North Carolina Building Contractor License Practice Exam

Workers in which type of spaces must be provided a lifeline or safety belt?

1. Suspended scaffolds

2. Confined spaces

3. Catenary scaffolds

4. Open areas

The correct answer is: Catenary scaffolds

The correct answer pertains to catenary scaffolds, which are a specific type of scaffold typically used in construction where a system of ropes or cables supports the working platform. Workers on catenary scaffolds are at height and face risks associated with falling, which is why they must be equipped with appropriate safety measures, such as lifelines or safety belts. These safety devices are crucial in ensuring that, in the event of a slip or loss of balance, the workers are secured and protected from falling. Understanding the context of the other options helps clarify why they don’t fit as the correct answer. Suspended scaffolds also require safety measures due to their height and related fall risks, but the specific requirement for lifelines differs from catenary scaffolds. Confined spaces, while they present unique safety challenges, generally do not necessitate the use of lifelines or safety belts in the same way that scaffolding does. Open areas lack the height-related risks that safety belts and lifelines are designed to mitigate. Thus, catenary scaffolds stand out for their explicit need for these safety precautions.