SHS Risk Assessment & Hazard Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In risk management, 'risk tolerance' refers to:
- The maximum duration a worker can be exposed to a hazard
- The level of risk an organization is willing to accept (Correct answer)
- The ability of PPE to withstand chemical exposure
- The OSHA-mandated permissible exposure limit
Correct answer: The level of risk an organization is willing to accept
Risk tolerance defines the threshold of acceptable risk that an organization sets based on its values, regulatory requirements, and operational needs.
Question 2: A Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) uses which type of logical symbols to map pathways to an undesired event?
- Flowchart symbols (diamonds and rectangles)
- AND/OR gates (Correct answer)
- Cause-and-effect fishbones
- SWOT quadrant boxes
Correct answer: AND/OR gates
FTA uses AND gates (all inputs must occur) and OR gates (any input can cause the outcome) to trace failure pathways to a top event.
Question 3: Which OSHA standard requires employers to conduct a hazard assessment to determine necessary personal protective equipment?
- 29 CFR 1910.147 (Lockout/Tagout)
- 29 CFR 1910.132 (PPE General Requirements) (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.119 (PSM)
- 29 CFR 1910.1200 (HazCom)
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.132 (PPE General Requirements)
29 CFR 1910.132 mandates that employers perform hazard assessments and certify in writing that the assessment was conducted.
Question 4: Ergonomic hazard controls are BEST applied at which stage of the hierarchy of controls?
- Administrative controls only
- As early as the engineering design phase (Correct answer)
- Only after a musculoskeletal injury occurs
- Exclusively through PPE selection
Correct answer: As early as the engineering design phase
Integrating ergonomic principles during the design of workstations and tools is the most effective way to eliminate musculoskeletal hazard risks.
Question 5: What does 'ALARP' stand for in the context of risk management?
- As Low As Reasonably Practicable (Correct answer)
- Acceptable Limits As Required by Policy
- Assessed Level of Allowable Risk Parameters
- Authorized Limit for At-Risk Personnel
Correct answer: As Low As Reasonably Practicable
ALARP means risks should be reduced to a level where the cost of further reduction would be grossly disproportionate to the benefit gained.
Question 6: A 5x5 risk matrix evaluates risk by plotting which two factors?
- Frequency and cost of injury
- Likelihood (probability) and consequence (severity) (Correct answer)
- Number of workers exposed and exposure duration
- Chemical concentration and TLV threshold
Correct answer: Likelihood (probability) and consequence (severity)
A 5x5 risk matrix has likelihood ranked on one axis and severity of consequences on the other, with intersecting cells showing the risk level.
Question 7: Which hazard identification technique involves a multidisciplinary team systematically reviewing process deviations using guide words like 'more,' 'less,' and 'no'?
- What-If Analysis
- HAZOP Study (Correct answer)
- Checklist Analysis
- Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA)
Correct answer: HAZOP Study
A HAZOP (Hazard and Operability) Study applies structured guide words to process parameters to identify deviations and their consequences.
SHS Risk Assessment & Hazard Control 3
In risk management, 'risk tolerance' refers to: