Fall protection must be used when employees are on a walking or working surface that is _____ or more above a lower level and has an unprotected edge or side.

• A. 6 feet (1.8 m)
• B. 4 feet (1.2 m)
• C. 8 feet (2.4 m)
• D. 10 feet (3.0 m)

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that fall protection is required whenever you’re working on a surface that is high enough for a fall to cause serious injury and there’s an unprotected edge or side. The standard threshold used in this context is six feet above a lower level. So when you’re on a walking or working surface six feet or more above the next level and there isn’t a guardrail or other barrier at the edge, you must use fall protection such as guardrails, safety nets, or a personal fall arrest system. This height is chosen because the risk of injury from a fall becomes significant enough to warrant protective measures. A four-foot threshold is used in some general industry situations, but for this scenario the required protection begins at six feet.