CSLB General Building (B)SafetyEasy
A contractor is performing excavation work. Cal/OSHA requires that a means of egress (e.g., ladder, ramp) be provided for employees in a trench. What is the maximum horizontal travel distance to a means of egress for employees in a trench that is 4 feet or deeper?
- A25 feet
- B30 feet
- C15 feet
- D20 feet
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 25 feet
Cal/OSHA mandates that a means of egress, such as a ladder or ramp, must be located so that no worker has to travel more than 25 feet horizontally to reach it in a trench that is 4 feet or deeper.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 30 feet is too far; it exceeds the maximum allowable horizontal travel distance.
- C. 15 feet is too short; the regulation allows for a greater distance.
- D. 20 feet is below the regulatory maximum for horizontal travel.
Trench Egress Distance
Cal/OSHA requires a means of egress within 25 feet of horizontal travel for employees in trenches 4 feet or deeper.
- Applies to trenches 4 feet deep or more.
- Maximum 25 feet horizontal travel.
- Egress includes ladders, stairways, or ramps.
Memory trick: Egress is 'Twenty-Five Feet' to safety.