Safety Practices
The safety framework
OSHA's general duty clause and 29 CFR 1910/1926 set the baseline; NFPA 70E addresses electrical safe work practices and arc-flash boundaries. Employers must provide hazard communication (SDS access), PPE, training, and lockout/tagout procedures. Installers are responsible for using them.
High-frequency exam topics
- Ladders: extension ladders at a 4:1 slope (1 ft out per 4 ft up), extend 3 ft above the landing, three points of contact, never aluminum near energized circuits.
- Fall protection: required at 6 ft in construction; guardrails, harness, or equivalent.
- Electrical: test before touch, use GFCIs, maintain approach boundaries, treat unknown conductors as live.
- Confined spaces: permit-required entries need atmospheric testing and an attendant.
- Optical fiber: never look into a fiber or connector; treat cut fiber as a splinter hazard; dispose in a labeled container.
- Pulling and ergonomics: keep pulls low and use mechanical assistance; watch hand and pinch points; keep pathways clear.
Traps
Questions often swap the 4:1 ladder rule with 3:1, or the 6 ft fall threshold with 10 ft. Remember that PPE is the last line of defense, not a substitute for eliminating the hazard. Do not assume a circuit is dead because a switch is off.
Worked example
An extension ladder must reach a 20 ft working height. Base placement = 20 ÷ 4 = 5 ft from the wall, with the top extending about 3 ft above the landing.