HSE Workplace Safety Management and Risk Control 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a 'near miss' event signify in safety management?
- An incident with minor injury only
- An unplanned event that did not result in harm but had the potential to do so (Correct answer)
- A situation where PPE prevented an injury
- A chemical spill that was quickly contained
Correct answer: An unplanned event that did not result in harm but had the potential to do so
A near miss is an unplanned event with no actual harm but demonstrating that conditions exist for future injury or damage.
Question 2: The hierarchy of controls is often depicted as a triangle or inverted triangle. Which control level appears at the BOTTOM (least effective)?
- Substitution
- Engineering controls
- Administrative controls
- Personal protective equipment (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Personal protective equipment
PPE is the least effective control because it relies on correct and consistent use by workers rather than eliminating or reducing the hazard itself.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a 'toolbox talk' in workplace safety?
- Formal annual safety training certification
- A brief, focused safety discussion at the start of a work shift or task (Correct answer)
- OSHA-required written safety test for new employees
- Quarterly executive safety review meeting
Correct answer: A brief, focused safety discussion at the start of a work shift or task
Toolbox talks are short, informal discussions that reinforce safety awareness on specific hazards relevant to the work being done that day.
Question 4: Which OSHA recordkeeping form is used to record the ANNUAL summary of work-related injuries and illnesses?
- OSHA 300
- OSHA 300A (Correct answer)
- OSHA 301
- OSHA 302
Correct answer: OSHA 300A
OSHA Form 300A is the annual summary that must be posted in the workplace from February 1 through April 30 each year.
Question 5: A 'permit-to-work' (PTW) system is primarily designed to:
- License employees to operate heavy equipment
- Formally authorize high-risk non-routine work after hazard review (Correct answer)
- Document employee qualifications and certifications
- Track tool inventory and maintenance schedules
Correct answer: Formally authorize high-risk non-routine work after hazard review
A PTW system ensures that hazards of non-routine tasks (e.g., confined space entry, hot work) are identified and controls verified before work begins.
Question 6: Under the OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) standard (29 CFR 1910.119), which threshold quantity of flammable liquids at or above their boiling point triggers coverage?
- 500 pounds
- 5,000 pounds
- 10,000 pounds (Correct answer)
- 25,000 pounds
Correct answer: 10,000 pounds
OSHA PSM coverage is triggered at 10,000 pounds for flammable liquids at or above their boiling point kept in one location.
Question 7: Which technique is used in safety management to identify root causes by repeatedly asking 'why' until the fundamental cause is found?
- Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
- 5 Whys analysis (Correct answer)
- Event Tree Analysis
- Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP)
Correct answer: 5 Whys analysis
The 5 Whys technique iteratively questions why a problem occurred until the underlying root cause — not just the symptom — is uncovered.
HSE Workplace Safety Management and Risk Control 4
What does a 'near miss' event signify in safety management?