GCC Risk Management & Site Safety 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: OSHA requires that scaffolding capable of supporting workers be able to bear at least how many times the maximum intended load?
- 2 times
- 4 times (Correct answer)
- 6 times
- 10 times
Correct answer: 4 times
29 CFR 1926.451 requires scaffolds to be capable of supporting at least 4 times the maximum intended load without failure.
Question 2: A 'near miss' incident report is valuable primarily because it:
- Satisfies OSHA's mandatory recording requirements
- Identifies hazardous conditions before they cause actual injury (Correct answer)
- Transfers liability from the GC to the responsible subcontractor
- Documents lost-time statistics for insurance renewals
Correct answer: Identifies hazardous conditions before they cause actual injury
Near-miss reports reveal hazard exposures and systemic failures, enabling corrective action before an actual injury or fatality occurs.
Question 3: When must a contractor file an OSHA 300 log entry for a recordable work-related injury?
- Within 7 calendar days of receiving information that a recordable case occurred (Correct answer)
- Within 24 hours of the incident
- Only at year-end during annual summary preparation
- Only if the worker misses more than 3 consecutive days
Correct answer: Within 7 calendar days of receiving information that a recordable case occurred
OSHA requires that recordable incidents be entered on the 300 log within 7 calendar days of the employer receiving information that a recordable case occurred.
Question 4: Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is required by OSHA when working within 6 feet of an unprotected edge at a height of 6 feet or more in construction?
- Safety glasses and steel-toed boots
- Fall protection system (guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest) (Correct answer)
- High-visibility vest and hard hat
- Hearing protection and respirator
Correct answer: Fall protection system (guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest)
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502 requires fall protection at or above 6 feet in construction, using guardrail systems, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a site-specific safety plan (SSSP)?
- To replace individual subcontractor insurance requirements
- To identify project-specific hazards and establish controls before work begins (Correct answer)
- To document OSHA citations received during the project
- To satisfy bonding requirements for public contracts
Correct answer: To identify project-specific hazards and establish controls before work begins
An SSSP tailors hazard identification and control measures to the unique conditions of a specific project site, going beyond generic safety programs.
Question 6: Under the hierarchy of hazard controls, which method is considered MOST effective for eliminating risk?
- Administrative controls such as training and rotation
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Engineering controls such as machine guarding
- Elimination of the hazard entirely (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Elimination of the hazard entirely
Elimination removes the hazard from the workplace entirely and is the most effective level of the NIOSH/OSHA hierarchy of controls.
Question 7: A contractor's experience modification rate (EMR) directly affects which of the following?
- The contractor's bonding capacity and bid limits
- Workers' compensation insurance premiums (Correct answer)
- The contractor's license renewal fees
- OSHA inspection priority scheduling
Correct answer: Workers' compensation insurance premiums
The EMR compares a contractor's actual workers' comp losses to industry-average losses, and a high EMR increases insurance premiums while a low EMR reduces them.
GCC Risk Management & Site Safety 3
OSHA requires that scaffolding capable of supporting workers be able to bear at least how many times the maximum intended load?