Free CRST OHS Law and Ethics Questions and Answers

Question 1

In the context of Canadian OHS law, what is the best definition of the legal concept of 'due diligence'?

Accepted Answer

Taking every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect the health and safety of workers.

Answer

Due diligence is the primary legal defence for an employer charged under OHS legislation. It requires demonstrating that all reasonable precautions were taken to prevent an incident, which is a proactive and documented effort to manage workplace hazards.

Question 2

A certified forklift operator is asked by their supervisor to use a forklift that has a malfunctioning horn. The operator believes this is unsafe and initiates a work refusal. According to the typical process in most Canadian jurisdictions, what is the immediate next step the operator should take?

Accepted Answer

Report the refusal to their supervisor and allow for an internal investigation.

Answer

The legislated work refusal process requires the worker to first report the issue to their supervisor. This action initiates the internal responsibility system, allowing the employer to investigate and resolve the hazard at the workplace level before any external escalation is necessary.

Question 3

Which of the following workplaces would most likely fall under federal OHS jurisdiction in Canada, as opposed to provincial or territorial jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

An interprovincial trucking company based in Alberta.

Answer

The Canada Labour Code, Part II, applies to federally regulated industries, which include businesses that operate across provincial or international borders such as interprovincial transportation, banking, and telecommunications. The other options are industries that typically fall under provincial jurisdiction.

Question 4

What was the primary legal change introduced by Bill C-45 (the 'Westray Bill') to the Criminal Code of Canada regarding workplace safety?

Accepted Answer

It created a new legal duty for organizations and individuals to prevent bodily harm to workers and imposed criminal liability for violations.

Answer

Bill C-45, which came into law in 2004, amended the Criminal Code to make organizations and their representatives criminally liable for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm to workers and others. It established a legal duty under the Criminal Code to protect employee safety.

Question 5

A Safety Technician is pressured by a manager to reclassify a lost-time injury as a 'medical aid only' case to help the department meet its safety bonus targets. According to the BCRSP Code of Ethics, which principle would this action most directly violate?

Accepted Answer

The obligation to act with integrity, honesty, and professionalism.

Answer

The Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP) Code of Ethics explicitly requires certificants to maintain honesty, integrity, and objectivity in all professional activities. Intentionally falsifying injury records for financial or personal gain is a clear and serious breach of this core ethical principle.

CRST - Canadian Registered Safety Technician Practice Test

CRST - Canadian Registered Safety Technician Practice Test

Free CRST OHS Law and Ethics Questions and Answers