HRA Chapter 15 Multiple Choice

The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed to assure as far as possible every working man or woman in the nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve human resources. This act was enacted to establish certain standards for workplace safety and health, and to provide for enforcement of those standards. It created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to oversee and enforce workplace safety regulations, and it also provides workers with the right to a safe and healthy work environment.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition that occurs due to repetitive motion of the hands. This repetitive motion can cause inflammation and swelling in the carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway in the wrist that houses the median nerve. As a result, individuals who engage in activities that involve repetitive hand movements, such as typing, using a computer mouse, or playing musical instruments, are more prone to developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This explanation aligns with the answer choice "put their hands through repetitive motion."

The main purpose of effective safety programs in organizations is to prevent work-related injuries and accidents. Safety programs aim to create a safe and healthy work environment by implementing measures such as training employees on safety procedures, conducting regular inspections, and providing protective equipment. These programs help minimize the risk of accidents, promote employee well-being, and ensure compliance with safety regulations. By prioritizing safety, organizations can reduce workplace injuries, improve productivity, and enhance overall organizational performance.

The correct answer is "provide safe and healthy working conditions, even in areas where there are no OSHA standards." This is because the Occupational Safety and Health Act places a general duty on employers to ensure the safety and health of their employees, regardless of whether there are specific OSHA standards in place for a particular area or situation. Employers are responsible for creating a safe work environment and taking necessary precautions to protect their employees from hazards, even if there are no specific regulations governing those hazards.

The purpose of OSHA's lock out/tag out regulations is to prevent accidental start up of defective machinery during repair or adjustment. This regulation requires the use of lockout devices and tags to ensure that machinery is properly shut down and cannot be started up again until maintenance or repairs are complete. This helps to protect workers from the potential dangers of unexpected machine start-ups, such as being caught in moving parts or being exposed to hazardous materials. By implementing lock out/tag out procedures, employers can effectively safeguard their employees and prevent accidents in the workplace.

If an employer has been warned of a safety violation but fails to correct the situation, they are vulnerable to a "willful and repeated" violation. This means that the employer is intentionally and repeatedly disregarding safety regulations, which is a serious offense. This indicates a deliberate and ongoing violation of safety standards, demonstrating a lack of concern for the well-being of employees and potentially resulting in severe consequences.

The major contributor to the increase in workers' compensation costs is higher medical and litigation expenses. This means that the costs associated with medical treatments for injured workers and the expenses related to legal proceedings have risen, leading to an overall increase in workers' compensation costs. The other options mentioned, such as serious on the job accidents, injuries in foreign locations, and injuries while working at home, may also contribute to workers' compensation costs, but the primary factor in this case is the higher medical and litigation expenses.

The correct answer is that the ADA requires information from all medical examinations and inquiries to be maintained separately from all other confidential files, with restricted access and security provisions. This ensures that the employee's medical information is kept private and secure, and prevents unauthorized access or disclosure of sensitive information.

The federal Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to evaluate, classify, and label hazardous chemicals. This means that employers must assess the potential hazards of the chemicals they use, determine their appropriate classification, and provide clear labels to communicate these hazards to employees. By doing so, employers can ensure that employees are aware of the risks associated with the chemicals they work with and take necessary precautions to protect their health and safety. This is an important measure to prevent accidents and minimize the potential harm caused by hazardous substances in the workplace.

The purpose of a material safety data sheet (MSDS) is to provide employees with information about hazardous substances including antidotes. MSDSs contain detailed information about the properties, hazards, and safe handling procedures of chemicals or substances used in the workplace. They also provide information on first aid measures, including antidotes, in case of exposure or accidents. This helps employees to understand the potential risks associated with the substances they are working with and take appropriate safety precautions.

OSHA, which stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration, covers every employer engaged in commerce with one or more employees. This means that even if an employer has just one employee, they are still required to comply with OSHA regulations regarding workplace safety and health.

Employers are responsible for funding workers' compensation. This is because workers' compensation is a type of insurance that provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job. Employers are required by law to provide this insurance coverage for their employees, and they typically pay for it through insurance premiums or self-insurance. This funding ensures that injured workers receive medical treatment, wage replacement, and other benefits to help them recover and return to work.

Workers' compensation typically covers lost wages, medical bills, and retraining for another position if the employee is unable to continue in their current role due to a physical or psychological impairment. However, punitive damages are not typically awarded in workers' compensation cases. Punitive damages are usually reserved for cases where the employer's actions were particularly egregious or intentional, which is not the case in a typical workers' compensation claim.

