OSHA Stairways & Ladders Quiz — 29 CFR 1926.1050-1060 Practice Questions — Page 2 of 4
Free OSHA 30-Hour Construction stairways and ladders practice test with 40 realistic scenarios. Extension ladders, stepladders, fixed ladders, stair rail requirements, job-made ladders, training, and inspection with 29 CFR 1926 Subpart X references. (Page 2 of 4)
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Q11/ 40
A painter sets up a 32-foot extension ladder to access a roof eave at 24 feet. The ladder extends 2 feet above the roof edge. The base is 5 feet from the wall. Is this setup compliant with the 4:1 rule?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1053(b)(5)(i): portable ladders shall be used at an angle such that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is approximately 1/4 of the working length of the ladder (4:1 ratio). For 24-foot height: 24/4 = 6 feet horizontal distance. 1926.1053(b)(1): the ladder must extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface. At 5 feet base distance and 2-foot extension, both requirements are violated. The ladder angle is too steep (approximately 78° instead of 75.5° at 4:1), increasing the risk of tipping backward.
Q12/ 40
An electrician uses an 8-foot fiberglass stepladder to access a junction box at 10 feet. The electrician stands on the top step (not the top cap) and reaches up to work. The stepladder is rated Type I (250 lbs). The worker plus tools is about 230 lbs. Is this compliant?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1053(b)(13): employees shall not stand on the top step or the top cap of a stepladder. The top step lacks the structural bracing and depth of the lower steps — it's not designed for standing. Additionally, at full height with the worker on the top step, the worker's center of gravity is near or above the top of the ladder, creating a tipping hazard. The worker should use a 10-foot or 12-foot stepladder, or a different access method, so they can work from a lower, more stable step.
Q13/ 40
A worker carries an 8-foot fiberglass stepladder folded, holding it vertically at their side. As they walk through a doorway, the top of the ladder contacts a 277V fluorescent light fixture mounted at 7 feet, shattering the bulb and exposing energized contacts. The ladder is dry. Is this worker at risk?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1053(b)(20): ladders shall not be used in a manner that could cause accidental contact with energized electrical conductors. Carrying a ladder vertically without a spotter creates a tip hazard — the top of the ladder can strike overhead objects. While fiberglass is non-conductive, the shattered bulb exposes energized tombstone contacts (277V, which is fatal on contact). The safe practice: carry ladders horizontally at waist height with a spotter in congested areas, or use two workers for a vertical carry through doorways, with one watching the top. Pre-plan the route to identify overhead obstructions.
Q14/ 40
A 40-foot aluminum extension ladder accesses a 32-foot roof. The ladder extends 3 feet above the roof edge and the base is 8 feet from the wall (32/4 = 8). However, the ladder is positioned directly in front of a door that opens outward. The door is unlocked. What's the hazard?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1053(b)(8): ladders placed in any location where they can be displaced by workplace activities or traffic, such as in passageways, doorways, or driveways, shall be secured to prevent accidental displacement, or a barricade shall be used to keep the activities or traffic away from the ladder. An unlocked outward-opening door is a classic hazard — someone pushing the door open will strike the ladder, potentially knocking the climber 30+ feet to the ground. The ladder should be relocated away from the door, or the door should be locked, blocked, and barricaded with a spotter.
Q15/ 40
A 12-foot job-made wooden ladder is built on site to access a work platform. The ladder uses 2×4 side rails and 2×4 rungs nailed between the rails. The rungs are spaced 12 inches apart and are not notched into the rails — they're face-nailed with two 16d nails per end. Is this job-made ladder compliant?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1053(a)(4): job-made ladders shall be constructed in accordance with the design requirements for their maximum intended load. ANSI A14.4 (Safety Requirements for Job-Made Wooden Ladders) specifies: (1) side rails must be continuous (no splices), (2) rungs must be let into the side rails (dadoed or notched) at least 3/8 inch for positive bearing — face-nailing alone is not permitted, (3) rungs must be secured with at least two fasteners that cannot pull through. Face-nailed rungs concentrate all the load on the nails and can split the rail grain. The ladder could fail catastrophically under a worker's weight.
