COHN Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield COHN facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which component of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is MOST useful for identifying acute health hazards associated with a chemical? → Section 2 – Hazard(s) identification
2. Under the Health Belief Model, 'perceived severity' refers to: → How serious a person believes the consequences of a disease would be
3. Health and safety program goals should be written using the SMART criteria. 'M' in SMART stands for: → Measurable
4. A COHN is designing a worksite health promotion program. Which step should come FIRST? → Conduct a needs assessment
5. The PRECEDE-PROCEED model's 'enabling factors' include: → Skills, resources, and accessibility that facilitate behavior
6. An employee enrolled in a worksite wellness program asks the COHN how their health data will be used. The COHN's BEST response is to: → Explain data confidentiality policies and how aggregate data protects individual privacy
7. Which document serves as the primary written guide outlining an organization's overall approach to occupational health and safety? → Health and safety policy statement
8. A nurse reviews the OSHA 300 log and finds an entry for 'hearing loss.' What additional form must be completed for this type of illness? → A supplemental hearing loss form per OSHA standard 1904.10
9. Which of the following is considered a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to workplace hazard identification? → Conducting regular safety inspections and walk-throughs
10. A worker presents with bilateral hand tingling that worsens at night and is relieved by shaking the hands. Which condition is most likely? → Carpal tunnel syndrome
11. Which resource is MOST useful for quickly identifying emergency treatment information for an unknown chemical exposure in the field? → CHEMTREC (Chemical Transportation Emergency Center) hotline
12. Under NIOSH guidelines, which action level for noise exposure triggers the need for a hearing conservation program? → 85 dBA as an 8-hour TWA
13. What is the primary goal of occupational case management from the employer's perspective? → To minimize the employee's time away from work and control associated costs.
14. Which OSHA standard requires employers to provide hearing protection when noise levels exceed 85 dBA as an 8-hour time-weighted average? → 29 CFR 1910.95
15. In social cognitive theory, 'self-efficacy' in the context of health promotion means: → A person's belief in their ability to successfully perform a specific behavior
16. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is particularly dangerous because at high concentrations it: → Paralyzes the olfactory nerve, eliminating the warning odor
17. A lockout/tagout (LOTO) program falls under which OSHA standard? → 29 CFR 1910.147
18. In the context of workers' compensation, which term describes the maximum level of recovery an injured worker can achieve after treatment? → Maximum medical improvement
19. An employer is required to provide a medical surveillance program for workers exposed to which of the following? → Lead above the action level (30 µg/m³)
20. Which of the following is an example of a leading indicator in a health and safety program? → Percentage of completed safety inspections
21. Which approach to worksite health promotion is considered the most cost-effective for large populations? → Group-based interventions and environmental supports
22. A hearing conservation program is required when workers are exposed to a time-weighted average noise level of: → 85 dBA or above
23. A worker is exposed to an organophosphate pesticide. Which set of symptoms is MOST characteristic of this exposure? → Excessive salivation, miosis, bradycardia
24. Which community assessment data source provides age, race, income, and household composition at the neighborhood level? → US Census Bureau / American Community Survey
25. Which agency publishes Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for workplace chemical exposures? → ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists)
26. An employer wants to contest an OSHA citation. Within how many working days of receiving the citation must the employer file a Notice of Contest? → 15 working days
27. An employee is diagnosed with occupational asthma caused by workplace chemical exposure. Under OSHA recordkeeping, this is classified as a: → Illness
28. A worker who handles pesticides daily is found to have cholinesterase levels 30% below their pre-employment baseline. This finding PRIMARILY indicates: → Organophosphate or carbamate pesticide absorption
29. Which level of prevention does a nurse practice when administering Hepatitis B vaccines to newborns? → Primary prevention
30. Which type of examination question format does the ABOHN certification exam exclusively use? → Multiple-choice (single best answer)