OSHA Stairways & Ladders Quiz — 29 CFR 1926.1050-1060 Practice Questions — Page 4 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 4 of 4)
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Q31/ 40
A stairway in a commercial building under construction is 6 feet wide, measured between the finished wall surfaces. When must an intermediate handrail be installed?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1052(c)(1)(i-ii) requires at least one handrail for 4+ risers, plus a stairrail on each unprotected side. 1926.1052(c)(2) states: 'Stairways more than 88 inches (2.2 m) in width shall be provided with one intermediate handrail for each 88 inches or fraction thereof of additional width.' At 6 feet (72 inches), the stairway is less than 88 inches — so no intermediate rail is required. However, at 8 feet (96 inches), an intermediate handrail would be required. This applies during construction precisely as it applies to permanent installations — 1926.1052 makes no distinction between temporary and permanent stairway requirements.
Q32/ 40
A roofer carries a bundle of shingles (75 lbs) up an extension ladder. One hand is on the ladder rail, the other cradles the shingle bundle against the chest. At the roof edge, the worker must release the rail hand to push the bundle onto the roof. Is this acceptable?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1053(b)(22): 'An employee shall not carry any object or load that could cause the employee to lose balance and fall.' OSHA's standard interpretation is that climbing a ladder requires at least 3 points of contact (two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand). Carrying a 75-lb bundle prevents a secure hand grip — if the load shifts or the worker slips, there is no recovery hand available. 1926.1053(b)(21) requires that materials and equipment be hoisted separately, not carried up ladders. A rope, pulley, or material hoist must be used for shingle bundles. This is one of the most common causes of ladder falls in roofing.
Q33/ 40
A fixed ladder on a new water tower is being installed. The ladder is 35 feet from ground to the catwalk platform. The climbing side is the rung side only; no climbing cage is installed. What additional safety equipment is required?
✅ Correct Answer: A
1926.1053(a)(18) and 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(9)(i) (effective 2018): All new fixed ladders over 24 feet must be equipped with a ladder safety system or personal fall arrest system. Cages and wells are no longer recognized as compliant fall protection on new fixed ladders — they prevent falls outward but do not arrest a fall. OSHA phased out cages as standalone fall protection: existing cages installed before November 19, 2018 may remain until November 18, 2036, after which they must be replaced with ladder safety systems or PFAS. New construction must comply immediately with the ladder safety system or PFAS requirement.
Q34/ 40
A stairway temporarily used by 25 employees during construction has a 9-inch riser height and 9-inch tread depth for all steps. Stairway landings are provided every 12 feet of vertical rise. Is this compliant?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1052(a)(2): 'Temporary stairways shall have a minimum tread depth of 9.5 inches.' A 9-inch tread depth fails this requirement by 0.5 inches. 1926.1052(a)(3): 'Risers shall be uniform within any flight and shall not exceed 8.25 inches.' A 9-inch riser exceeds the maximum by 0.75 inches. Additionally, 1926.1052(a)(1) through the references to 1926 Subpart X Appendix A require that stair angle be between 30 and 50 degrees from horizontal — a 9/9 stair produces a 45-degree angle, which just barely fits, but the individual dimension violations make the stair non-compliant independently. 1926.1052(a)(4) requires landings at least every 12 feet — this one provision is compliant.
Q35/ 40
A 10-foot A-frame stepladder is being used on an asphalt surface in direct summer sun. The ladder is fully opened with spreaders locked. After 3 hours of use, the worker notices one of the rear rails has sunk approximately 1 inch into the softened asphalt. What should the worker do?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1053(b)(6): 'Ladders shall be used only on stable and level surfaces unless secured to prevent accidental displacement.' Asphalt softened by heat is not a stable surface — it can continue to settle, causing sudden shifts. 1926.1053(b)(7): 'Ladders shall not be used on slippery surfaces unless secured or provided with slip-resistant feet.' Softened asphalt is effectively a slippery, unstable surface. A wide plywood base (minimum 3/4-inch thickness) that distributes the load across a larger surface area and insulates the asphalt from the ladder feet would make the surface stable enough for continued use.