Compliance officers are the OSHA representatives who conduct inspections. Their role is to ensure that organizations are following OSHA regulations and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. They inspect workplaces, identify potential hazards, and enforce compliance with OSHA standards. The term "inspectors general" refers to a different role in government oversight and auditing, while "safety and health auditors" may perform similar tasks but are not specific to OSHA. "Control agents" is not a recognized term in relation to OSHA inspections.

The meat-packing industry has the highest level of cumulative trauma disorders. This is because workers in this industry are often exposed to repetitive motions, heavy lifting, and dangerous equipment, which can lead to chronic injuries over time. Additionally, the fast pace and high demand for productivity in meat-packing plants can contribute to a higher risk of accidents and injuries.

The Supreme Court held that Johnson Controls' policy of keeping women of childbearing capacity out of jobs that might involve lead exposure violated the Civil Rights Act and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. This is because such a policy discriminates against women based on their potential to become pregnant, which is a form of sex-based discrimination. The Court determined that employers cannot exclude women from certain job opportunities solely because of their reproductive capacity.

Workers have the right to walk off a job and refuse to perform unsafe work if their fear is objectively reasonable, the employees have tried to have the dangerous condition corrected, and using normal procedures to solve the problem has not worked. The only condition that is not necessary for workers to exercise their right to refuse unsafe work is whether or not they are receiving hazardous duty pay.

Ergonomics is the study and design of the work environment to address the physiological and physical demands on individuals. It focuses on creating a workspace that is optimized for human comfort, efficiency, and safety. By considering factors such as posture, lighting, equipment design, and workflow, ergonomics aims to prevent work-related injuries and improve overall well-being and productivity. Occupational safety and health, environmental design, and industrial physiology are related fields, but they do not specifically address the study and design of the work environment like ergonomics does.

Crisis management planning is the correct answer because it allows HR to create value and help mitigate risks related to terrorist attacks, loss of electrical service, bomb threats, and hostage situations. By having a well-developed crisis management plan in place, HR can effectively respond to and manage these types of emergencies, ensuring the safety and security of employees and minimizing potential damage to the company. This involves coordinating with various stakeholders, implementing protocols and procedures, and ensuring effective communication and response strategies are in place.

Supervisors and managers are typically responsible for the primary health, safety, and security responsibilities in an organization. They oversee the day-to-day operations and have direct authority over employees, making them best suited to ensure that proper safety measures are in place and followed. Safety teams may assist in implementing safety protocols, but the ultimate responsibility lies with supervisors and managers. Industrial engineers focus more on optimizing processes and efficiency, while HR specialists primarily handle employee relations and personnel matters.

The absence of guard railings to prevent employees from falling three stories into heavy machinery is an example of an imminent danger violation. Imminent danger violations refer to situations where there is a high probability of serious harm or death to employees, and immediate action is required to address the hazard. In this case, the lack of guard railings poses an immediate risk to the safety of employees, as they are at risk of falling into the heavy machinery, which could result in severe injuries or fatalities.

Employers with good safety records in previous years and those with 10 or fewer employees are exempt from keeping detailed OSHA records. The other options, such as employers not engaged in interstate or foreign commerce, those with fewer than 25 employees in specified non-hazardous industries, and employers with no government contracts or subcontracts, are all required to keep detailed OSHA records.

The correct answer is inadequate hazard communications programs. This means that the most frequently cited violation in general industry (non-construction) according to OSHA is when employers fail to adequately communicate hazards to their employees. This could include not providing proper training on hazardous materials, not having clear warning signs or labels, or not having a comprehensive hazard communication program in place. This violation is significant as it puts employees at risk by not providing them with the necessary information to protect themselves from potential hazards in the workplace.

This incident would be categorized as a minor injury because although Joyce sprained her ankle, she was still able to return to work after receiving medical care. It did not result in lost time or disability, and it was not classified as a serious injury by OSHA.

The term "safety" refers to the condition in which the physical well-being of people is protected. On the other hand, "security" refers to the protection of employees and organizational facilities. Therefore, the correct answer is "Safety, Security."

A lock on the doors of toilet stalls is a common example of a de minimus violation. This means that although it technically violates a regulation, it is so minor or inconsequential that it does not warrant enforcement action. In this case, the violation does not pose a serious threat to safety or health, and therefore, it is considered insignificant in terms of regulatory compliance.

