Under Cal/OSHA regulations, what is the minimum width required for a walkway or working surface?
Correct Answer
A) 18 inches
Cal/OSHA requires walkways and working surfaces to be at least 18 inches wide to provide adequate safe passage for workers.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
18 inches is the Cal/OSHA minimum width for walkways and working surfaces. This minimum ensures a worker can safely traverse the surface without significant risk of falling off the edge, while still allowing tight construction site conditions.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: 20 inches
20 inches is not the Cal/OSHA standard. This is a distractor that is close to 18 inches but does not match the regulatory requirement. Cal/OSHA specifies 18 inches, not 20.
Option C: 30 inches
30 inches is too wide and is not the minimum walkway width under Cal/OSHA. This figure may be confused with other clearance or access requirements in construction or general industry standards.
Option D: 24 inches
24 inches is not the Cal/OSHA minimum for walkways. This number may be associated with other building or safety dimensions (such as crawl space access), making it a plausible but incorrect distractor.
Memory Technique
Remember '18 inches = 1.5 feet = about the width of your shoulders.' A worker needs at least shoulder-width to safely walk a surface. Cal/OSHA locks in the bare minimum at 18 inches.
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A contractor is working on a commercial building roof 25 feet high. A worker needs to work within 6 feet of the roof edge for 30 minutes. Under Cal/OSHA fall protection requirements, what is acceptable?
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