Hazard Identification and Control Flashcards

Which of the following is an example of a 'substitution' control in the hierarchy of controls?

Answer: Replacing a highly toxic solvent with a less hazardous water-based alternative

Substitution replaces a hazardous material or process with a less hazardous one — using a safer chemical instead of a toxic one.

A 'recognized hazard' under OSHA's General Duty Clause includes:

Answer: Hazards known to the employer or the construction industry as a whole, even without a specific OSHA standard

Recognized hazards include those known by the specific employer or commonly known throughout the industry, regardless of whether an OSHA standard covers them.

A safety audit differs from a safety inspection in that:

Answer: An audit evaluates the entire safety management system, while an inspection focuses on specific physical conditions

Audits evaluate the overall effectiveness of the safety management system; inspections check physical conditions for specific hazards.

What is the primary purpose of conducting a 'root cause analysis' after a construction incident?

Answer: To identify the underlying systemic causes that allowed the incident to occur and prevent recurrence

Root cause analysis looks beyond immediate causes to identify systemic failures in management, training, or processes that enabled the incident.

What is a 'toolbox talk' and what is its primary safety function?

Answer: A brief daily safety meeting to address specific hazards relevant to that day's work tasks

Toolbox talks are brief, focused safety discussions conducted at the job site before work begins to address task-specific hazards.

In risk assessment, 'risk' is calculated as a function of:

Answer: The probability (likelihood) of harm occurring and the severity of potential consequences

Risk = Probability × Severity — both the likelihood and potential consequence must be evaluated to prioritize hazard controls.