CSS Hazard Recognition and Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a pre-task safety meeting, a worker reports that a chemical drum label is missing. What is the supervisor's FIRST action?
- Allow work to continue while the SDS is located
- Remove the drum from service until it is properly labeled (Correct answer)
- Cover the drum and mark it 'Unknown'
- Contact the manufacturer immediately and continue work
Correct answer: Remove the drum from service until it is properly labeled
Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), unlabeled containers must be removed from use until they are properly identified and labeled.
Question 2: Which tool is MOST commonly used to quantitatively assess the risk level of an identified hazard?
- Risk matrix (probability × severity) (Correct answer)
- Toolbox talk checklist
- Incident investigation report
- Material Safety Data Sheet
Correct answer: Risk matrix (probability × severity)
A risk matrix multiplies the likelihood of occurrence by the severity of harm to prioritize hazards for control.
Question 3: A construction site supervisor observes workers trenching without a protective system in a 6-foot excavation. Which hazard category does this represent?
- Struck-by hazard
- Cave-in/engulfment hazard (Correct answer)
- Electrical hazard
- Fall hazard
Correct answer: Cave-in/engulfment hazard
Unprotected excavations deeper than 5 feet create a cave-in and engulfment hazard, which is the leading cause of excavation fatalities.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a Permit-Required Confined Space entry program?
- To document worker hours spent in confined spaces
- To identify, control, and monitor hazards before and during entry (Correct answer)
- To restrict confined spaces to maintenance personnel only
- To calculate ventilation requirements for all enclosed areas
Correct answer: To identify, control, and monitor hazards before and during entry
A permit-required confined space program systematically identifies atmospheric, engulfment, and configuration hazards and establishes controls before entry is authorized.
Question 5: Which leading indicator would BEST help a safety supervisor identify hazard trends before an injury occurs?
- Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)
- Workers' compensation claim frequency
- Number of near-miss reports submitted (Correct answer)
- Lost workday case rate
Correct answer: Number of near-miss reports submitted
Near-miss reports are leading indicators that reveal existing hazards before they result in injuries, allowing proactive corrective action.
Question 6: A worker reports a new piece of equipment vibrates excessively. What type of hazard should the safety supervisor evaluate?
- Biological hazard from equipment lubricants
- Physical hazard — hand-arm or whole-body vibration (Correct answer)
- Chemical hazard from exhaust emissions
- Ergonomic hazard from poor workstation design
Correct answer: Physical hazard — hand-arm or whole-body vibration
Excessive vibration transmitted through tools or equipment constitutes a physical hazard that can cause vibration-induced disorders such as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).
Question 7: When substituting a less hazardous chemical for a more dangerous one, a safety supervisor is applying which control method?
- Administrative control
- Engineering control — substitution (Correct answer)
- Personal protective equipment
- Elimination
Correct answer: Engineering control — substitution
Substitution is an engineering control that replaces a hazardous material or process with a less hazardous alternative.
CSS Hazard Recognition and Control 3
During a pre-task safety meeting, a worker reports that a chemical drum label is missing.
What is the supervisor's FIRST action?