Question

Joaquin is a carpenter who, with his team, provides a range of services to both commercial and residential clients. A local restaurant has hired him to build a deck overlooking a gorge. The first step is to mark the footings with strings and pour the concrete piers that will provide the footing. After that, the team will install the girders and the floor joists. As the deck will be built on a slope leading down into the gorge, will Joaquin need to provide a fall protection plan for his team?

1. Yes, because conventional fall protection equipment is impossible to use in this situation.
2.Yes, because, once the flooring of the deck is in place, there will be leading and unprotected edges.
3.No, because personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) can be attached to the surrounding trees for safety.
4.No, because this is commercial construction.

Answer 1

Joaquin must provide a fall protection plan because his team will be working with leading and unprotected edges when constructing the deck. Regulations require fall protection for any potential fall of six feet or more. Commercial construction status does not exempt the need for such safety measures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question relates to whether Joaquin, a carpenter who is building a deck on a slope, needs to provide a fall protection plan for his team. It's important in the construction industry, regardless of whether it is a commercial or residential project, to prioritize worker's safety.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), fall protection is required in situations where there is a risk of falling six feet or more. Thus, since Joaquin's team will be working on a deck that likely has leading and unprotected edges, especially given it is overlooking a gorge, it is imperative that a fall protection plan is in place.

Therefore, the correct response is: Yes, because, once the flooring of the deck is in place, there will be leading and unprotected edges. This plan may include various systems such as guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems (PFAS). While it is conceivable to attach PFAS to trees, there is no specific exemption for commercial construction that eliminates the need for fall protection.