CSLB C-33 Painting & DecoratingSafetyMedium
A painting crew is working on a high-rise building, painting exterior walls from a suspended scaffold. Which of the following is the PRIMARY fall protection measure required for each worker on the scaffold?
- AA safety net installed below the scaffold
- BA personal fall arrest system (PFAS) tied off independently
- CWarning lines placed at the scaffold's edge
- DGuardrails around the scaffold platform
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. A personal fall arrest system (PFAS) tied off independently
For suspended scaffolds, OSHA requires each employee to be protected by a personal fall arrest system (PFAS) in addition to guardrails, with the PFAS tied off to an independent anchorage point.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Safety nets are a secondary or supplemental fall protection measure, not typically the primary for scaffolds.
- C. Warning lines are used in roofing work to designate danger zones, not as primary fall protection on scaffolds.
- D. Guardrails are required but are not the primary fall protection for suspended scaffolds, which also require PFAS.
Suspended Scaffold Fall Protection
Workers on suspended scaffolds must be protected by both guardrails and a personal fall arrest system (PFAS) tied to an independent anchorage.
- PFAS includes a full-body harness, lanyard, and anchorage point.
- Anchorage point must be separate from the scaffold support system.
- Guardrails provide passive fall protection and prevent objects from falling.
Memory trick: Suspended Scaffolds Securely Support Safety Systems.