CLA Workplace Safety Principles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), how many sections does a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) contain?
- 8
- 12
- 16 (Correct answer)
- 20
Correct answer: 16
OSHA's HazCom Standard requires that all SDSs follow a standardized 16-section format to ensure consistent information.
Question 2: What is the minimum safe following distance (in seconds) a forklift operator should maintain behind another moving vehicle?
- 1 second
- 2 seconds
- 3 seconds (Correct answer)
- 5 seconds
Correct answer: 3 seconds
OSHA recommends a three-second following distance for forklifts to allow adequate stopping time given their weight and braking characteristics.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of an engineering control for noise hazards in a warehouse?
- Requiring workers to wear earplugs
- Rotating workers to limit noise exposure time
- Installing sound-dampening enclosures around loud machinery (Correct answer)
- Posting warning signs near noisy equipment
Correct answer: Installing sound-dampening enclosures around loud machinery
Engineering controls physically modify the work environment or equipment to reduce hazard exposure at the source.
Question 4: What does the acronym PASS stand for when using a fire extinguisher?
- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep (Correct answer)
- Point, Activate, Spray, Stop
- Prepare, Aim, Signal, Secure
- Pull, Alert, Suppress, Sweep
Correct answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
PASS stands for Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side.
Question 5: Which condition makes it unsafe to operate a forklift?
- The load is at maximum rated capacity
- The operator has completed annual refresher training
- The forklift has a cracked mast (Correct answer)
- The load is a standard rectangular pallet
Correct answer: The forklift has a cracked mast
A cracked mast is a structural defect that makes the forklift unsafe to operate and requires immediate removal from service.
Question 6: What is the recommended action when a worker discovers a blocked or locked emergency exit in a warehouse?
- Move the obstruction if it is not too heavy
- Note it for the next safety meeting
- Report it immediately to a supervisor so it can be cleared (Correct answer)
- Post a sign redirecting workers to another exit
Correct answer: Report it immediately to a supervisor so it can be cleared
Blocked emergency exits are an immediate OSHA violation and life safety issue that must be reported and cleared without delay.
Question 7: When lifting a heavy box manually, which technique BEST protects the lower back?
- Bend at the waist and use your back muscles
- Keep the load far from your body to maintain balance
- Bend your knees, keep your back straight, and lift with your legs (Correct answer)
- Twist your torso to place the load to the side quickly
Correct answer: Bend your knees, keep your back straight, and lift with your legs
Bending the knees, keeping the back straight, and lifting with leg muscles reduces spinal strain and is the safe manual lifting technique.
CLA Workplace Safety Principles 3
Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), how many sections does a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) contain?