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Q16/ 40
A fixed ladder on the side of a water storage tank is 35 feet tall. The ladder has a cage (safety cage) starting at 7 feet above ground and extending to the top. The tank was constructed in 2019. Is the cage compliant as the primary fall protection for this fixed ladder?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1910.28(b)(9)(i): for fixed ladders extending more than 24 feet above a lower level installed after November 19, 2018, the employer must equip the ladder with a personal fall arrest system or a ladder safety system. Cages and wells are no longer permitted as the sole fall protection for new fixed ladders because research showed cages do not effectively arrest a fall — they only guide the falling worker and may actually trap them upside down. For existing ladders installed before November 19, 2018, cages are acceptable until November 18, 2036, when all fixed ladders over 24 feet must be retrofitted with PFAS or ladder safety systems.
Q17/ 40
A construction site has a temporary stairway to the second floor. The stairway has 12 risers. There is a handrail on one side only. The riser heights vary from 6 inches to 8 inches across the flight. Is this compliant?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1052(c)(1)(ii): stairways having 4 or more risers shall be equipped with a stair rail system on each unprotected side. 1926.1052(a)(2): riser height and tread depth shall be uniform within 1/4 inch. With 12 risers, two rails are required. A 2-inch variation in riser height (33% variation) is extremely dangerous — the human gait adjusts to a consistent riser height within the first 2-3 steps; an unexpected change causes tripping. The maximum allowed variation is 1/4 inch. The stairs must be rebuilt with uniform risers and a second handrail.
Q18/ 40
A worker is using an aluminum stepladder near exposed 120V temporary wiring at a construction site. The ladder is rated Type I (250 lbs). The worker says 'aluminum ladders are lighter — that's why I use them.' An electrician sees this and tells them to switch to fiberglass. Who is correct?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1053(b)(12): ladders shall have nonconductive side rails if they are used where the employee or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment. While ANSI A14.5 specifies fiberglass as the non-conductive option, the critical point: aluminum is an excellent conductor. Even indirect contact (touching a junction box with exposed wiring, a damaged cord contacting the ladder) can make the entire aluminum ladder live. 120V is more than sufficient to cause ventricular fibrillation and death. The electrician is correct — and the weight difference between aluminum and fiberglass ladders has narrowed significantly in recent years.
Q19/ 40
A 16-foot extension ladder is leaned against a freshly painted exterior wall at a 4:1 angle. The ladder's rubber feet are worn smooth (no tread pattern remaining) and the wall surface is smooth. The ladder is not secured at the top. A worker starts climbing and the ladder base slides outward on the smooth concrete below. What should have been done?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1053(b)(6): when a ladder is used to gain access to an upper landing surface, the ladder shall be secured at its top to prevent displacement. 1926.1053(b)(5): ladders shall be used only on stable and level surfaces. Worn safety feet (no rubber tread) on smooth concrete provide almost zero friction — the ladder can slide out at any angle. A freshly painted smooth wall at the top provides no grip for the ladder rails. Solutions: (1) replace the worn safety feet, (2) secure the top with a rope or ladder strap, (3) have a second person foot the ladder base, (4) use a ladder with spiked feet or a ladder mitt/board with a cleat on soft ground.
Q20/ 40
A construction worker finishes using a 28-foot extension ladder at the end of the day. They leave the ladder leaning against the building, unsecured, in a public area. Overnight, a security guard trips over the base of the ladder in the dark. What regulation was violated?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1053(b)(22): ladders shall not be left unattended in an erected position where they may be a hazard. An erected ladder is: (1) a trip hazard at its base, (2) a struck-against hazard (the extended portion above the roof is hard to see), (3) an attractive nuisance (unauthorized persons — especially children on construction sites — may attempt to climb). The ladder should be lowered and stored horizontally in a secured area at the end of the workday.