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Q36/ 40
During a fire watch, workers evacuate using the temporary construction stairway in a 6-story building. The stairway is 44 inches wide and has a handrail on only one side (the wall side). The open side has no stairrail because the steel studs for the shaft wall aren't installed yet. Was the stairway properly equipped?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1052(c)(1)(ii) requires a stairrail system along each unprotected side or edge of stairways with 4 or more risers (or rising more than 30 inches). A stairrail is a vertical barrier (similar to a guardrail) erected along the exposed sides of stairways to prevent falls. The handrail on the wall side provides gripping support but does not protect the open side. 1926.1052(d) specifies that the height of stairrails shall not be less than 36 inches from the upper surface to the tread. Adherence to this requirement is required at all times during construction, not just in finished condition.
Q37/ 40
A double-cleat ladder is being constructed on site to provide two-way access for a concrete formwork crew of 15 workers. The ladder will be 12 feet tall. What is the minimum width required between the side rails?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.450(b) defines a double-cleat ladder as having a center rail allowing simultaneous two-way traffic. Per 1926 Subpart X, Appendix A, Table A-1 (Job-Made Ladder Specifications), double-cleat ladders require a minimum width of 20 inches between side rails. The center rail must provide structural support and separate the climbing paths. If 15 workers need simultaneous two-way access, a double-cleat ladder is appropriate — it allows ascending and descending workers to pass each other without one having to step off, which reduces congestion and fall hazard.
Q38/ 40
A worker sets up a 16-foot extension ladder against a vinyl-sided wall without securing the top. The ladder feet are on a concrete sidewalk with no slip-resistant pads. The ladder is set at a 4:1 angle. As the worker climbs past the 8-foot level, the base begins to slide. What is the primary cause?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1053(b)(5)(i) requires the ladder be secured at its top when displacement could occur. 1926.1053(b)(6) requires stable, level surfaces and slip-resistant feet. Ladder slide-out occurs because the climber's horizontal force at the top increases as they ascend (higher moment arm) while the friction at the base remains constant. The 4:1 angle is CORRECT — 1926.1053(b)(5)(i) specifies the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot shall be approximately 1/4 of the working length. The error is the unsecured top AND the smooth feet on concrete — correcting either one (tying off the top, or adding a slip-resistant foot/base) is a sufficient control.
Q39/ 40
A 20-foot portable metal ladder is being used by an electrician to access a cable tray. A coworker begins arc welding 6 feet from the base of the ladder. The welding circuit's work lead (ground clamp) is attached to the cable tray support steel, which is bolted to the same structure the ladder leans against. What is the electrical hazard?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.351(c)(2): 'The work lead shall be firmly attached to the work.' When the work lead is attached to a structural member far from the actual welding point, the return current finds the path of least resistance — which may include any conductive path to ground, including a metal ladder leaning against the connected steel. If the work lead connection has high resistance (paint, rust, loose clamp), the return current divides across all parallel paths. A worker touching the ladder and grounded structure simultaneously can become a parallel path. 1926.351(c)(3) requires that welding leads be protected from accidental contact. The ladder should be relocated, or a nonconductive fiberglass ladder should be used.
Q40/ 40
A painter is using an articulated ladder (multi-position ladder) configured as a 6-foot stepladder to reach a 9-foot ceiling. Each of the four sections is independently adjustable. The painter fails to fully engage the locking mechanism on one of the rear sections. While reaching laterally with a roller, the section collapses. Who is responsible?
✅ Correct Answer: B
1926.1060(a) requires the employer to provide a training program for each employee using ladders and stairways, covering: the nature of fall hazards, correct procedures for erecting/maintaining/disassembling, and maximum intended load-carrying capacities. 1926.1053(b)(2): 'Ladders shall be maintained free of oil, grease, and other slipping hazards.' 1926.1053(b)(15): 'Ladders shall be inspected by a competent person for visible defects on a periodic basis and after any occurrence that could affect their safe use.' While the worker has a duty to use equipment properly, OSHA places the primary responsibility on the employer to ensure workers are trained and the ladder is functional. The multi-position ladder requires specific setup training that the employer must provide and document.