Walking-working surfaces and fall protection

0:00 Intro

Walking-working surfaces and fall protection, for the CSP exam. Every rule and number here is cited to its primary source, on screen.

0:12 Learning objectives

In this lesson, you'll learn to: state the four-foot trigger and its exceptions, apply the low-slope roof distance rules, recall guardrail and warning line criteria, and know the fixed ladder deadlines.

0:29 1910.28(b): the baseline rule

The general trigger is 4 feet. Unprotected edge 4 feet or more up: guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall protection. Holes 4 feet or more up allow covers, guardrails, travel restraint, or arrest.

0:50 1910.28(b)(13): low-slope roofs

Under 4 feet, only covers or guardrails. On low-slope roofs, edge distance sets your options. Under 6 feet: guardrail, net, restraint, or arrest. From 6 feet to under 15 feet, the same systems apply, or a designated area for work that is both infrequent and temporary. At 15 feet or more: any system or designated area, or none if infrequent and temporary, plus a work rule barring entry within 15 feet without fall protection.

1:23 1910.29(b): guardrail criteria

Know these guardrail numbers. Top rail: 42 inches, plus or minus 3, and it may exceed 45 if all other criteria are met. It must withstand 200 pounds downward or outward within 2 inches of the top edge, and under a downward load must not deflect below 39 inches.

2:00 1910.29(d): designated areas

Without a wall or parapet at least 21 inches high, midrails sit midway; balusters are no more than 19 inches apart. Intermediate members must withstand 150 pounds. A designated area is bounded by a warning line. Its lowest point, including sag, must be 34 to 39 inches high, with 200-pound minimum breaking strength.

2:30 1910.28(b): special cases

Set it at least 6 feet from the roof edge for temporary, infrequent work, or 15 feet for other work. Mobile equipment, temporary and infrequent: 6 feet parallel, 10 perpendicular. Some exceptions trade fall protection for controls. Pits under 10 feet deep: no system if access within 6 feet is limited to trained authorized employees, with markings or a warning line, and a sign. Dockboards need guardrails or handrails at 4 feet.

3:11 1910.28(b)(9): fixed ladders

Exempt only if solely motorized handling, no exposure over 10 feet, trained employees. A special-purpose runway may omit one guardrail if rails on both sides are not feasible, it is at least 18 inches wide, and each employee uses arrest or restraint. Fixed ladders over 24 feet follow a phase-in.

3:41 1910.29: rails, toeboards, covers

Installed before November 19, 2018: arrest, ladder safety, cage, or well. Installed on or after that date: arrest or ladder safety system. A cage or well alone no longer qualifies. By November 18, 2036, all fixed ladders need arrest or ladder safety systems. These often appear as distractors.

4:10 Common exam traps

25 inches of finger clearance. Stair rails installed on or after January 17, 2017 are at least 42 inches. 5 inches high, 50 pounds. Covers carry twice the maximum intended load. Now, six traps that catch people on exam day. One: general industry triggers at 4 feet. Six feet is a roof-edge distance, not the trigger. Two: on fixed ladders over 24 feet, a cage alone works only if installed before November 19, 2018. Three: pits under 10 feet skip the system, not the controls: access, markings or a warning line, and signs. Four: at 15 feet, no protection applies only to infrequent, temporary work, plus a work rule.

5:10 Recap quiz

Five: top rail is 42 inches plus or minus 3, and may exceed 45 if other criteria are met. Thirty-nine is the deflection floor. Six: 34 to 39 inches is line height. Setback is 6 or 15 feet. Question 1. Work is done 10 feet from a low-slope roof edge, infrequent and temporary. Which is correct? A: No protection required. B: A designated area may be used. C: Guardrail only. D: Personal fall arrest only. B. A designated area may be used at 6 to under 15 feet for infrequent, temporary work. Question 2. A warning line's lowest point, including sag, must be within which range? A: 30 to 38 inches. B: 34 to 39 inches. C: 39 to 42 inches. D: 42 to 48 inches. B. Thirty-four to 39 inches, at the lowest point including sag. Question 3. A 30-foot fixed ladder was installed after November 19, 2018. Which satisfies the rule? A: Cage only. B: Well only. C: Cage plus rest platform. D: Ladder safety system. D. New fixed ladders need a personal fall arrest or ladder safety system. Want to see where you stand on every CSP domain? com.

25 questions, free, no card. You get a readiness score for each CSP domain.