Health & Safety Protocols Flashcards

Under OSHA's General Duty Clause, a grounds manager's responsibility is to:

Answer: Furnish a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious harm

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards, even where no specific OSHA standard exists for that hazard.

A grounds worker develops a rash on exposed skin after spreading a new mulch product. The manager should:

Answer: Remove the worker from exposure, provide first aid, review the product SDS, and report the incident

A suspected chemical dermatitis requires removing the worker from exposure, consulting the SDS, providing first aid or medical care, and documenting the incident per OSHA recordkeeping rules.

When operating a wood chipper, which action poses the greatest risk of a pull-in injury?

Answer: Pushing material into the feed chute while reaching forward over the opening

Reaching over or into the feed chute while the chipper is running creates a direct pull-in hazard from the rotating drum; material should be fed from the side and released before it enters the chute.

Which precaution is most important when grounds workers must work in traffic-adjacent areas such as highway medians or roadside turf?

Answer: Using high-visibility (ANSI Class 2 or 3) safety vests and following a traffic control plan

ANSI Class 2 or 3 high-visibility apparel, combined with a formal traffic control plan (cones, signs, flaggers), is required to protect workers in roadway environments.

What is the purpose of maintaining a confined space entry permit when workers must enter an underground irrigation vault?

Answer: To ensure atmospheric testing, ventilation, standby rescue, and communication are in place before entry

A permit-required confined space entry permit verifies that atmospheric conditions are safe, rescue resources are staged, and communication is established before any worker enters.

A grounds manager reviews an OSHA 300 log and notices three workers reported the same repetitive strain injury from hand pruning. The most appropriate corrective action is:

Answer: Investigate ergonomic risk factors and implement tool, task rotation, or technique changes to reduce repetitive motion strain

A cluster of similar repetitive strain injuries signals a systemic ergonomic hazard; the manager must analyze root causes and implement engineering or administrative controls.

Which best describes the purpose of a pre-task safety briefing before beginning a high-risk operation such as tree removal near a structure?

Answer: To ensure all crew members understand hazards, escape routes, roles, and communication signals before work begins

Pre-task briefings ensure every worker understands site-specific hazards, their individual role, drop zones, escape routes, and the communication plan, reducing miscommunication incidents.