PHRca Health, Safety, and Workers' Comp 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under California law, within how many days must an employer report a serious injury, illness, or death to Cal/OSHA?
- Immediately (within 8 hours for death/serious) (Correct answer)
- Within 24 hours
- Within 3 business days
- Within 5 business days
Correct answer: Immediately (within 8 hours for death/serious)
California employers must report a work-related death or serious injury/illness to Cal/OSHA immediately — within 8 hours for fatalities and within 24 hours for serious injuries.
Question 2: An employee files a workers' compensation claim in California. The employer's insurer has how many days to accept or deny the claim after receipt?
- 90 days (Correct answer)
- 45 days
- 30 days
- 60 days
Correct answer: 90 days
In California, the claims administrator has 90 days from receipt of the claim form to accept or deny liability; delay beyond this is deemed acceptance.
Question 3: Which California regulation requires employers with 10 or more employees to maintain an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)?
- Cal/OSHA Title 8, Section 3203 (Correct answer)
- Cal/OSHA Title 8, Section 5194
- Labor Code Section 4553
- Cal/OSHA Title 8, Section 342
Correct answer: Cal/OSHA Title 8, Section 3203
California Code of Regulations Title 8, Section 3203 mandates that virtually all California employers establish and maintain an IIPP.
Question 4: Under California's workers' compensation system, what is the maximum percentage of pre-injury wages paid for temporary total disability (TTD)?
- Two-thirds (66.67%) (Correct answer)
- Fifty percent (50%)
- Seventy-five percent (75%)
- One hundred percent (100%)
Correct answer: Two-thirds (66.67%)
California TTD benefits are paid at two-thirds of the worker's average weekly earnings, subject to statutory minimum and maximum weekly caps.
Question 5: A California employer discovers that an employee's workplace injury was caused by the employee's own serious and willful misconduct. What is the likely impact on workers' comp benefits?
- Benefits may be reduced by 50% (Correct answer)
- All benefits are forfeited
- Benefits are unaffected
- The employee must repay past benefits
Correct answer: Benefits may be reduced by 50%
Under California Labor Code Section 4551, an employee's benefits may be reduced by one-half if the injury resulted from the employee's own serious and willful misconduct.
Question 6: Which entity administers California's State Disability Insurance (SDI) program, which can coordinate with workers' compensation?
- Employment Development Department (EDD) (Correct answer)
- Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)
- Cal/OSHA
- Department of Insurance (CDI)
Correct answer: Employment Development Department (EDD)
The Employment Development Department administers California's SDI program, which provides short-term wage replacement benefits and may coordinate with workers' comp.
Question 7: Under the California WARN Act, employers with 75 or more employees must provide how many days' advance notice before a mass layoff?
- 60 days (Correct answer)
- 30 days
- 45 days
- 90 days
Correct answer: 60 days
The California WARN Act requires covered employers to give 60 days' advance written notice before a plant closure, mass layoff, or relocation.
PHRca Health, Safety, and Workers' Comp 2
Under California law, within how many days must an employer report a serious injury, illness, or death to Cal/OSHA?