Professional Ethics & Legal Compliance Flashcards

A CHC's superintendent observes a project inspector accepting cash from a subcontractor foreman during a routine inspection. The CHC's immediate ethical duty is to:

Answer: Report the incident to the appropriate authority and document it in writing

Bribery of a public inspector is a criminal act; the CHC is ethically and often legally required to report such conduct to the appropriate authority.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) affects healthcare construction primarily because:

Answer: Construction workers may inadvertently access areas where patient records or PHI are exposed, requiring site controls

During active hospital construction, workers can access areas where patient health information is visible, so CHCs must implement physical and procedural controls to prevent unauthorized PHI exposure.

When a healthcare project requires an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA), who is primarily responsible for ensuring it is implemented correctly on-site?

Answer: The Certified Health Care Constructor in coordination with the infection control officer

The CHC is responsible for field implementation of ICRA measures, working in coordination with the facility's infection control professionals to protect patients and staff during construction.

A CHC is asked by the project owner to backdate a substantial completion certificate to avoid a penalty clause. The ethical response is to:

Answer: Refuse, as falsifying project documents constitutes fraud and a serious ethical violation

Backdating official project documents is fraud regardless of the owner's request or how close the dates are, and no legal opinion can make it ethical.

Which of the following best describes a conflict of interest situation a CHC must disclose?

Answer: The CHC owns a stake in a material supplier bidding on the project

A financial interest in a supplier competing for project work creates a direct conflict of interest that must be disclosed to all parties before any award decision.

Under OSHA regulations, a CHC's written Hazard Communication Program for a hospital renovation project must include:

Answer: A list of hazardous chemicals on-site, Safety Data Sheets, and employee training records

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard requires a written program that includes a chemical inventory, access to Safety Data Sheets, and documentation of worker training.

A CHC discovers a design error that could compromise patient safety if built as drawn. The project is behind schedule. The most ethical action is to:

Answer: Stop the affected work, notify the design team in writing, and wait for a corrected detail before proceeding

Patient safety supersedes schedule concerns; the CHC must stop the affected work and obtain a formal design correction before proceeding.