COSS - Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Hazard Recognition and Control Questions and Answers

Question 1

A safety specialist is evaluating a manufacturing process where workers are exposed to loud noise from machinery. According to the hierarchy of controls, which of the following actions represents the MOST effective method for controlling this hazard?

Accepted Answer

Replacing the noisy machinery with a newer, quieter model.

Answer

The hierarchy of controls prioritizes hazard control methods from most to least effective. Substitution, which involves replacing a hazard with a safer alternative, is the second most effective control measure, just after elimination. Replacing the noisy machine with a quieter one directly addresses the source of the hazard. Requiring PPE (hearing protection) is the least effective control. Administrative controls like warning signs and audiometric testing are also lower on the hierarchy than substitution.

Question 2

A construction company has implemented a new policy requiring daily pre-task safety briefings and has seen a significant increase in the number of reported near-misses. How should these metrics be classified?

Accepted Answer

Both are leading indicators because they are used to prevent future incidents.

Answer

Leading indicators are proactive and predictive measures that track activities and conditions designed to prevent incidents. Daily safety briefings are a proactive measure to raise awareness and prevent incidents. An increase in near-miss reporting is also considered a leading indicator because it shows a healthy safety culture where potential hazards are being identified and addressed *before* they result in an injury (a lagging indicator). Lagging indicators measure outcomes after an incident has occurred, such as injury rates.

Question 3

When conducting a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), what is the correct sequence of the primary steps involved?

Accepted Answer

Select the job, break the job into steps, identify hazards, determine preventive measures.

Answer

The standard process for a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) follows a logical sequence. First, you must select the job to be analyzed. Next, you break that job down into a sequence of steps or tasks. For each step, you then identify the associated potential hazards. Finally, you determine the appropriate preventive measures or controls to eliminate or mitigate the identified hazards.

Question 4

A safety manager at a chemical plant needs to prioritize which hazards to address first. A risk matrix is used for this purpose. What two factors are primarily used in a risk assessment matrix to determine the level of risk?

Accepted Answer

Likelihood of occurrence and severity of potential harm.

Answer

A risk assessment matrix is a tool used to prioritize risks by plotting the likelihood (or probability) of a hazardous event occurring against the severity (or impact) of the potential harm it could cause. By evaluating these two factors, risks can be categorized (e.g., high, moderate, low) to guide decisions on where to focus control efforts.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of an engineering control?

Accepted Answer

Installing a guard on a machine's moving parts.

Answer

Engineering controls are methods that are built into the design of a plant, equipment, or process to minimize a hazard. Installing a machine guard physically isolates workers from the hazardous moving parts. Job rotation and training are administrative controls, and requiring safety glasses is a form of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

COSS - Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Practice Test

COSS - Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Practice Test

COSS - Certified Occupational Safety Specialist Hazard Recognition and Control Questions and Answers