Occupational Safety and Health Quiz

Domain 9: Low & Ethics

• Employers and employees should reduce workplace hazards and improve existing safety and health standards.
• Research in occupational safety and health should be promoted.
• Establish separate but dependent responsibilities and rights for employers and employees to improve safety and health.
• Maintain a reporting and record-keeping system to monitor job-related injuries and illnesses. Training programs should be created to increase the number of competent occupational safety and health personnel.
• Develop mandatory job safety and health standards and effectively enforce them.
• OSHA has no legal authority to shut down a work site.

OSHA Inspections and Process

• Employers must be informed by the compliance officer regarding the reason for the inspection.
• Employers must require identification of the OSHA compliance officer.
• Employers must accompany the compliance officer during the inspection.
• Employers' trade secrets observed by an OSHA compliance officer during the inspection must be kept confidential.

Inspections Priorities

• Imminent danger situations
• Catastrophes and fatal accidents
• Employee complaints
• Programmed high-hazard inspections
• Follow-up inspections

OSHA Citation Penalties

• Other-than-serious violations can incur penalties ranging from $0 to $1,000.
• Serious violations are subject to penalties ranging from $1,500 to $7,000.
• $5,000 to $70,000 in penalties for willful violations.
• Willful violations resulting in a fatality may result in fines up to $250,000 (or $500,000 for corporations) or imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both.
• Penalties up to $70,000 may be levied per each violation for repeated violations.
• Failure to correct a prior violation within the prescribed abatement period may result in fines of up to $7,000 per day.
• Falsifying records, reports, or applications can result in penalties of $10,000, up to 6 months imprisonment, or both. Violating posting requirements can result in $7,000 penalties.
• Assaulting a compliance officer or interfering with their duties may result in fines of up to $5,000 and up to 3 years imprisonment.

Types of Standards

• Horizontal Standards: Apply to all industries and employers; for example, fire prevention and respiratory protection.
• Vertical Standards: Apply to specific industries and employers; for example, standards for the construction industry.
• Performance Standards: Specify the desired outcome, not the methods to achieve it. (i.e., HAZCOM)
• Specification Standards: Set specific requirements for materials, dimensions, etc. (i.e., guardrails).

Types of Persons

• Competent Person: Capable of identifying workplace hazards and taking corrective measures.
• Authorized Person: Designated by the employer to perform specific duties or be at a specific location.
• Designated Person: Assigned by the employer to specific duties or locations.
• Qualified Person: Possesses specialized knowledge, training, or experience to solve problems for a given project.

Record Keeping

• Employers must record all recordable injuries and illnesses within 7 days of occurrence.
• OSH Act 300 Form: Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
• OSH Act 300-A Form: Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
• OSH Act 301 Form: Injury and Illness Incident Report
• Record keeping of injuries and illnesses—privacy cases
• Record keeping of injuries and illnesses—results
• Total Case Incident Rates
• Days Away Rates, Restricted or Transfer Rates
• Severity Rates

Employer Defenses

• Assumption of Risk: Employees acknowledge the risks of the job.
• Contributory Negligence: Employees contributed to their injuries.
• Fellow-Servant Rule: Employer isn't responsible if another employee caused the accident.

Categories of Injuries

• Partial Injuries: employee can still work, but specific duties are affected (e.g., broken finger).
• Total Injuries: employee cannot work or perform substantial job duties (e.g., severe back injury).
• Temporary Injuries: employee is expected to fully recover (e.g., broken limb, sprain).
• Permanent Injuries: long-term effects of injury (e.g., severed limb, blindness, permanent hearing loss).

Workers Compensation

• Premiums are calculated using Standard Industrial Classification codes for a specific industry.
• Loss-free period: 3-year average of premiums calculated in $ per every $100 of payroll.

Return-to-Work/Light Duty Program

• Return-to-work/light-duty programs may significantly decrease medical costs by up to 70%.
• Return-to-work/light-duty programs effectively speed up recovery.
• Return-to-work/light-duty and communication programs lead to an improved company image and morale.

Insurance Contract Sections

• Declarations section: Lists covered risks and properties.
• Conditions section: Outlines necessary requirements for valid claims.
• Exclusions section: Identifies excluded risks.

Liability

• Warranties: Addresses product performance, implied or expressed, by the manufacturer or seller.
• Negligence: Involves conduct or inaction by a person or entity.
• Strict Liability: Associated with characteristics of dangerous and defective products.
• Defects in design, manufacturing, and instructions/warnings.

Hazard Communication Standard

• Ensure hazards of chemicals are identified and communicated to employees.
• Containers must be clearly labeled with product identifier, signal words, hazard statements, pictograms, precautionary statements.
• Training on hazards, prevention measures, and the employer-developed hazard communication program must be included.

Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

• Employers must provide Hepatitis B vaccinations and vaccination series to employees.
• Written Exposure Control Plan.
• Medical records must include employee names, social security numbers, vaccination status, medical testing and follow-up results
• Training records must include dates, session content, trainers, and attendees, to be kept for 3 years.

Personal Protective Equipment Standard

• PPE for eyes, face, head, body, hands, and respiratory systems.

Respiratory Protection Standard

• Aims to control occupational diseases caused by contaminated air.
• Identifies criteria for air-purifying respirators, supplied-air respirators, and self-contained breathing apparatus.

Fall Protection Standard

• Applies to construction work areas.
• Definitions: Anchors, body harnesses, connectors, deceleration devices.

Confined Space Entry Standard

• Defines confined spaces and acceptable entry conditions.
• Specifies requirements for entry permits, supervisors, and attendants.

Employee Entry Program

• Implement measures to prevent unauthorized entry.
• Identify and evaluate hazards before entry.
• Develop procedures for safe entry.