SAF Regulatory Standards & Compliance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which OSHA penalty category applies when an employer knowingly violates a safety standard and the violation could cause death or serious physical harm?
- Other-than-serious violation
- Serious violation
- Willful violation (Correct answer)
- De minimis violation
Correct answer: Willful violation
A willful violation occurs when an employer intentionally and knowingly disregards OSHA requirements or is indifferent to employee safety, carrying the highest penalty amounts.
Question 2: The hierarchy of controls places which control method at the highest priority for hazard reduction?
- Administrative controls
- Personal protective equipment
- Engineering controls
- Elimination (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Elimination
Elimination—physically removing the hazard—is the most effective control method in the hierarchy because it completely removes the risk rather than managing it.
Question 3: Under OSHA's Lockout/Tagout standard (29 CFR 1910.147), an 'authorized employee' is defined as someone who:
- Has a general safety certification
- Locks or tags out machines to perform servicing or maintenance (Correct answer)
- Supervises workers during equipment repairs
- Inspects equipment after maintenance is complete
Correct answer: Locks or tags out machines to perform servicing or maintenance
An authorized employee under LOTO is a worker who locks or tags out equipment so that it cannot be energized while servicing or maintenance is being performed.
Question 4: Which regulation governs the transportation of hazardous materials by road, rail, air, and water in the US?
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200
- DOT 49 CFR Parts 100-185 (Correct answer)
- EPA 40 CFR Part 261
- NFPA 704
Correct answer: DOT 49 CFR Parts 100-185
The Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Parts 100-185) govern the safe transportation of hazardous materials across all modes of transport.
Question 5: An employer receives an OSHA citation. The employer disagrees with the citation. What is the standard contest period?
- 5 working days
- 10 working days
- 15 working days (Correct answer)
- 30 calendar days
Correct answer: 15 working days
Employers have 15 working days from receipt of the citation to contest it before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Question 6: The NFPA 70E standard primarily addresses safety requirements for:
- Fire suppression systems in commercial buildings
- Electrical safety in the workplace (Correct answer)
- Personal protective equipment selection
- Chemical storage and handling
Correct answer: Electrical safety in the workplace
NFPA 70E establishes electrical safety requirements for employees who work on or near electrical equipment and hazards in the workplace.
Question 7: Which term describes the process where a regulatory agency publishes a proposed rule and invites public comment before finalizing it?
- Judicial review
- Notice and comment rulemaking (Correct answer)
- Interim final rule
- Direct final rule
Correct answer: Notice and comment rulemaking
Notice and comment rulemaking (informal rulemaking under the APA) requires agencies to publish proposed rules in the Federal Register and allow public comment before finalizing.
SAF Regulatory Standards & Compliance 3
Which OSHA penalty category applies when an employer knowingly violates a safety standard and the violation could cause death or serious physical harm?