Ladders and Stairways questions for the CHST
CHST5 Domain 1: Hazard and Risk Identification and Control (K1.4 Working at heights). 2 free questions below. Every answer quotes and links the regulation paragraph it rests on.
Regulations covered
- 29 CFR 1926.1052 Stairways.
- 29 CFR 1926.1053 Ladders.How this section is tested
Text pulled from the eCFR, current as of 2026-10-14.
Question 1
A crew sets up a 24-foot non-self-supporting extension ladder against a wall so the distance along the ladder between the foot and the top support is 20 feet. To meet the standard's angle requirement, approximately how far from the wall should the foot of the ladder be placed?
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Answer: A. 5 feet
The standard sets the horizontal distance at approximately one-quarter of the working length, which is 20 ft ÷ 4 = 5 ft. The 2.5-foot figure uses one-eighth, which applies only to wood job-made ladders with spliced side rails.
Answer A rests on
29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(5)(i)(opens ecfr.gov in a new tab)“Non-self-supporting ladders shall be used at an angle such that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is approximately one-quarter of the working length of the ladder (the distance along the ladder between the foot and the top support).”
Question 2
During a walkthrough of a multistory building under construction, a safety technician inspects a temporary wall-mounted handrail on a stairway. The handrail will be removed before the building is turned over. Its height is within the allowed range, and its ends and surface are smooth. The technician measures only 2 inches of space between the handrail and the wall, so a worker's hand could be pinched or trapped. What should the technician require?
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Answer: D. Increase the clearance between the handrail and the wall to at least 3 inches
The standard requires handrails that will not be a permanent part of the structure to have at least 3 inches of clearance from walls and other objects, so a 2-inch gap must be corrected. Accepting it because the rail is temporary reverses the rule, since the clearance requirement applies specifically to non-permanent handrails. Changing the height or adding balusters would not address the clearance problem.
Answer D rests on
29 CFR 1926.1052(c)(11)(opens ecfr.gov in a new tab)“Handrails that will not be a permanent part of the structure being built shall have a minimum clearance of 3 inches (8 cm) between the handrail and walls, stairrail systems, and other objects.”
6 more ladders and stairways questions in the full CHST bank
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