CSS Risk & Hazard Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which OSHA standard requires employers to implement a Hazard Communication program including Safety Data Sheets?
- 29 CFR 1910.147
- 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.132
- 29 CFR 1910.119
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.1200
29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication Standard, or HazCom) requires chemical manufacturers and employers to communicate chemical hazards through SDSs, labels, and training.
Question 2: A fault tree analysis (FTA) is a hazard analysis technique that works by:
- Starting with a top-level undesired event and working backward to identify root causes (Correct answer)
- Listing all potential hazards in a spreadsheet format
- Observing worker behavior to find unsafe acts
- Measuring airborne contaminant concentrations
Correct answer: Starting with a top-level undesired event and working backward to identify root causes
FTA uses a top-down, deductive approach — beginning with an undesired event and using logic gates to trace all possible causal paths leading to it.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes an 'imminent danger' situation under OSHA?
- Any hazard that could potentially cause injury within six months
- A condition where there is reasonable certainty that death or serious harm could occur immediately (Correct answer)
- A workplace with more than 10 recordable injuries in one year
- A situation requiring PPE but where PPE is not available
Correct answer: A condition where there is reasonable certainty that death or serious harm could occur immediately
OSHA defines imminent danger as any condition or practice where there is a reasonable expectation that death or serious physical harm could occur before normal enforcement procedures can protect workers.
Question 4: The 'bowtie' risk model differs from traditional risk assessment because it:
- Focuses exclusively on likelihood, ignoring severity
- Visualizes both the causes leading to a hazard event and the consequences following it simultaneously (Correct answer)
- Only applies to chemical process industries
- Replaces the need for PPE programs
Correct answer: Visualizes both the causes leading to a hazard event and the consequences following it simultaneously
The bowtie model shows threat pathways on the left (causes) and consequence pathways on the right, with the hazardous event in the center, providing a comprehensive view of risk.
Question 5: Administrative controls differ from engineering controls primarily because they:
- Cost more to implement and maintain
- Change the physical work environment to eliminate the hazard
- Rely on human behavior and procedural changes rather than physical modifications (Correct answer)
- Are always the most effective option in the hierarchy of controls
Correct answer: Rely on human behavior and procedural changes rather than physical modifications
Administrative controls manage exposure through policies, procedures, training, and work scheduling rather than physically modifying the hazard source.
Question 6: A leading indicator in workplace safety is best described as:
- The number of lost-time injuries recorded last quarter
- A proactive measure tracking activities that prevent incidents before they occur (Correct answer)
- The total recordable incident rate (TRIR) for a site
- Fatality statistics published by OSHA
Correct answer: A proactive measure tracking activities that prevent incidents before they occur
Leading indicators are proactive, preventive measures such as safety training completion rates, hazard observations reported, or near-miss investigations that predict future safety performance.
Question 7: When applying the hierarchy of controls, personal protective equipment (PPE) is positioned last because:
- PPE is more expensive than other control methods
- PPE does not eliminate the hazard and depends on proper use by the employee (Correct answer)
- PPE is only effective for chemical hazards
- OSHA prohibits using PPE as the primary control
Correct answer: PPE does not eliminate the hazard and depends on proper use by the employee
PPE is the last resort because it does not remove or reduce the hazard itself — it only provides a barrier, and its effectiveness depends entirely on correct and consistent use.
CSS Risk & Hazard Control 3
Which OSHA standard requires employers to implement a Hazard Communication program including Safety Data Sheets?