OIT Safety and Compliance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Ontario's Industrial Establishments Regulation (O. Reg. 851), what must an employer do when a machine guard is removed for maintenance?
- Post a warning sign and continue production
- Ensure the machine is locked out and the guard replaced before restarting (Correct answer)
- Inform the supervisor verbally and proceed
- Reduce machine speed by 50% during maintenance
Correct answer: Ensure the machine is locked out and the guard replaced before restarting
O. Reg. 851 requires that machines be locked out before guards are removed, and guards must be reinstalled before the machine is returned to service.
Question 2: What does WHMIS stand for in the context of Ontario industrial safety?
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (Correct answer)
- Worker Health Monitoring and Inspection Standards
- Worksite Hazard Management and Incident Summary
- Workplace Health Monitoring Identification System
Correct answer: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
WHMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, a national hazard communication standard for controlled products.
Question 3: When working at heights above 3 metres in Ontario industrial settings, what fall protection measure is typically required?
- A spotter must be present
- A fall arrest system or guardrails must be in place (Correct answer)
- Workers must sign a waiver
- Steel-toed boots are sufficient protection
Correct answer: A fall arrest system or guardrails must be in place
Ontario regulations require fall protection such as guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems when working at heights of 3 metres or more.
Question 4: A worker refuses work they believe is unsafe under OHSA. What is the correct immediate action for the worker?
- Leave the workplace immediately
- Report the refusal to the supervisor and remain available on the premises (Correct answer)
- File a complaint with the Ministry of Labour online
- Contact their union representative before notifying anyone
Correct answer: Report the refusal to the supervisor and remain available on the premises
Under OHSA, a worker who refuses unsafe work must immediately notify the supervisor and remain at a safe place on the premises pending investigation.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of an administrative control in the hierarchy of hazard controls?
- Installing a machine guard
- Substituting a toxic chemical with a safer alternative
- Rotating workers to reduce repetitive strain exposure (Correct answer)
- Wearing a respirator during chemical handling
Correct answer: Rotating workers to reduce repetitive strain exposure
Administrative controls change how work is done — job rotation is a classic example that reduces exposure duration rather than eliminating the hazard.
Question 6: What minimum voltage threshold requires workers to use insulated tools and rubber gloves in Ontario electrical work?
- 12 volts
- 50 volts (Correct answer)
- 120 volts
- 240 volts
Correct answer: 50 volts
Ontario electrical safety standards generally require insulated PPE when working on or near live circuits at 50 volts or greater.
Question 7: An Ontario industrial worker discovers a spill of a hazardous chemical. What should the worker do FIRST?
- Attempt to clean it up immediately using available rags
- Notify the supervisor and evacuate the area if necessary (Correct answer)
- Pour water on the spill to dilute it
- Document the spill in the incident log before acting
Correct answer: Notify the supervisor and evacuate the area if necessary
The first action is to notify the supervisor and evacuate affected personnel while awaiting trained spill responders.
OIT Safety and Compliance 3
Under Ontario's Industrial Establishments Regulation (O.
Reg. 851), what must an employer do when a machine guard is removed for maintenance?