COSS Accident Investigation Principles 3

Question 1

The 'Swiss Cheese Model' of accident causation, developed by James Reason, illustrates that accidents occur when:

Accepted Answer

Holes in multiple defensive layers align, allowing a hazard to reach a victim

Answer

Reason's Swiss Cheese Model shows that accidents occur when holes (failures) in multiple defensive layers temporarily align, creating an unobstructed path from hazard to harm.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of a 'latent condition' in an accident investigation?

Accepted Answer

A machine guard that was removed and never replaced months before an injury

Answer

A latent condition is a pre-existing, dormant weakness (like a long-removed guard) that lies hidden until it combines with other factors to cause an accident.

Question 3

After completing an accident investigation, which action BEST ensures that corrective measures are actually implemented?

Accepted Answer

Establishing a tracking system with assigned responsibilities and due dates

Answer

A tracking system with assigned owners and due dates ensures accountability and verifies that recommended corrective actions are completed rather than left undone.

Question 4

When interviewing multiple witnesses to the same accident, an investigator discovers conflicting accounts. The BEST approach is to:

Accepted Answer

Triangulate accounts with physical evidence and documented facts to determine what occurred

Answer

Investigators should triangulate conflicting witness accounts with physical evidence and documented facts to construct the most accurate picture of what occurred.

Question 5

Which of the following root cause categories is addressed when an investigator finds that a new employee was never trained on a hazardous procedure?

Accepted Answer

Management system failure

Answer

Failure to provide required training is a management system failure, reflecting a breakdown in the organization's procedures for onboarding and hazard communication.

COSS - Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Practice Test

COSS - Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Practice Test

COSS Accident Investigation Principles 3