COSS Safety Program Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) framework, which of the following is a core required element?
- Mandatory drug testing after every incident
- Worker participation in hazard identification and control (Correct answer)
- Annual third-party safety audits
- Posting safety data sheets at every workstation
Correct answer: Worker participation in hazard identification and control
I2P2 emphasizes worker participation as a core element, recognizing that employees closest to the work are best positioned to identify hazards.
Question 2: A safety program audit differs from a safety inspection in that an audit:
- Focuses on physical hazards in the workplace
- Evaluates the effectiveness and compliance of the overall safety management system (Correct answer)
- Is conducted by OSHA compliance officers only
- Identifies PPE deficiencies for specific job tasks
Correct answer: Evaluates the effectiveness and compliance of the overall safety management system
An audit evaluates the safety management system's effectiveness and compliance with standards, while an inspection focuses on identifying physical workplace hazards.
Question 3: The 'Plan-Do-Check-Act' (PDCA) cycle applied to safety management means:
- Planning incidents, documenting them, checking OSHA logs, and acting on citations
- Establishing objectives, implementing controls, monitoring results, and continuously improving (Correct answer)
- Scheduling inspections, performing them, checking for violations, and issuing fines
- Designing PPE programs, distributing equipment, checking fit, and acting on complaints
Correct answer: Establishing objectives, implementing controls, monitoring results, and continuously improving
PDCA in safety means planning safety objectives and controls, implementing them, monitoring/measuring results, and using findings to drive continuous improvement.
Question 4: Which metric is the OSHA recordable incidence rate (TRIR) formula?
- (Number of recordable incidents × 100,000) ÷ total hours worked
- (Number of recordable incidents × 200,000) ÷ total hours worked (Correct answer)
- (Lost workdays × 200,000) ÷ total hours worked
- (Number of fatalities × 1,000,000) ÷ total hours worked
Correct answer: (Number of recordable incidents × 200,000) ÷ total hours worked
TRIR = (Number of recordable incidents × 200,000) ÷ total hours worked, where 200,000 represents 100 full-time employees working 2,000 hours per year.
Question 5: In a behavior-based safety (BBS) program, observations are primarily used to:
- Identify employees for disciplinary action
- Collect data on safe and at-risk behaviors to guide targeted interventions and positive reinforcement (Correct answer)
- Satisfy OSHA recordkeeping requirements
- Determine workers' compensation claims eligibility
Correct answer: Collect data on safe and at-risk behaviors to guide targeted interventions and positive reinforcement
BBS observations collect data on behavioral patterns to identify trends, guide coaching conversations, and reinforce safe behaviors through positive feedback.
Question 6: When developing a safety training program, the FIRST step should be:
- Selecting the training format (classroom vs. online)
- Conducting a training needs assessment to identify gaps (Correct answer)
- Purchasing training materials from a vendor
- Scheduling the training calendar for the year
Correct answer: Conducting a training needs assessment to identify gaps
A needs assessment identifies who needs training, what knowledge or skills are lacking, and the root causes of gaps before designing or selecting any training.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of an 'administrative control' in the hierarchy of controls?
- Installing machine guards on rotating equipment
- Substituting a toxic chemical with a less hazardous one
- Rotating workers to limit exposure duration (Correct answer)
- Requiring workers to wear respirators
Correct answer: Rotating workers to limit exposure duration
Administrative controls change how work is organized or how long workers are exposed—job rotation to limit exposure duration is a classic example.
COSS Safety Program Management 3
Under OSHA's Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) framework, which of the following is a core required element?