COHN Health Promotion and Prevention 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which OSHA standard most directly applies when a COHN is developing a bloodborne pathogen exposure prevention program for healthcare workers?
- 29 CFR 1910.132 – Personal Protective Equipment
- 29 CFR 1910.1030 – Bloodborne Pathogens (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.147 – Control of Hazardous Energy
- 29 CFR 1910.1200 – Hazard Communication
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.1030 – Bloodborne Pathogens
The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) specifically requires exposure control plans and protective measures for bloodborne pathogen risks.
Question 2: 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:
- Assure the employee that only management has access to individual results
- Explain data confidentiality policies and how aggregate data protects individual privacy (Correct answer)
- Tell the employee their data will remain completely private without exception
- Redirect the employee to HR for all privacy questions
Correct answer: Explain data confidentiality policies and how aggregate data protects individual privacy
Explaining how confidentiality is maintained and how aggregate (not individual) data is used builds trust and supports informed consent.
Question 3: Return-to-work programs after occupational injury are BEST described as which level of prevention?
- Primary prevention
- Secondary prevention
- Tertiary prevention (Correct answer)
- Primordial prevention
Correct answer: Tertiary prevention
Tertiary prevention aims to reduce the impact of an established disease or injury through rehabilitation, including return-to-work programs.
Question 4: A COHN reviewing aggregate biometric screening results finds that 35% of employees have pre-hypertension. The MOST appropriate population-level intervention is:
- Prescribing antihypertensive medications for all pre-hypertensive employees
- Implementing a worksite education and lifestyle modification program targeting sodium reduction and physical activity (Correct answer)
- Referring all pre-hypertensive employees to cardiologists immediately
- Reporting findings to OSHA as a workplace hazard
Correct answer: Implementing a worksite education and lifestyle modification program targeting sodium reduction and physical activity
Population-level lifestyle interventions addressing modifiable risk factors like diet and activity are the evidence-based first-line approach for pre-hypertension.
Question 5: Under the ADA, when an employee requests a workplace accommodation for a chronic health condition, the COHN's role primarily includes:
- Making the final determination on accommodation approval
- Providing clinical information to support the interactive accommodation process (Correct answer)
- Denying accommodation requests that may affect productivity
- Filing the accommodation paperwork with EEOC directly
Correct answer: Providing clinical information to support the interactive accommodation process
The COHN contributes clinical expertise and functional capacity information to support the employer's interactive process but does not make the legal accommodation decision.
Question 6: Which physical activity recommendation from the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans should a COHN promote for adult employees?
- At least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity or 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week (Correct answer)
- At least 30 minutes of vigorous activity every day without exception
- A minimum of 10,000 steps per day as the only evidence-based target
- No specific aerobic activity if employees perform manual labor at work
Correct answer: At least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity or 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week
The U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes/week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity for adults.
Question 7: A COHN notices that the worksite cafeteria predominantly offers high-calorie, low-nutrient foods. Advocating for healthier food options is an example of:
- Secondary prevention targeting individual employees
- Environmental or structural change to support healthy behavior (Correct answer)
- Tertiary prevention for employees with diet-related conditions
- A violation of employee autonomy and should be avoided
Correct answer: Environmental or structural change to support healthy behavior
Modifying the food environment to make healthier choices easier is a structural/environmental strategy that supports population-level health promotion.
COHN Health Promotion and Prevention 5
Which OSHA standard most directly applies when a COHN is developing a bloodborne pathogen exposure prevention program for healthcare workers?