Under Cal/OSHA regulations, what is the maximum height at which an employee can work without fall protection on a construction site?
Correct Answer
C) 7.5 feet
Cal/OSHA requires fall protection at 7.5 feet for construction work, which is more stringent than federal OSHA's 6-foot requirement.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Cal/OSHA (Title 8, CCR § 1716) requires fall protection for construction workers at heights of 7.5 feet or more. This is more protective than federal OSHA's 6-foot threshold. California independently adopted its own standard under its State Plan authority, which must be at least as protective as federal OSHA.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 10 feet
10 feet is incorrect. A 10-foot threshold would be less protective than both federal OSHA (6 feet) and Cal/OSHA (7.5 feet). No current OSHA standard sets a 10-foot general construction fall protection threshold.
Option B: 4 feet
4 feet is incorrect for general construction. Federal OSHA uses 4 feet as the threshold for general industry (not construction) workplaces. Cal/OSHA also uses 4 feet for general industry, but the question specifies a construction site, where the 7.5-foot rule applies.
Option D: 6 feet
6 feet is the federal OSHA threshold for construction fall protection (29 CFR 1926.502), not the California threshold. This is a classic distractor because many candidates know the federal 6-foot rule and apply it to California, where the stricter 7.5-foot rule governs.
Memory Technique
Remember: California adds 1.5 feet to the federal 6-foot rule → 6 + 1.5 = 7.5. Or: think 'CA goes the extra mile (and a half foot)' — Cal/OSHA is always stricter than federal OSHA.
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