CSP Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)?
- To calculate workers' compensation premiums for specific job tasks
- To identify, analyze, and control hazards associated with specific job tasks before work begins (Correct answer)
- To document the number of injuries that occurred during a specific job task
- To establish production quotas for workers performing hazardous tasks
Correct answer: To identify, analyze, and control hazards associated with specific job tasks before work begins
A JHA systematically identifies and evaluates hazards in each step of a task so controls can be implemented before injuries occur.
Question 2: In a risk assessment matrix, what two factors are combined to determine overall risk level?
- Cost and duration
- Frequency and severity
- Probability (likelihood) and consequence (severity) (Correct answer)
- Number of exposed workers and regulatory penalties
Correct answer: Probability (likelihood) and consequence (severity)
Risk is classically defined as a function of probability (likelihood of occurrence) and consequence (severity of harm), which are combined in a risk matrix to prioritize hazards.
Question 3: According to the hierarchy of controls, which control method is considered most effective for reducing hazards?
- Administrative controls
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Engineering controls
- Elimination of the hazard (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Elimination of the hazard
Elimination — physically removing the hazard — is at the top of the hierarchy of controls because it completely removes the risk rather than just mitigating it.
Question 4: What does FMEA stand for, and what is it primarily used for?
- Fatal Measurement and Error Analysis — analyzing post-incident fatality causes
- Failure Mode and Effects Analysis — identifying how components can fail and the resulting impacts (Correct answer)
- Facility Management and Environmental Assessment — auditing facility environmental conditions
- Federal Method of Equipment Auditing — regulatory compliance inspections of equipment
Correct answer: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis — identifying how components can fail and the resulting impacts
FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) is a systematic technique for identifying all possible failure modes of a system, their causes, and their effects on system performance.
Question 5: A 'near miss' (also called a close call) is best described as:
- An incident that resulted in minor injuries requiring only first aid treatment
- An unplanned event that did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so (Correct answer)
- A safety violation observed by a supervisor but not reported to OSHA
- An incident where a worker came within 3 feet of a hazardous energy source
Correct answer: An unplanned event that did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so
A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage but had the potential to — investigating these events is critical for preventing future incidents.
Question 6: Which hazard identification method uses structured 'What-If' questions to systematically evaluate potential process deviations?
- Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
- Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
- What-If Analysis (Correct answer)
- Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA)
Correct answer: What-If Analysis
What-If Analysis is a brainstorming technique where a team asks 'What if...?' questions about process deviations to identify potential hazards and their consequences.
Question 7: What is the key distinction between a 'hazard' and a 'risk' in safety terminology?
- A hazard is always physical; a risk is always chemical or biological
- A hazard is any source of potential harm; risk is the probability and severity of harm occurring from that hazard (Correct answer)
- A hazard applies to property damage only; risk applies to personal injury only
- A hazard is identified by workers; risk is calculated exclusively by safety engineers
Correct answer: A hazard is any source of potential harm; risk is the probability and severity of harm occurring from that hazard
A hazard is a source of potential harm (e.g., a wet floor), while risk is the combination of the likelihood and consequence of harm being realized from that hazard.
CSP Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 1
What is the primary purpose of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)?