Under OSHA 1910 Subpart B, what is the maximum fall distance before additional protection is required?

• A. 2 feet
• B. 4 feet
• C. 6 feet
• D. 8 feet

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that protection is required whenever there’s a fall hazard from an elevated edge. Under OSHA 1910 Subpart B, the trigger is four feet. If a worker could fall four feet or more to a lower level, you must provide some form of protection—guardrails, covers, or a personal fall arrest/other approved system. This four‑foot threshold is chosen to balance practicality with safety: below four feet, the rule doesn’t mandate additional fall protection, though other hazards might still require safeguards. Remember there are also specific guarding requirements for openings and edges, but for general walking-working surfaces the four‑foot rule is the deciding point for adding protection.