) require one.

OSHA's definition of a qualified person centers on what?

A qualified person has recognized credentials or extensive knowledge and experience and has shown the ability to solve problems related to the work. The competent person, by contrast, is defined by hazard recognition plus authority to correct.

In construction, at what height above a lower level must workers on an unprotected side or edge be protected from falls?

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1) requires guardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems where a side or edge is 6 feet or more above a lower level. Scaffolds (10 ft) and ladders follow their own subparts.

Workers framing a house are 7 feet above the floor below. What fall protection does OSHA require?

Residential construction at 6 feet or more needs conventional fall protection. If the employer can show it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard, it may use a written fall protection plan under 1926.502(k); OSHA presumes conventional systems are feasible.

What is the required height of a guardrail top rail above the walking/working level?

Top rails must be 42 inches (plus or minus 3 inches) above the walking/working level, so 39 to 45 inches. Midrails go about halfway between the top rail and the surface.

A guardrail top rail must withstand what force applied within 2 inches of its top edge?

Top rails must withstand at least 200 pounds in any outward or downward direction. Midrails must withstand 150 pounds; toeboards 50 pounds.

An anchorage for a personal fall arrest system must support at least how much per employee attached (if not designed by a qualified person)?

Anchorages must support at least 5,000 pounds per attached employee, or be designed with a safety factor of at least two under the supervision of a qualified person.

A personal fall arrest system must limit an employee's free fall to no more than what distance?

Free fall is limited to 6 feet, the employee must not contact any lower level, and maximum arresting force with a harness is 1,800 pounds. Deceleration distance is limited to 3.5 feet.

May a body belt be used as part of a personal fall arrest system?

Body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system. A full-body harness is required. Belts may still be used in some positioning systems.

A cover over a floor hole must support at least what load?

Covers must support at least twice the weight imposed at any one time, be secured against displacement and be marked HOLE or COVER (or color-coded).

Safety nets must be installed as close as practicable under the working surface, but never more than how far below it?

Nets are installed as close as practicable under the work, and in no case more than 30 feet below. They are drop-tested with a 400-pound bag of sand.

On a low-slope roof, when may a safety monitoring system alone be used for roofing work?

On low-slope roofs 50 feet or less wide, a safety monitoring system alone is allowed. Wider roofs need guardrails, nets, fall arrest, or a warning line combined with another system.

With no mechanical equipment in use, how far from the roof edge must a warning line be set?

Warning lines go at least 6 feet from the roof edge. Where mechanical equipment is used, they must be 6 feet from edges parallel to its travel and 10 feet from edges perpendicular to it.