CSS Workplace Inspections and Audits 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document provides the legal authority for OSHA compliance officers to conduct workplace inspections?
- OSH Act Section 8 (Correct answer)
- ANSI Z10 standard
- NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
- 29 CFR 1910.132
Correct answer: OSH Act Section 8
Section 8 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act grants OSHA inspectors the authority to enter and inspect workplaces.
Question 2: During a management systems audit using ISO 45001, which element would an auditor examine to assess continual improvement?
- Emergency response procedures
- Management review outputs and corrective actions (Correct answer)
- Personal protective equipment inventory
- Contractor safety pre-qualification records
Correct answer: Management review outputs and corrective actions
ISO 45001 requires management reviews to produce outputs including decisions related to continual improvement opportunities.
Question 3: A safety supervisor is auditing a confined space program. Which finding would be considered the most critical deficiency?
- Permits are filed alphabetically rather than chronologically
- No atmospheric testing is performed before entry (Correct answer)
- Entry logs are handwritten rather than typed
- The program was last reviewed 13 months ago
Correct answer: No atmospheric testing is performed before entry
Skipping atmospheric testing in a permit-required confined space is an imminent danger that can result in death from oxygen deficiency or toxic atmospheres.
Question 4: When conducting a walking-surface inspection, which OSHA standard primarily applies to general industry?
- 29 CFR 1926.501
- 29 CFR 1910.22 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.147
- 29 CFR 1926.21
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.22
29 CFR 1910.22 covers walking-working surfaces in general industry, including floors, aisles, and passageways.
Question 5: Which inspection frequency is typically recommended for high-hazard operations such as welding or chemical handling?
- Annually
- Every five years
- Weekly or more frequently (Correct answer)
- Only after an incident
Correct answer: Weekly or more frequently
High-hazard operations require frequent inspections because conditions and exposures can change rapidly and have severe consequences.
Question 6: An audit trail in a safety management system serves primarily to:
- Track employee attendance at safety meetings
- Document the sequence of events and decisions supporting compliance (Correct answer)
- Measure productivity against safety goals
- Identify contractors for disciplinary action
Correct answer: Document the sequence of events and decisions supporting compliance
An audit trail provides a chronological record of actions and decisions, enabling verification of compliance and accountability.
Question 7: Which corrective action priority level typically addresses hazards that can cause serious injury but are not immediately life-threatening?
- Priority 1 — Immediate
- Priority 2 — Short-term (Correct answer)
- Priority 4 — Long-term planning
- Priority 5 — Optional improvement
Correct answer: Priority 2 — Short-term
Priority 2 (short-term) corrective actions are assigned to serious hazards that require prompt correction within days to weeks.
CSS Workplace Inspections and Audits 3
Which document provides the legal authority for OSHA compliance officers to conduct workplace inspections?