CPHR Workplace Health and Safety Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST describes the principle of the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) as it applies to Canadian workplace health and safety?
- A government-led program that conducts all workplace inspections and enforces penalties.
- The legal doctrine that places sole responsibility for workplace safety on the senior-most executive.
- A philosophy where all workplace parties, including employers, supervisors, and workers, share responsibility for health and safety. (Correct answer)
- An internal audit process focused exclusively on the financial costs associated with workplace accidents.
Correct answer: A philosophy where all workplace parties, including employers, supervisors, and workers, share responsibility for health and safety.
The Internal Responsibility System (IRS) is the foundational philosophy of occupational health and safety legislation across Canada. It posits that everyone in the workplace has a direct role and responsibility for ensuring a safe environment, from the employer who establishes safe systems, to the supervisor who enforces them, to the worker who follows safe practices and reports hazards.
Question 2: In the context of Canadian occupational health and safety legislation, what does the legal concept of 'due diligence' require an employer to do?
- Purchase the maximum available insurance coverage for workplace accidents.
- Take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers. (Correct answer)
- Strictly adhere to the absolute minimum standards outlined in the regulations, with no further action required.
- Discipline any employee who is involved in a workplace incident, regardless of the cause.
Correct answer: Take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers.
Due diligence is a legal defense and a proactive standard of care. It requires an employer to go beyond mere compliance with minimum standards and take all reasonable steps to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. This involves identifying foreseeable hazards, implementing controls, providing training, and supervising work to ensure procedures are followed.
Question 3: A worker in a warehouse is instructed to use a forklift that has a visibly frayed and damaged safety harness. The worker believes this is unsafe and invokes their right to refuse unsafe work. What is the supervisor's MOST appropriate immediate action according to typical Canadian OHS procedure?
- Order another employee to use the forklift immediately.
- Discipline the worker for insubordination and document the refusal.
- Inform the worker that the harness is a minor issue and to proceed with the task.
- Investigate the worker's concern in their presence and attempt to resolve the issue. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Investigate the worker's concern in their presence and attempt to resolve the issue.
The right to refuse unsafe work is a fundamental worker right in Canada. The standard procedure requires the supervisor to immediately investigate the refusal in the presence of the worker (and often a worker safety representative). The goal is to understand the hazard and resolve it. Disciplining the worker or ignoring the concern are contraventions of the legislation.
Question 4: A manufacturing company identifies that a specific grinding machine exposes workers to airborne particulates. According to the hierarchy of controls, which of the following interventions would be considered the MOST effective?
- Requiring all workers in the area to wear N95 respirators (PPE).
- Implementing a job rotation schedule to limit individual exposure time (Administrative Control).
- Installing a ventilation system with a capture hood directly at the source of the dust (Engineering Control). (Correct answer)
- Posting signs that warn workers about the respiratory hazard (Administrative Control).
Correct answer: Installing a ventilation system with a capture hood directly at the source of the dust (Engineering Control).
The hierarchy of controls ranks hazard reduction methods from most to least effective: Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Controls, Administrative Controls, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). An engineering control, like a ventilation system, is designed to remove the hazard at its source and is more effective than administrative controls or PPE, which rely on worker behaviour and compliance.
Question 5: What is the primary function of a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) in a Canadian workplace?
- To discipline employees who violate safety rules and procedures.
- To act as an advisory body that identifies hazards and makes safety recommendations to the employer. (Correct answer)
- To purchase and approve all safety-related equipment for the organization.
- To represent the employer in court during legal proceedings following a serious accident.
Correct answer: To act as an advisory body that identifies hazards and makes safety recommendations to the employer.
The primary role of a JHSC is to be an advisory and consultative body. Comprised of both management and worker representatives, it works collaboratively to identify potential hazards, conduct inspections, and make formal recommendations to the employer to improve workplace health and safety. It does not have direct disciplinary or purchasing authority.
Question 6: Under the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) 2015, what are the three primary elements used to communicate hazard information to workers?
- Employer policies, supervisor instructions, and government audits.
- Workplace inspections, incident reports, and disciplinary records.
- Labels on hazardous products, Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), and worker education and training. (Correct answer)
- Pictograms, first aid procedures, and emergency contact numbers.
Correct answer: Labels on hazardous products, Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), and worker education and training.
WHMIS 2015 is built on three core components to ensure workers have the information they need to work safely with hazardous products. These are: 1) Labels on the products themselves for quick reference; 2) Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) which provide detailed technical information; and 3) comprehensive worker education and training programs to ensure understanding.
CPHR Workplace Health and Safety Questions and Answers 1
Which of the following BEST describes the principle of the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) as it applies to Canadian workplace health and safety?