CHST Incident Investigation and Reporting 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which analytical method uses a diagram shaped like a fish skeleton to systematically display causes of an incident?
- Fault tree analysis
- Ishikawa (fishbone) diagram (Correct answer)
- Events and causal factor chart
- Change analysis
Correct answer: Ishikawa (fishbone) diagram
The Ishikawa or fishbone diagram visually maps cause-and-effect relationships, organizing contributing factors into categories such as personnel, equipment, environment, and procedures.
Question 2: Under OSHA recordkeeping rules, which of the following injuries is NOT recordable on the OSHA 300 log?
- First aid treatment only (Correct answer)
- Medical treatment beyond first aid
- Restricted work activity
- Loss of consciousness
Correct answer: First aid treatment only
Cases requiring only first aid (as defined by 29 CFR 1904.7) are not recordable; medical treatment beyond first aid, restricted work, or lost workdays trigger recordability.
Question 3: When applying change analysis to an incident, the investigator compares the accident situation to:
- A previous similar incident report
- The normal or standard condition before the change (Correct answer)
- OSHA inspection records
- Workers' compensation claims history
Correct answer: The normal or standard condition before the change
Change analysis identifies what was different from the normal operating condition and evaluates whether that deviation contributed to the incident.
Question 4: A worker slips on spilled hydraulic fluid and fractures a wrist. Which barrier failed in this scenario according to barrier analysis?
- Administrative control requiring gloves
- Physical barrier preventing fluid from reaching the floor (Correct answer)
- Emergency response plan
- Permit-to-work system
Correct answer: Physical barrier preventing fluid from reaching the floor
Barrier analysis examines controls placed between a hazard and a target; here, a physical containment barrier (drip pan, berm, or housekeeping protocol) failed to prevent fluid accumulation on the walking surface.
Question 5: Which OSHA standard requires employers in general industry to report an in-patient hospitalization of one or more employees within 24 hours?
- 29 CFR 1904.4
- 29 CFR 1904.39 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1926.21
- 29 CFR 1910.132
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1904.39
29 CFR 1904.39 mandates that employers report work-related in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye to OSHA within 24 hours.
Question 6: What is the PRIMARY purpose of conducting a post-incident critique or after-action review immediately following a significant construction incident?
- Assign disciplinary action to responsible workers
- Capture time-sensitive information and identify immediate corrective actions (Correct answer)
- Satisfy insurance carrier documentation requirements
- Calculate workers' compensation cost impact
Correct answer: Capture time-sensitive information and identify immediate corrective actions
Post-incident critiques conducted quickly preserve fresh witness recollections and physical evidence, enabling prompt identification and implementation of corrective actions.
Question 7: During a CHST incident investigation, a witness refuses to provide a written statement. The BEST approach is to:
- Terminate the investigation until the witness complies
- Document the refusal and interview other witnesses while noting the gap (Correct answer)
- Report the witness to OSHA for non-cooperation
- Assume the witness is at fault and proceed accordingly
Correct answer: Document the refusal and interview other witnesses while noting the gap
Investigators should document a witness's refusal, continue gathering information from available sources, and note the evidentiary gap without drawing unwarranted conclusions.
CHST Incident Investigation and Reporting 4
Which analytical method uses a diagram shaped like a fish skeleton to systematically display causes of an incident?