Free CRST Risk Management and Assessment Techniques Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the field of occupational health and safety, 'risk' is best defined as:
- Any workplace condition that has the potential to cause harm.
- The worst possible outcome of a workplace accident.
- The combination of the likelihood of an occurrence and the severity of its consequences. (Correct answer)
- An unsafe act performed by a worker.
Correct answer: The combination of the likelihood of an occurrence and the severity of its consequences.
Risk is a measure that combines two critical elements: the likelihood (or probability) that a hazardous event will occur, and the severity of the consequences (e.g., injury, illness) if it does. A hazard is simply the potential to cause harm, but risk quantifies that potential. This calculation is fundamental to prioritizing safety efforts.
Question 2: According to the Hierarchy of Controls, which of the following actions is considered the most effective?
- Implementing a mandatory policy for wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Physically removing the hazard from the process. (Correct answer)
- Training workers on safe work procedures.
- Installing guardrails around the hazard.
Correct answer: Physically removing the hazard from the process.
The Hierarchy of Controls ranks methods of controlling hazards from most to least effective. Elimination, which involves physically removing the hazard from the workplace, is the most effective control because it completely removes any chance of exposure. All other controls, such as PPE or administrative changes, only reduce exposure rather than removing the hazard itself.
Question 3: A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is a systematic process that involves which three key steps?
- Observe the job, provide feedback, and document the observation.
- Investigate past incidents, write a report, and communicate findings.
- Break the job into steps, identify hazards, and determine control measures. (Correct answer)
- Select PPE, train employees, and enforce its use.
Correct answer: Break the job into steps, identify hazards, and determine control measures.
The core methodology of a JHA (or JSA) is to analyze a specific task in a structured way. This is done by first breaking the job down into a sequence of basic steps, then identifying the potential or existing hazards associated with each of those steps, and finally, developing measures to control each identified hazard.
Question 4: What is the primary function of a risk matrix in the risk assessment process?
- To calculate the precise financial cost of potential incidents.
- To prioritize risks based on their combined likelihood and severity. (Correct answer)
- To document the names of all employees trained on a specific task.
- To serve as a legal record of all workplace hazards.
Correct answer: To prioritize risks based on their combined likelihood and severity.
A risk matrix is a tool used to qualitatively assess and prioritize risks. By plotting the likelihood of an event against the severity of its potential outcome on a grid, an organization can assign a risk score or level (e.g., low, medium, high). This allows for the prioritization of risks, ensuring that the most significant ones are addressed first.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of a 'leading indicator' of safety performance?
- The number of lost-time injuries in the past year.
- The company's workers' compensation premium rate.
- The number of corrective actions closed from safety inspections. (Correct answer)
- The total number of recordable incidents.
Correct answer: The number of corrective actions closed from safety inspections.
Leading indicators are proactive, preventative, and predictive measures that track activities intended to prevent incidents. The number of safety inspections completed is a leading indicator because it measures a proactive safety effort. In contrast, lagging indicators, like the injury rate, measure failures that have already occurred.
Question 6: The risk management principle of 'As Low As Reasonably Practicable' (ALARP) implies that a risk should be:
- Reduced to a level where the cost of further reduction is grossly disproportionate to the benefit. (Correct answer)
- Completely eliminated, no matter the cost or difficulty.
- Accepted without controls if it has never caused an incident before.
- Managed exclusively through the use of personal protective equipment.
Correct answer: Reduced to a level where the cost of further reduction is grossly disproportionate to the benefit.
ALARP is a principle used to manage risks that cannot be eliminated entirely. It requires that the risk be reduced to a level where the cost, time, and effort (the 'sacrifice') required to reduce it further would be grossly disproportionate to the additional safety benefit gained. It is a balance between the level of risk and the measures needed to control it.
Free CRST Risk Management and Assessment Techniques Questions and Answers
In the field of occupational health and safety, 'risk' is best defined as: