NEW MEXICO GS24 STRUCTURAL STEEL ERECTION CERTIFICATION EXAM
1. Q: What is the minimum safety factor for wire rope used in hoisting?
ANSWER 5:1 for rope slings and 3.5:1 for running ropes.
2. Q: At what height does fall protection become mandatory? ANSWER
Fall protection is required at heights above 15 feet (4.5 meters).
3. Q: What are the three main types of fall protection systems? ANSWER
Guardrail systems, safety net systems, and personal fall arrest systems.
4. Q: What is the maximum arresting force allowed on the body in a fall
arrest system? ANSWER 1,800 pounds (8 kN).
5. Q: How often must safety harnesses be inspected? ANSWER Before
each use and at least annually by a competent person.
6. Q: What is the minimum width for a scaffold platform? ANSWER 18
inches (46 cm).
7. Q: What is the maximum vertical distance between scaffold platforms?
ANSWER 12 feet (3.7 meters).
8. Q: What PPE is mandatory for structural steel erection? ANSWER
Hard hat, safety glasses, work boots with metatarsal guards, high-visibility vest,
and appropriate fall protection.
9. Q: What is the maximum angle from vertical for a ladder to be
considered safe? ANSWER 75 degrees (or a 4:1 ratio - 4 units vertical to 1
unit horizontal).
10. Q: How far must a ladder extend above the landing surface? ANSWER
At least 3 feet (0.9 meters).
11. Q: What is the minimum capacity rating for scaffold planking?
ANSWER 75 pounds per square foot for light-duty scaffolds.
,12. Q: What wind speed requires suspension of steel erection activities?
ANSWER Wind speeds exceeding 30 mph (48 km/h) or when steel becomes
unstable.
13. Q: What is controlled decking zone (CDZ) in steel erection? ANSWER
An area where floor decking activities can occur without conventional fall
protection, typically 90 feet from leading edge.
14. Q: What is the maximum deceleration distance for a personal fall arrest
system? ANSWER 3.5 feet (1.07 meters).
15. Q: What is the minimum breaking strength for lifelines? ANSWER
5,000 pounds (22.2 kN).
16. Q: How often must cranes be inspected? ANSWER Daily before use,
monthly, and annually with detailed documentation.
17. Q: What is the minimum clearance from power lines for steel erection?
ANSWER 10 feet for lines up to 50 kV; increases with higher voltage.
18. Q: What is a competent person in steel erection? ANSWER Someone
capable of identifying hazards and authorized to take corrective action.
19. Q: What is a qualified person in steel erection? ANSWER Someone
with recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or extensive
knowledge and training.
20. Q: What is the maximum opening size that doesn't require covering on
walking/working surfaces? ANSWER 2 inches (5 cm) in the least dimension.
21. Q: What are the requirements for safety net systems? ANSWER
Installed as close as possible but not more than 30 feet below working level,
extend 8 feet beyond edge.
22. Q: What is the minimum penetration depth for anchor bolts?
ANSWER Typically 7 to 12 bolt diameters, depending on concrete strength
and load requirements.
23. Q: When must tag lines be used? ANSWER When loads are being
hoisted in areas where they could contact workers or structures.
24. Q: What is the maximum load for a personal fall arrest system
anchorage? ANSWER 5,000 pounds per person attached, or maintain 2:1
safety factor under supervision of qualified person.
25. Q: What color are crane load warning signals typically? ANSWER
90% rated capacity - yellow; 100% rated capacity - red.
, 26. Q: What is the maximum spacing for guardrail posts? ANSWER 8 feet
(2.4 meters) on centers.
27. Q: What height should top rails of guardrails be? ANSWER 42 inches
(107 cm) plus or minus 3 inches.
28. Q: What is the minimum toeboard height? ANSWER 3.5 inches (9 cm).
29. Q: How long can temporary flooring remain in place without additional
protection? ANSWER Until permanent flooring is installed or additional fall
protection is required by code.
30. Q: What is the minimum overlap for scaffold planks? ANSWER 12
inches (30 cm), or secured to prevent movement.
31. Q: What is multiple lift rigging? ANSWER Technique where more than
one piece of steel is hoisted at once using specialized rigging.
32. Q: What is the minimum thickness for metal decking used as
temporary flooring? ANSWER 22 gauge minimum, but typically 20 gauge or
thicker.
33. Q: What rescue plan requirements exist for fall arrest systems?
ANSWER Employer must have rescue plan in place before work begins,
capable of prompt rescue.
34. Q: What is the maximum allowed free fall distance? ANSWER 6 feet
(1.8 meters) for personal fall arrest systems.
35. Q: What inspection is required before each crane lift? ANSWER
Visual inspection of rigging, load capacity verification, and function test of
controls.
36. Q: What signals must all workers understand on steel erection sites?
ANSWER Standard hand signals or radio communication protocols for crane
operations.
37. Q: What is the minimum size for openings requiring guardrails or
covers? ANSWER Openings 2 inches or greater in smallest dimension.
38. Q: When must a safety monitor be used? ANSWER In controlled
decking zones or other authorized situations as alternative to conventional fall
protection.
39. Q: What training is required for steel erection workers? ANSWER
Hazard recognition, fall protection, rigging, hoisting operations, and site-
specific orientation.
1. Q: What is the minimum safety factor for wire rope used in hoisting?
ANSWER 5:1 for rope slings and 3.5:1 for running ropes.
2. Q: At what height does fall protection become mandatory? ANSWER
Fall protection is required at heights above 15 feet (4.5 meters).
3. Q: What are the three main types of fall protection systems? ANSWER
Guardrail systems, safety net systems, and personal fall arrest systems.
4. Q: What is the maximum arresting force allowed on the body in a fall
arrest system? ANSWER 1,800 pounds (8 kN).
5. Q: How often must safety harnesses be inspected? ANSWER Before
each use and at least annually by a competent person.
6. Q: What is the minimum width for a scaffold platform? ANSWER 18
inches (46 cm).
7. Q: What is the maximum vertical distance between scaffold platforms?
ANSWER 12 feet (3.7 meters).
8. Q: What PPE is mandatory for structural steel erection? ANSWER
Hard hat, safety glasses, work boots with metatarsal guards, high-visibility vest,
and appropriate fall protection.
9. Q: What is the maximum angle from vertical for a ladder to be
considered safe? ANSWER 75 degrees (or a 4:1 ratio - 4 units vertical to 1
unit horizontal).
10. Q: How far must a ladder extend above the landing surface? ANSWER
At least 3 feet (0.9 meters).
11. Q: What is the minimum capacity rating for scaffold planking?
ANSWER 75 pounds per square foot for light-duty scaffolds.
,12. Q: What wind speed requires suspension of steel erection activities?
ANSWER Wind speeds exceeding 30 mph (48 km/h) or when steel becomes
unstable.
13. Q: What is controlled decking zone (CDZ) in steel erection? ANSWER
An area where floor decking activities can occur without conventional fall
protection, typically 90 feet from leading edge.
14. Q: What is the maximum deceleration distance for a personal fall arrest
system? ANSWER 3.5 feet (1.07 meters).
15. Q: What is the minimum breaking strength for lifelines? ANSWER
5,000 pounds (22.2 kN).
16. Q: How often must cranes be inspected? ANSWER Daily before use,
monthly, and annually with detailed documentation.
17. Q: What is the minimum clearance from power lines for steel erection?
ANSWER 10 feet for lines up to 50 kV; increases with higher voltage.
18. Q: What is a competent person in steel erection? ANSWER Someone
capable of identifying hazards and authorized to take corrective action.
19. Q: What is a qualified person in steel erection? ANSWER Someone
with recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or extensive
knowledge and training.
20. Q: What is the maximum opening size that doesn't require covering on
walking/working surfaces? ANSWER 2 inches (5 cm) in the least dimension.
21. Q: What are the requirements for safety net systems? ANSWER
Installed as close as possible but not more than 30 feet below working level,
extend 8 feet beyond edge.
22. Q: What is the minimum penetration depth for anchor bolts?
ANSWER Typically 7 to 12 bolt diameters, depending on concrete strength
and load requirements.
23. Q: When must tag lines be used? ANSWER When loads are being
hoisted in areas where they could contact workers or structures.
24. Q: What is the maximum load for a personal fall arrest system
anchorage? ANSWER 5,000 pounds per person attached, or maintain 2:1
safety factor under supervision of qualified person.
25. Q: What color are crane load warning signals typically? ANSWER
90% rated capacity - yellow; 100% rated capacity - red.
, 26. Q: What is the maximum spacing for guardrail posts? ANSWER 8 feet
(2.4 meters) on centers.
27. Q: What height should top rails of guardrails be? ANSWER 42 inches
(107 cm) plus or minus 3 inches.
28. Q: What is the minimum toeboard height? ANSWER 3.5 inches (9 cm).
29. Q: How long can temporary flooring remain in place without additional
protection? ANSWER Until permanent flooring is installed or additional fall
protection is required by code.
30. Q: What is the minimum overlap for scaffold planks? ANSWER 12
inches (30 cm), or secured to prevent movement.
31. Q: What is multiple lift rigging? ANSWER Technique where more than
one piece of steel is hoisted at once using specialized rigging.
32. Q: What is the minimum thickness for metal decking used as
temporary flooring? ANSWER 22 gauge minimum, but typically 20 gauge or
thicker.
33. Q: What rescue plan requirements exist for fall arrest systems?
ANSWER Employer must have rescue plan in place before work begins,
capable of prompt rescue.
34. Q: What is the maximum allowed free fall distance? ANSWER 6 feet
(1.8 meters) for personal fall arrest systems.
35. Q: What inspection is required before each crane lift? ANSWER
Visual inspection of rigging, load capacity verification, and function test of
controls.
36. Q: What signals must all workers understand on steel erection sites?
ANSWER Standard hand signals or radio communication protocols for crane
operations.
37. Q: What is the minimum size for openings requiring guardrails or
covers? ANSWER Openings 2 inches or greater in smallest dimension.
38. Q: When must a safety monitor be used? ANSWER In controlled
decking zones or other authorized situations as alternative to conventional fall
protection.
39. Q: What training is required for steel erection workers? ANSWER
Hazard recognition, fall protection, rigging, hoisting operations, and site-
specific orientation.
