LMC Safety & Risk Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In lean safety management, what does the term 'near-miss' refer to?
- A recorded workplace injury requiring medical treatment
- An incident that could have resulted in harm but did not (Correct answer)
- A minor injury that does not require time off work
- A safety violation that results in disciplinary action
Correct answer: An incident that could have resulted in harm but did not
A near-miss is an unplanned event that had the potential to cause injury or damage but did not, making it a critical learning opportunity in lean safety.
Question 2: Which lean tool is most commonly used to investigate the root cause of a safety incident?
- Value Stream Mapping
- 5 Whys Analysis (Correct answer)
- Kanban boards
- SMED technique
Correct answer: 5 Whys Analysis
The 5 Whys analysis iteratively asks 'why' to drill down from a safety incident's symptom to its true root cause.
Question 3: What is the primary goal of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) in a lean environment?
- To measure worker productivity per task
- To identify and eliminate hazards before work begins (Correct answer)
- To document completed safety inspections
- To assign blame after an accident occurs
Correct answer: To identify and eliminate hazards before work begins
A JHA proactively breaks a job into steps to identify potential hazards and controls before work is performed, aligning with lean's prevention focus.
Question 4: In risk management, 'likelihood' combined with 'severity' is used to determine:
- The total number of workplace accidents per year
- The risk priority number or risk level (Correct answer)
- The cost of implementing safety controls
- The frequency of safety audits required
Correct answer: The risk priority number or risk level
Risk level is calculated by multiplying (or combining) the likelihood of an event occurring with the severity of its potential consequences.
Question 5: Which hierarchy of controls level is considered most effective for eliminating workplace hazards?
- Administrative controls
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Engineering controls
- Elimination of the hazard (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Elimination of the hazard
Elimination—physically removing the hazard from the workplace—is the most effective level of the hierarchy of controls.
Question 6: In a lean organization, how should safety metrics be displayed to drive continuous improvement?
- In confidential management reports reviewed quarterly
- On visible visual management boards updated regularly (Correct answer)
- Only in annual safety compliance reports
- Exclusively in digital dashboards accessible to HR
Correct answer: On visible visual management boards updated regularly
Visual management boards displaying safety metrics in real time make hazards and trends transparent to all team members, enabling quick corrective action.
Question 7: What does OSHA's General Duty Clause require of employers?
- To achieve zero accidents within five years
- To provide a workplace free from recognized serious hazards (Correct answer)
- To implement ISO 45001 certification
- To conduct monthly fire drills for all staff
Correct answer: To provide a workplace free from recognized serious hazards
OSHA's General Duty Clause requires employers to provide a place of employment free from recognized hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
LMC Safety & Risk Management 2
In lean safety management, what does the term 'near-miss' refer to?