ASP Incident Investigation and Analysis 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which barrier analysis concept categorizes controls as physical, natural, human action, or administrative?
- Haddon Matrix
- LOPA
- Barrier-based risk assessment (Correct answer)
- Swiss Cheese Model
Correct answer: Barrier-based risk assessment
Barrier-based risk assessment classifies protective barriers into physical, natural, human action, and administrative categories to evaluate control effectiveness.
Question 2: During an incident investigation, a witness states they 'always do it that way.' This best indicates which type of contributing factor?
- Regulatory noncompliance
- Normalization of deviance (Correct answer)
- Supervisory failure
- Equipment malfunction
Correct answer: Normalization of deviance
Normalization of deviance occurs when non-standard practices become accepted as normal over time, creating latent risk.
Question 3: The 'change analysis' technique in incident investigation compares what two states?
- Pre-incident and post-incident conditions (Correct answer)
- Planned procedures vs. actual practices
- Management expectations vs. worker behavior
- Regulatory standards vs. site conditions
Correct answer: Pre-incident and post-incident conditions
Change analysis systematically compares conditions, activities, and behaviors before and after an incident to identify what changed and contributed to the outcome.
Question 4: Which investigation method uses an AND/OR gate logic structure to trace pathways to a top-level undesired event?
- Causal factor charting
- Fault Tree Analysis (Correct answer)
- Fishbone diagram
- Bowtie analysis
Correct answer: Fault Tree Analysis
Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) uses Boolean AND/OR logic gates to map combinations of failures that lead to a defined top event.
Question 5: When interviewing a seriously injured worker shortly after an incident, the safety professional should first:
- Obtain a signed written statement
- Assess whether the worker is medically stable for questioning (Correct answer)
- Ask open-ended questions about root causes
- Record the interview for accuracy
Correct answer: Assess whether the worker is medically stable for questioning
The worker's medical condition must be assessed before any interview occurs to ensure their wellbeing and legal admissibility of information obtained.
Question 6: In incident investigation, a 'near-miss' is most valuable because it:
- Requires mandatory OSHA reporting
- Reveals system weaknesses before serious injury occurs (Correct answer)
- Triggers workers' compensation claims
- Proves management knew of the hazard
Correct answer: Reveals system weaknesses before serious injury occurs
Near-misses expose latent hazards and failed controls at a point where corrective action can prevent future harm, making them key learning opportunities.
Question 7: Which document best helps an investigator establish the sequence and timing of events leading to an incident?
- Job Hazard Analysis
- Timeline or sequence-of-events chart (Correct answer)
- MSDS/SDS for materials involved
- Training records of employees
Correct answer: Timeline or sequence-of-events chart
A timeline or sequence-of-events chart organizes facts chronologically, enabling investigators to identify critical decision points and gaps between events.
ASP Incident Investigation and Analysis 4
Which barrier analysis concept categorizes controls as physical, natural, human action, or administrative?