A safety net is being used where the working surface is 9 feet in the air. What is the minimum horizontal distance of the outer edge of the net from the edge of the working surface?

When a safety net is used for fall protection, the minimum horizontal distance from the edge of the working surface to the outer edge of the net is determined by the height of the working surface. According to safety regulations, for work surfaces that are between 7 and 12 feet high, the net must extend a minimum of 10 feet horizontally from the working surface edge.

In this scenario, since the working surface is 9 feet high, the requirement specifies that the outer edge of the safety net should be positioned a minimum of 10 feet away from the edge of the working surface. This distance is critical to ensure that if a worker falls, they are adequately caught by the net without risk of sliding off or hitting the ground.

Therefore, positioning the net at this minimum distance enhances the safety of workers by providing the necessary fall protection and ensuring compliance with safety standards relevant to elevated work surfaces.