COHN Workplace Hazard Identification 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under NIOSH guidelines, which action level for noise exposure triggers the need for a hearing conservation program?
- 75 dBA as an 8-hour TWA
- 85 dBA as an 8-hour TWA (Correct answer)
- 90 dBA as an 8-hour TWA
- 95 dBA as an 8-hour TWA
Correct answer: 85 dBA as an 8-hour TWA
OSHA's Hearing Conservation Amendment requires a hearing conservation program when noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA (the action level).
Question 2: An occupational health nurse notices that several employees in a painting department have elevated lead blood levels. The MOST likely primary exposure route is:
- Inhalation of lead dust and fumes (Correct answer)
- Dermal absorption through intact skin
- Ingestion of contaminated food
- Ocular absorption from spray mist
Correct answer: Inhalation of lead dust and fumes
Inhalation of lead dust and fumes from sanding, spraying, and heat application is the primary occupational exposure route in painting operations.
Question 3: Which term describes a hazard that results from the combined effects of two workplace stressors that is greater than the sum of their individual effects?
- Additive effect
- Synergistic effect (Correct answer)
- Antagonistic effect
- Potentiation effect
Correct answer: Synergistic effect
A synergistic effect occurs when two hazards together produce a health impact greater than the sum of their individual effects, such as combined silica and cigarette smoke increasing lung cancer risk.
Question 4: When identifying psychosocial hazards in the workplace, which tool is MOST appropriate for the occupational health nurse to use?
- Noise dosimeter measurements
- Validated workplace stress surveys (Correct answer)
- Industrial hygiene air sampling
- OSHA 300 log review
Correct answer: Validated workplace stress surveys
Validated workplace stress surveys (such as the JCQ or NIOSH Generic Job Stress Questionnaire) are designed to systematically identify psychosocial stressors including workload, control, and social support.
Question 5: A confined space is classified as a 'permit-required' confined space when it:
- Is located underground
- Has a hazardous atmosphere or other serious safety hazard (Correct answer)
- Is accessed by a ladder
- Has limited natural lighting
Correct answer: Has a hazardous atmosphere or other serious safety hazard
A confined space becomes permit-required under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 when it contains or has a potential for a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment hazard, internal configuration hazard, or any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.
Question 6: Which process hazard analysis (PHA) technique uses a structured 'What if?' questioning approach to identify workplace hazards?
- Fault tree analysis
- HAZOP study
- 'What-If' analysis (Correct answer)
- FMEA
Correct answer: 'What-If' analysis
'What-If' analysis uses systematic brainstorming with 'What if?' questions to identify potential deviations, hazards, and consequences in a process or operation.
Question 7: A manufacturing plant wants to identify all possible failure modes of equipment that could expose workers to hazards. Which hazard analysis method is MOST appropriate?
- Job hazard analysis
- Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) (Correct answer)
- Epidemiological study
- Toxicological review
Correct answer: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
FMEA systematically evaluates each equipment component for potential failure modes and their effects on worker safety, making it ideal for equipment hazard identification.
COHN Workplace Hazard Identification 3
Under NIOSH guidelines, which action level for noise exposure triggers the need for a hearing conservation program?