COSS Accident Investigation Principles 5

Question 1

Which of the following factors is considered a 'contributing cause' rather than a 'root cause' in accident investigation?

Accepted Answer

A spilled liquid on the floor that a worker slipped on

Answer

The spilled liquid is a contributing cause — a condition that enabled the accident — while the root cause is the systemic failure (e.g., inadequate housekeeping procedures) that allowed the spill to remain unaddressed.

Question 2

What is the primary advantage of using a structured investigation methodology (such as TapRooT or RCFA) over an informal review?

Accepted Answer

It ensures consistency, thoroughness, and defensibility of findings

Answer

Structured methodologies provide systematic, repeatable processes that improve consistency, ensure thoroughness, and produce defensible findings that can withstand external scrutiny.

Question 3

A worker sustains a serious injury while operating a machine that lacked required guarding. The investigation reveals the guard was never installed. What type of cause does this represent?

Accepted Answer

Latent system failure — engineering/design deficiency

Answer

A guard that was never installed represents a latent system failure originating in engineering, procurement, or installation processes — not an active human error at the time of injury.

Question 4

When determining the scope of an accident investigation, which factor MOST influences how thorough the investigation should be?

Accepted Answer

The actual or potential severity of the outcome

Answer

Investigation thoroughness should be proportional to the actual or potential severity of the outcome, with catastrophic or high-potential incidents warranting the most comprehensive investigations.

Question 5

Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of distributing an accident investigation report beyond the immediate work group?

Accepted Answer

To share lessons learned and prevent similar incidents across the organization

Answer

Sharing investigation findings across the organization multiplies the value of each investigation by allowing other work groups to learn from and apply lessons before a similar accident occurs elsewhere.

COSS - Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Practice Test

COSS - Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Practice Test

COSS Accident Investigation Principles 5