COHN OSHA and Regulatory Compliance Questions and Answers

Question 1

An employee sustains a deep cut from a piece of machinery. The occupational health nurse refers the employee to an urgent care center where the physician closes the wound with sutures. The employee returns to their full, unrestricted job duties the same day. According to OSHA 29 CFR 1904.7, is this event recordable on the OSHA 300 log?

Accepted Answer

Yes, because using sutures is considered medical treatment beyond first aid.

Answer

According to OSHA standard 29 CFR 1904.7, an injury is recordable if it results in medical treatment beyond first aid. OSHA provides a specific list of what constitutes first aid; treatments not on this list are considered medical treatment. The use of wound closing devices such as sutures, staples, or surgical glue is explicitly defined as medical treatment, making the case recordable regardless of whether the employee missed work or had restrictions.

Question 2

An employer must report the in-patient hospitalization of an employee as a result of a work-related incident to OSHA within what time frame?

Accepted Answer

24 hours

Answer

OSHA's regulation 29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2) requires employers to report any work-related in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye to OSHA within 24 hours of learning about the event. The 8-hour reporting requirement is specifically for a work-related fatality.

Question 3

An occupational health nurse is managing the company's Respiratory Protection Program. A key requirement of this program under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 is the medical evaluation of employees required to wear respirators. What is the primary purpose of this medical evaluation?

Accepted Answer

To determine if the employee has any medical conditions that would prevent them from safely using a respirator.

Answer

According to OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.134(e), the primary purpose of the medical evaluation is to determine the employee's ability to safely use a respirator. This evaluation must be performed by a physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) before the employee is fit-tested or required to use the respirator. Fit testing, training, and respirator selection are all required components of the program, but they are separate from the medical evaluation's specific goal.

Question 4

A roofing company is cited by OSHA after an employee suffers a serious, preventable fall. There is no specific OSHA standard that covers the exact fall protection system that should have been used for this unique roofing project. The citation would most likely be issued under which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act)

Answer

The General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, requires employers to provide a workplace "free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm." OSHA uses this clause to cite employers for serious hazards when no specific OSHA standard applies to the situation. A fall from a roof is a well-recognized hazard that is likely to cause serious harm or death.

Question 5

As part of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), employers must provide employees with effective training on hazardous chemicals in their work area. Which of the following is a required element of this training?

Accepted Answer

Methods and observations employees can use to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical.

Answer

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200(h), explicitly requires that employee training includes the methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (e.g., monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.). The other options are not required components of employee training under this standard.

COHN Exam Practice Test

COHN Exam Practice Test

COHN OSHA and Regulatory Compliance Questions and Answers