CHST Incident Investigation and Reporting 3

Question 1

Under OSHA 1904.39, within what timeframe must employers report an in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye to OSHA?

Accepted Answer

Within 24 hours of learning about the event

Answer

OSHA 1904.39(a)(2) requires employers to report in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and loss of an eye to OSHA within 24 hours of learning about the incident — distinct from the 8-hour requirement for fatalities.

Question 2

What is the difference between an 'immediate cause' and a 'root cause' in incident investigation?

Accepted Answer

The immediate cause is the direct action or condition that triggered the incident; the root cause is the underlying systemic failure that allowed the immediate cause to exist

Answer

The immediate cause is the final event in the causation chain — the unsafe act or condition present at the moment of the incident. The root cause is the systemic failure that created the conditions for the immediate cause to exist.

Question 3

Under OSHA 1904.7, which treatments are considered 'first aid' and therefore do NOT make an injury recordable?

Accepted Answer

Use of non-prescription medications at non-prescription strength, wound closure using butterfly bandages, use of elastic bandages, and irrigation of the eye with water

Answer

OSHA 1904.7(a) defines first aid as including non-prescription medication at non-prescription strength, wound closure using butterflies or steri-strips, use of elastic bandages, irrigation with eye wash, and similar treatments.

Question 4

The Haddon Matrix is a systematic tool used in incident investigation. What are its two analytical dimensions?

Accepted Answer

Host/Agent/Environment (columns) across Pre-event/Event/Post-event phases (rows) — creating a 3x3 grid to identify intervention opportunities at each phase

Answer

The Haddon Matrix creates a 3×3 grid analyzing Host (human), Agent/Vehicle (energy source), and Environment (physical/social) across pre-event, event, and post-event phases to systematically identify countermeasures.

Question 5

Under OSHA's recordkeeping standard 1904.5, how is 'work-relatedness' determined for an injury or illness?

Accepted Answer

An injury or illness is work-related if an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the condition, or significantly aggravated a pre-existing condition

Answer

OSHA 1904.5 defines work-relatedness as any injury, illness, or aggravation of a pre-existing condition caused or contributed to by an event or exposure in the work environment — location and clock time alone do not determine work-relatedness.

CHST - Construction Health and Safety Technician Practice Test

CHST - Construction Health and Safety Technician Practice Test

CHST Incident Investigation and Reporting 3