F80 F80 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which risk matrix combination would MOST likely be classified as a 'high' risk requiring immediate corrective action?
- Low likelihood, low severity
- Low likelihood, high severity
- High likelihood, high severity (Correct answer)
- High likelihood, low severity
Correct answer: High likelihood, high severity
A combination of high likelihood and high severity produces the greatest risk score and demands immediate corrective action.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a 'near miss' report in a hazard identification program?
- To assign blame to the employee involved
- To identify hazards before they result in injury (Correct answer)
- To calculate workers' compensation premiums
- To satisfy OSHA recordkeeping only
Correct answer: To identify hazards before they result in injury
Near miss reporting captures hazardous events that did not result in injury, enabling corrective action before an actual incident occurs.
Question 3: A confined space is classified as 'permit-required' when it:
- Has limited means of entry or exit only
- Contains or has the potential to contain a serious safety or health hazard (Correct answer)
- Is large enough for a worker to enter and perform work
- Requires a ladder to enter
Correct answer: Contains or has the potential to contain a serious safety or health hazard
A permit-required confined space has limited entry/exit AND contains or may contain a serious hazard such as a hazardous atmosphere or engulfment risk.
Question 4: Which hazard category includes noise, extreme temperatures, radiation, and vibration?
- Biological hazards
- Chemical hazards
- Ergonomic hazards
- Physical hazards (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Physical hazards
Physical hazards include energy-based exposures such as noise, temperature extremes, ionizing/non-ionizing radiation, and vibration.
Question 5: What is the primary goal of conducting a pre-task safety briefing (toolbox talk)?
- Document employee attendance for HR records
- Communicate hazards and controls specific to today's work (Correct answer)
- Replace the need for a formal JHA
- Satisfy quarterly OSHA inspection requirements
Correct answer: Communicate hazards and controls specific to today's work
A toolbox talk communicates job-specific hazards, controls, and safe work practices to workers before tasks begin.
Question 6: Under OSHA's Lockout/Tagout standard, 'energy isolation' means:
- Turning off the main breaker in the building
- Physically preventing the release of hazardous energy during servicing (Correct answer)
- Posting a warning sign near energized equipment
- Assigning a spotter to watch the equipment
Correct answer: Physically preventing the release of hazardous energy during servicing
Energy isolation involves using locks, blanks, or other devices to physically prevent the release of any form of hazardous energy during maintenance or servicing.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of a leading indicator in safety performance measurement?
- Total recordable incident rate (TRIR)
- Number of near misses reported this month (Correct answer)
- Days away from work due to injury
- Workers' compensation costs
Correct answer: Number of near misses reported this month
Near miss reports are leading indicators because they measure proactive safety behaviors before injuries occur, unlike lagging indicators that measure past harm.
F80 F80 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 4
Which risk matrix combination would MOST likely be classified as a 'high' risk requiring immediate corrective action?