Safety Knights

Oh dang! A lot of us got this wrong (including myself)

Explanation for correct answer:

While both 1910 and 1926 standards specify that the PFAS must limit the worker to no more than 6 feet of free fall, there is an exception found in an OSHA standard interpretation. To summarize (with link below to reference):

"OSHA will permit an employer to exceed the 6 foot free fall limit whenever there is no anchorage point to which the employer can attach that will enable the employer to rig the personal fall arrest system to limit the free fall to 6 feet or less--an infeasibility situation. In that case, the employer may exceed the 6 foot free fall, but must ensure that the maximum arresting forces (MAF) listed in the standard are not exceeded."

https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1996-12-04

Based on this interpretation, you can exceed the 6 foot free fall limit as long as you limit the MAF on the body to 1,800 lbs. or less. Just keep in mind that as you increase free fall distance, the weight of the worker must decrease in order to remain under the MAFs.

The 3.5 feet (OSHA's maximum deceleration distance) and 10 feet (when fall protection is required on scaffolding) were both distractors.

Thanks for everyone's participation!

I missed it too. :-(

6 feet

6’
Got distracted and hit 10’ by accident.

I’ve never quite understood why there’s a difference between the standards. The laws of physics don’t change based upon what you’re doing at the point that a fall begins.

If we (as safety professionals) consider all possible exceptions, we’d have a soup sandwich! Let’s try to follow the regulatory standards.

Darn I knew 6' was the answer, but was not 100% so picked 3.5'. Did not look far enough to see, "d" which is the best answer!

Hope springs eternal I will get one right!