CSR Safety & Risk Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which OSHA standard is most applicable to court reporters who develop repetitive strain injuries from prolonged stenography work?
- 29 CFR 1910.132 — Personal Protective Equipment
- 29 CFR 1910.38 — Emergency Action Plans
- OSHA's General Duty Clause covering ergonomic hazards (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.147 — Lockout/Tagout
Correct answer: OSHA's General Duty Clause covering ergonomic hazards
OSHA's General Duty Clause requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized ergonomic hazards, which applies to repetitive motion risks for stenographers.
Question 2: A freelance court reporter is subpoenaed to produce a transcript that contains confidential attorney-client communications. What is the primary risk management step?
- Immediately produce the transcript to avoid contempt
- Notify the attorney of record and seek a protective order before producing (Correct answer)
- Redact all attorney statements before producing
- Decline the subpoena without any follow-up action
Correct answer: Notify the attorney of record and seek a protective order before producing
The reporter should promptly notify the attorney of record so counsel can seek a protective order, preserving the privilege while complying with legal process.
Question 3: What is the recommended wrist position to minimize carpal tunnel risk during extended stenotype sessions?
- Wrists elevated above the keyboard with fingers curved downward
- Wrists in a neutral, flat position aligned with the forearms (Correct answer)
- Wrists sharply flexed downward to reduce finger travel distance
- Wrists extended upward at a 45-degree angle
Correct answer: Wrists in a neutral, flat position aligned with the forearms
A neutral wrist position minimizes tendon compression in the carpal tunnel, reducing cumulative trauma disorder risk.
Question 4: A court reporter discovers their stenotype machine malfunctioned and no backup recording captured 20 minutes of testimony. What is the best immediate risk management response?
- Reconstruct the testimony from memory and certify the transcript
- Immediately disclose the malfunction to the court and all parties on the record (Correct answer)
- Ask the witness to repeat only the most critical answers
- Silently omit the missing portion from the final transcript
Correct answer: Immediately disclose the malfunction to the court and all parties on the record
Prompt on-the-record disclosure protects the reporter from liability and allows the court to decide how to remedy the gap in the record.
Question 5: Which professional liability insurance type is most critical for a freelance certified shorthand reporter?
- Commercial general liability (CGL)
- Errors and omissions (E&O) / professional liability insurance (Correct answer)
- Workers' compensation insurance
- Product liability insurance
Correct answer: Errors and omissions (E&O) / professional liability insurance
E&O insurance covers claims arising from mistakes or omissions in transcripts, which is the primary liability exposure for court reporters.
Question 6: How often should a court reporter back up digital transcript files during a lengthy multi-day proceeding to minimize data-loss risk?
- Once at the conclusion of the entire proceeding
- At the end of each day only
- Continuously or at frequent intervals (e.g., every 30 minutes) (Correct answer)
- Only when the client requests it
Correct answer: Continuously or at frequent intervals (e.g., every 30 minutes)
Frequent or continuous backups minimize the amount of work that can be lost to hardware failure, power outages, or software crashes during long proceedings.
Question 7: A court reporter is assigned to cover a deposition in a building with poor air quality. Under risk management principles, what is the appropriate action?
- Proceed without comment to avoid disrupting the proceeding
- Note the concern in the transcript and continue regardless
- Request that the proceeding be relocated or postponed and notify the retaining agency (Correct answer)
- Wear a mask and say nothing to the parties
Correct answer: Request that the proceeding be relocated or postponed and notify the retaining agency
Reporters have a right to a safe working environment; requesting relocation or postponement and informing the agency is the proper risk management response.
CSR Safety & Risk Management 2
Which OSHA standard is most applicable to court reporters who develop repetitive strain injuries from prolonged stenography work?