PHRca - Professional in Human Resources - California (PHRca) CA Health and Safety 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under California's Heat Illness Prevention regulation (Title 8, CCR § 3395), at what outdoor temperature must employers implement 'high heat procedures,' including frequent communication with employees and mandatory buddy systems?
- 80°F
- 85°F
- 90°F
- 95°F (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 95°F
California's Heat Illness Prevention standard requires employers to implement high heat procedures when outdoor temperatures reach 95°F or above. These procedures include ensuring effective communication, observation of employees for signs of heat illness, and reminding employees to drink water.
Question 2: Effective July 1, 2024, Senate Bill 553 requires most California employers with at least one employee to do which of the following?
- Appoint a dedicated Cal/OSHA compliance officer
- Develop and maintain a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) (Correct answer)
- Submit annual workplace violence incident reports to DIR
- Conduct quarterly lockdown drills for all employees
Correct answer: Develop and maintain a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP)
SB 553 amended California Labor Code § 6401.9, requiring virtually all California employers with at least one employee to establish, implement, and maintain an effective written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) as of July 1, 2024.
Question 3: California's Repetitive Motion Injuries (RMI) standard (Title 8, CCR § 5110) requires an employer to establish an ergonomics program when injury has occurred under what specific conditions?
- One RMI requiring medical treatment beyond first aid occurs in any 12-month period
- Two or more employees performing the same or similar tasks develop RMIs requiring medical treatment within a 12-month period (Correct answer)
- Three or more RMI workers' comp claims are filed in any calendar year
- A single RMI results in lost workdays exceeding five days
Correct answer: Two or more employees performing the same or similar tasks develop RMIs requiring medical treatment within a 12-month period
The Cal/OSHA RMI standard is triggered when two or more employees who perform the same or similar tasks have been diagnosed with, or reported symptoms of, RMIs requiring medical treatment beyond first aid within a 12-month period, indicating a work-related pattern.
Question 4: Under California's Heat Illness Prevention standard, what is the minimum quantity of fresh, pure, and suitably cool drinking water that employers must make available per employee per hour during outdoor work?
- 8 fluid ounces
- 16 fluid ounces
- 32 fluid ounces (one quart) (Correct answer)
- 64 fluid ounces (one half-gallon)
Correct answer: 32 fluid ounces (one quart)
Cal/OSHA's Heat Illness Prevention regulation requires employers to provide outdoor workers with no less than one quart (32 fl. oz.) of water per employee per hour. Employers may allow employees to drink less if they choose, but that amount must be readily available.
Question 5: Which of the following most accurately describes a key way California's Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) requirement differs from federal OSHA's approach?
- California requires IIPPs only for high-hazard industries, while federal OSHA requires them for all employers
- California mandates a written IIPP for every employer regardless of size or industry, while federal OSHA has no equivalent universal written-program requirement (Correct answer)
- California allows verbal IIPPs for employers with fewer than 10 employees, while federal OSHA requires a written program for all
- California requires the IIPP to be filed with DIR annually, while federal OSHA requires only internal retention
Correct answer: California mandates a written IIPP for every employer regardless of size or industry, while federal OSHA has no equivalent universal written-program requirement
California Labor Code § 6401.7 requires every California employer — regardless of size or industry — to have a written IIPP. Federal OSHA does not have a comparable universal written safety-program mandate, making California's requirement broader in scope.
Question 6: When Cal/OSHA receives a complaint alleging an imminent hazard in a workplace, what is the required inspection timeline?
- Immediately or as soon as administratively possible (Correct answer)
- Within 24 hours of receipt of the complaint
- Within 3 business days
- Within 15 calendar days
Correct answer: Immediately or as soon as administratively possible
Under California Labor Code § 6309, when a complaint alleges an imminent hazard — a condition with a substantial probability of causing death or serious physical harm — Cal/OSHA must respond immediately or as soon as possible. This is the highest-priority complaint classification and carries the most urgent response obligation.
PHRca - Professional in Human Resources - California (PHRca) CA Health and Safety 1
Under California's Heat Illness Prevention regulation (Title 8, CCR § 3395), at what outdoor temperature must employers implement 'high heat procedures,' including frequent communication with employees and mandatory buddy systems?