COSS - Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Accident Investigation Principles Questions and Answers

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of an accident investigation in an occupational safety and health context?

Accepted Answer

To identify and correct root causes to prevent future incidents.

Answer

To assign blame to the employee responsible for the accident.

Answer

To complete the necessary paperwork for insurance and regulatory bodies.

Answer

To determine the financial cost of the workplace accident.

Question 2

An employee slips on a puddle of oil and is injured. A 'root cause analysis' would focus on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Why there was oil on the floor in the first place, such as a leaking machine or inadequate maintenance procedures.

Answer

Why the employee was not looking where they were going.

Answer

The cost of the employee's medical treatment and lost time.

Answer

The brand and type of cleaning solution used to mop up the spill.

Question 3

Immediately following a workplace accident, after ensuring the injured are cared for, what is the most critical first step for an investigator arriving at the scene?

Accepted Answer

Securing the scene to prevent disturbance of evidence.

Answer

Interviewing all available witnesses immediately.

Answer

Writing the final investigation report.

Answer

Cleaning up the area to resume normal operations quickly.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a primary goal of an effective accident investigation?

Accepted Answer

Establishing fault to justify disciplinary action.

Answer

Identifying hazards and shortcomings in the safety program.

Answer

Implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Answer

Understanding the sequence of events that led to the incident.

Question 5

During an investigation into a fall from a scaffold, the safety specialist determines that the guardrail was not in place. The investigation report recommends reinstalling the guardrail. According to the hierarchy of controls, this recommendation is an example of what type of control?

Accepted Answer

Engineering Control

Answer

Administrative Control

Answer

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Answer

Substitution

Question 6

A safety manager is developing an accident investigation program. The program should emphasize that, in addition to injuries, which other type of event should always be investigated?

Accepted Answer

Near misses, where an incident occurred but no injury or damage resulted.

Answer

Voluntary safety suggestions from employees.

Answer

Routine equipment maintenance and inspections.

Answer

Scheduled employee breaks and lunch periods.