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This is a circumstance where OSHA regulations on bloodborne pathogens would come into force because Eric was covered with the renter's splattered blood, which could potentially contain infectious diseases such as HIV or hepatitis. OSHA regulations on bloodborne pathogens aim to protect workers who may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials in the workplace. These regulations require employers to implement measures to prevent or minimize the risk of exposure, such as providing personal protective equipment, training employees on proper handling and disposal of contaminated materials, and establishing procedures for post-exposure evaluation and follow-up.

The correct answer is that the employer must record the incident because it would be considered an illness with loss of consciousness. Although Agnes did not miss any work and quickly recovered, fainting from the heat in the kitchen is a significant incident that should be documented for the employer's records. Loss of consciousness is a serious symptom that could indicate a potential health issue or workplace hazard, and it is important for the employer to have a record of such incidents for safety and regulatory purposes.

Cumulative trauma disorder is the correct answer because it refers to the generic term for muscle and skeletal injuries that occur when workers repetitively use the same muscles to perform tasks. This term encompasses a range of conditions that result from overuse or strain on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues. It is often associated with repetitive motions, such as typing or lifting, and can cause pain, inflammation, and limited mobility. The term "repetitive trauma syndrome" is not commonly used in medical or occupational health literature, while "myasthenia gravis" is a neuromuscular disorder unrelated to repetitive muscle use. "Musculo-skeletal trauma" is a broader term that encompasses various types of injuries, not specifically related to repetitive use.

NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, is responsible for conducting research and providing recommendations to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. They develop workplace standards based on their research findings and collaborate with other organizations such as OSHRC, FLSA, and CDC to ensure the implementation of these standards. NIOSH's expertise and research make it the most suitable organization to develop workplace standards.

The term "other than serious" implies that there are violations that can have an impact on employees' health or safety, but these violations are not severe enough to cause death or serious harm. This suggests that there may be some level of risk or danger associated with these violations, but they are not considered to be as serious or dangerous as other violations that could result in more severe consequences.

In a typical division of health, safety, and security responsibilities, the HR unit is responsible for developing the safety reporting system. This means that they are in charge of creating and implementing a system that allows employees to report any safety concerns or incidents that occur in the workplace. This is important for ensuring that all safety issues are properly documented and addressed, and it helps to create a culture of safety within the organization. By developing the safety reporting system, the HR unit plays a crucial role in promoting and maintaining a safe work environment.

The given answer is "misusing machinery." This means that misusing machinery is not one of the major causes of injury in the workplace. The other options, including overextending, falling, and bodily reaction, are all listed as major causes of workplace injuries.

When an employer is aware of a condition that could potentially cause significant physical harm, a serious violation has occurred. This suggests that the employer has failed to take appropriate measures to address the hazardous condition, thereby putting the safety and well-being of their employees at risk. It implies a level of negligence or disregard for workplace safety regulations, which is considered a serious offense.

The CEO has the right to refuse entry to the OSHA inspector because the inspector does not have a search warrant. However, the inspector can leave and return with a search warrant, which would give her the authority to enter the premises.

After the OSHA inspector's credentials have been examined and an opening conference has been held with an HR representative, the next logical step for the inspector would be to examine the organization's safety records. This is because examining safety records will provide the inspector with important information about the organization's compliance with OSHA standards and any previous safety incidents or violations. By reviewing these records, the inspector can get a better understanding of the organization's safety practices and identify areas that may require further investigation or improvement.

Emphasizing health and safety in the workplace pays off in several ways, including lower employee benefits costs, fewer work-related accidents, and lower workers' compensation costs. However, it does not directly result in lower training and monitoring costs. While implementing proper health and safety measures may require initial investments in training programs and monitoring systems, these costs are outweighed by the long-term benefits of a safer and healthier work environment. Therefore, the correct answer is lower training and monitoring costs.

Nursing homes have been identified by OSHA as one of the most dangerous work settings. This is because nursing home employees are often exposed to a variety of hazards, including lifting and transferring patients, exposure to infectious diseases, workplace violence, and ergonomic hazards. Additionally, nursing home workers may face challenges such as understaffing, which can further contribute to safety risks. Therefore, OSHA recognizes the need for strict safety regulations and guidelines in nursing homes to protect the well-being of employees.

When employers make accommodations for injured employees through light duty work, they may unknowingly undercut the essential job functions as defined by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). The ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, but it also allows employers to establish the essential job functions that cannot be altered. By creating light duty work that deviates from these essential job functions, employers may be undermining the ADA's requirements and potentially opening themselves up to legal issues.