STSC Accident Prevention and Emergency Response 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.50, what is the minimum number of employees that requires at least one person trained in first aid to be present at a construction worksite when a hospital is not reasonably accessible?
- Any number of employees (Correct answer)
- 5 or more employees
- 10 or more employees
- 25 or more employees
Correct answer: Any number of employees
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.50(c) requires that in the absence of an infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physician reasonably accessible to the worksite, a person trained to render first aid must be available at the worksite regardless of the number of employees.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.50(c) states that in the absence of an infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physician reasonably accessible to employees, a person trained to render first aid must be available at the worksite. There is no minimum employee count — the requirement applies whenever medical care is not readily accessible. This ensures any injured worker can receive immediate care while awaiting professional medical help.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) in accident prevention?
- To document payroll and labor costs
- To identify and control hazards before work begins (Correct answer)
- To assign blame after an incident occurs
- To satisfy insurance documentation requirements only
Correct answer: To identify and control hazards before work begins
A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) identifies potential hazards associated with each step of a task and establishes controls before work begins, making it a proactive accident prevention tool.
A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) — also called a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) — breaks a job into steps, identifies potential hazards at each step, and recommends controls to eliminate or reduce those hazards. By completing a JHA before work begins, supervisors and workers proactively address risks rather than reacting after an accident. This is a cornerstone of construction safety program management under OSHA and STSC principles.
Question 3: During an emergency evacuation on a construction site, who is responsible for accounting for all workers?
- The general contractor's HR department
- OSHA compliance officers on site
- Designated assembly point wardens or supervisors (Correct answer)
- Insurance company representatives
Correct answer: Designated assembly point wardens or supervisors
Emergency action plans under 29 CFR 1926.35 require designated personnel — typically supervisors or wardens — to account for all workers at assembly points after an evacuation.
Under 29 CFR 1926.35, construction employers must have an Emergency Action Plan that designates personnel responsible for rescues, medical duties, and for accounting for all employees after evacuation. Supervisors or designated wardens conduct headcounts at assembly points to ensure no worker is left behind. This system is critical for preventing secondary casualties during emergencies such as fires, structural collapses, or gas leaks.
Question 4: Which of the following is the correct hierarchy of controls for preventing accidents at construction sites?
- PPE → Administrative controls → Engineering controls → Elimination
- Elimination → Substitution → Engineering controls → Administrative controls → PPE (Correct answer)
- Administrative controls → PPE → Engineering controls → Elimination
- PPE → Engineering controls → Substitution → Elimination
Correct answer: Elimination → Substitution → Engineering controls → Administrative controls → PPE
The hierarchy of controls ranks hazard control methods from most to least effective: Elimination, Substitution, Engineering controls, Administrative controls, and PPE (last resort).
The hierarchy of controls is a fundamental safety management framework. In order of effectiveness: (1) Elimination — remove the hazard completely; (2) Substitution — replace with something less hazardous; (3) Engineering controls — isolate workers from the hazard; (4) Administrative controls — change work procedures; (5) PPE — protect the worker from the hazard. OSHA and STSC both emphasize working down this hierarchy, using PPE only when higher-level controls are not feasible.
Question 5: What information must be posted at a construction site for emergency purposes under OSHA standards?
- Names and photos of all workers on site
- Emergency phone numbers and the location of nearest medical facility (Correct answer)
- A complete list of all chemicals used on site
- The general contractor's financial bonding information
Correct answer: Emergency phone numbers and the location of nearest medical facility
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.50(e) requires emergency telephone numbers and the address of the nearest hospital to be posted at the worksite where they can be seen and used by everyone.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.50(e) requires that the telephone numbers of physicians, hospitals, or ambulances be posted at the worksite. This ensures all workers — including those unfamiliar with the area — can quickly call for help during a medical emergency. The posted information should be visible and accessible, typically near the first aid station or job trailer entrance.
Question 6: When conducting an incident investigation after a near-miss, what should be the primary focus?
- Determining who was at fault to apply disciplinary action
- Identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence (Correct answer)
- Documenting the event for insurance claim purposes only
- Reporting the near-miss to OSHA within 24 hours
Correct answer: Identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence
Incident investigations should focus on identifying root causes — not assigning blame — and implementing corrective actions to prevent similar events from happening again.
An effective incident investigation examines the root causes of a near-miss or accident, which may include unsafe conditions, inadequate procedures, lack of training, or system failures. By identifying and correcting these root causes, employers prevent future incidents. Focusing on blame rather than root cause discourages workers from reporting near-misses and undermines the safety culture. OSHA encourages near-miss reporting as a leading indicator of safety performance.
STSC Accident Prevention and Emergency Response 2
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.50, what is the minimum number of employees that requires at least one person trained in first aid to be present at a construction worksite when a hospital is not reasonably accessible?