ASP Safety Management Systems 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In an SMS, what does the term 'residual risk' refer to?
- Risk eliminated after all controls are applied
- Risk remaining after controls have been implemented (Correct answer)
- Risk identified but not yet evaluated
- Risk transferred to an insurer
Correct answer: Risk remaining after controls have been implemented
Residual risk is the level of risk that remains after all feasible controls have been applied.
Question 2: Which SMS component is MOST directly responsible for establishing the safety policy and accountability framework?
- Safety risk management
- Safety assurance
- Safety promotion
- Safety policy and objectives (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Safety policy and objectives
The safety policy and objectives component defines leadership commitment, accountability structures, and organizational safety goals.
Question 3: A company conducts quarterly reviews of incident trends to verify control effectiveness. This activity best represents:
- Hazard identification
- Safety risk assessment
- Safety performance monitoring (Correct answer)
- Safety training
Correct answer: Safety performance monitoring
Reviewing incident trends to verify controls are working is a safety performance monitoring activity under safety assurance.
Question 4: The 'Plan-Do-Check-Act' (PDCA) cycle is most closely aligned with which SMS principle?
- Continual improvement (Correct answer)
- Legal compliance
- Hazard documentation
- Emergency preparedness
Correct answer: Continual improvement
PDCA is a continual improvement cycle used in SMS frameworks such as ISO 45001 to drive ongoing performance gains.
Question 5: When performing a Management of Change (MOC) review for new machinery, which step should occur FIRST?
- Train affected employees
- Identify hazards introduced by the change (Correct answer)
- Update the emergency response plan
- Notify the insurer of new equipment
Correct answer: Identify hazards introduced by the change
Hazard identification must occur first in an MOC review so that risks from the change can be assessed before implementation.
Question 6: Under ISO 45001, which party bears ultimate accountability for the occupational health and safety management system?
- The safety manager
- Workers
- Top management (Correct answer)
- The regulatory agency
Correct answer: Top management
ISO 45001 places ultimate accountability for the OH&S management system on top management, who must demonstrate leadership and commitment.
Question 7: A leading indicator in an SMS would BEST be described as:
- Number of recordable injuries last quarter
- Workers' compensation costs for the year
- Percentage of safety audits completed on schedule (Correct answer)
- Days away from work per 100 employees
Correct answer: Percentage of safety audits completed on schedule
Leading indicators measure proactive safety activities (like audit completion rates) rather than outcomes, signaling future performance.
ASP Safety Management Systems 4
In an SMS, what does the term 'residual risk' refer to?