COHN Workplace Injury and Illness 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When calculating the OSHA incidence rate for days away from work, which denominator is used?
- 100 full-time workers (200,000 hours) (Correct answer)
- 1,000 full-time workers (2,000,000 hours)
- 10,000 full-time workers
- Total number of employees on payroll
Correct answer: 100 full-time workers (200,000 hours)
OSHA incidence rates are calculated per 100 full-time equivalent workers, using 200,000 as the standard denominator.
Question 2: Which hierarchy of controls level provides the GREATEST protection against workplace injury?
- Administrative controls
- Personal protective equipment
- Engineering controls
- Elimination of the hazard (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Elimination of the hazard
Elimination removes the hazard entirely and is the most effective level at the top of the hierarchy of controls.
Question 3: A construction worker sustains a traumatic amputation on the job. Under OSHA regulations, the employer must report this event to OSHA within:
- 8 hours
- 24 hours (Correct answer)
- 72 hours
- 30 days
Correct answer: 24 hours
OSHA requires amputation, inpatient hospitalization, and loss of an eye to be reported within 24 hours of the incident.
Question 4: The occupational health nurse is analyzing injury trends and notices an increase in soft-tissue injuries during the afternoon shift. Which surveillance method best identifies causative workplace factors?
- Passive surveillance using only workers' comp claims
- Active surveillance through systematic worksite walk-throughs (Correct answer)
- Review of OSHA 300 log entries only
- Exit interview data collection
Correct answer: Active surveillance through systematic worksite walk-throughs
Active surveillance through walk-throughs allows direct observation of tasks, postures, and conditions contributing to injuries.
Question 5: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), what is the employer's obligation when an injured worker cannot return to their original job?
- Terminate the employee immediately after FMLA exhaustion
- Provide reasonable accommodation if the worker is otherwise qualified (Correct answer)
- Offer a leave of absence with no job guarantee
- Reassign the worker without their consent
Correct answer: Provide reasonable accommodation if the worker is otherwise qualified
The ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, including injured workers.
Question 6: In the context of workers' compensation, which term describes the maximum level of recovery an injured worker can achieve after treatment?
- Temporary total disability
- Permanent partial disability
- Maximum medical improvement (Correct answer)
- Functional capacity evaluation
Correct answer: Maximum medical improvement
Maximum medical improvement (MMI) is the point at which the worker's condition has stabilized and further recovery is not expected.
Question 7: An occupational health nurse is developing a return-to-work program. Which component is MOST important for reducing prolonged disability?
- Early intervention and modified duty options (Correct answer)
- Waiting until full medical clearance is granted
- Requiring a functional capacity evaluation before any return
- Focusing solely on physical therapy outcomes
Correct answer: Early intervention and modified duty options
Early intervention and transitional/modified duty have the strongest evidence for reducing disability duration and associated costs.
COHN Workplace Injury and Illness 3
When calculating the OSHA incidence rate for days away from work, which denominator is used?