Hazard Identification & Assessment Flashcards
7 cards from real SAF practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Hazard Identification & Assessment flashcards as text
Which of the following BEST describes a 'hazard' as distinguished from a 'risk'?
Answer: Hazard is the source of potential harm; risk is the combination of likelihood and consequence
A hazard is a condition or agent with the potential to cause harm, while risk incorporates both the likelihood of exposure and the severity of the resulting harm.
NIOSH's Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs) differ from OSHA's PELs in that RELs are:
Answer: Non-mandatory advisory values based on current health research
NIOSH RELs are non-mandatory, research-based recommendations designed to protect worker health, often more stringent than OSHA's legally enforceable PELs.
A quantitative risk assessment differs from a qualitative risk assessment primarily because it:
Answer: Assigns numerical probabilities and consequence values to estimate risk
Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) uses numerical data, statistical analysis, and mathematical modeling to express risk as a probability of harm.
When assessing a confined space entry operation, which hazard is MOST critical to evaluate first?
Answer: Atmospheric hazards including oxygen deficiency and toxic gases
Atmospheric hazards—oxygen deficiency, flammable gases, and toxic air contaminants—are the leading causes of confined space fatalities and must be tested before entry.
Which risk assessment tool uses a severity-by-probability matrix to assign a risk score and prioritize hazard control?
Answer: Risk matrix (risk ranking)
A risk matrix plots severity against probability to produce a risk score, enabling safety professionals to visually prioritize which hazards require the most urgent controls.
An employee reports feeling dizzy and nauseous after working with a cleaning solvent in a poorly ventilated room. The IMMEDIATE hazard control should be:
Answer: Remove the employee from the area and improve ventilation before resuming work
Immediate employee removal and area ventilation addresses both the acute health risk and the root cause (inadequate ventilation) before further exposure occurs.
Which of the following is the BEST example of an engineering control for chemical vapor hazards?
Answer: Installing local exhaust ventilation at the point of generation
Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) captures chemical vapors at their source before workers can inhale them, representing an engineering control that physically reduces exposure.