Answer :
Final answer:
An 18-inch-tall parapet is not sufficient to serve as a guardrail for workplace safety. OSHA standards require a top rail, a mid rail, and sometimes a toeboard for guardrail systems, with a minimum height of 42 inches. The correct answer is option 3.
Explanation:
Regarding workplace safety, a parapet that is 18 inches tall would not be sufficient to serve as a guardrail on its own. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), guardrail systems must meet specific criteria to be considered adequate.
OSHA standards require that a guardrail must have a minimum height of 42 inches above the walking-working surface. Additionally, a guardrail system typically needs a top rail, a mid rail, and sometimes a toeboard to prevent objects from falling to a lower level. The specified parapet is short of these requirements. Therefore, additional safety measures would need to be added for compliance and worker safety when working at such elevations and near the edge of a building. Safety precautions are also necessary when dropping objects from height. One should maintain a safe distance from the edge and ensure that people, vehicles, or property below are not at risk of being hit by falling objects.
