Safety Awareness test with correct answers

1. To what cause(s) can the improvements in workplace safety made to date be attributed? Improvements in safety up to now have been the result of pressure for legislation to promote safety and health, the steadily increasing costs associated with accidents and injuries, and the professionalization of safety as an occupation 2. Explain the significance of the Code of Hammurabi in terms of the safety movement What is significant about the code from the perspective of safety and health is that it contained clauses dealing with injuries, allowable fees for physicians, and monetary damages assessed against those who injured others. Describe the circumstances that led to the development of the first organized safety program In 1892 in a Joliet, Illinois, steel plant the first recorded safety program was established in response to a scare caused when a flywheel exploded. Following the explosion a committee of managers was formed to investigate and make recommendations. What is Frederick Taylor's connection to the safety movement? Although safety was not a major focus of his work, Taylor did draw a connection between lost personnel time and management policies and procedures. This connection between safety and management represented a major step toward broad-based safety consciousness Explain the development of the National Safety Council. The Association of Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers (AISEE), formed in the early 1900s, pressed for a national conference on safety. As a result of the AlSEE's efforts, the first meeting of the Cooperative Safety Congress took place in Milwaukee in 1912. A year after the initial meeting of the Cooperative Safety Congress, the National Council of Industrial Safety was established in Chicago, Illinois. In 1915, this organization changed its name to the National Safety Council. What impact did labor shortages in World War II have on the safety movement The loss of a skilled worker due to an injury or for any other reason created an excessive hardship. Explain how workplace tragedies have affected the safety movement. Give examples.Safety and health tragedies in the workplace have greatly accelerated the pace of the safety movement. Three of the most significant events in the history of the safety and health movement were the Hawk's Nest, asbestos menace, and Bhopal tragedies Explain the primary reasons behind the passage of OSHA Generally, the state legislated safety requirements only in specific industries, had inadequate safety and health standards, and had inadequate budgets for enforcement. The injury and death toll due to industrial mishaps was still too high. In the late 1960s, more than 14,000 employees were killed annually in connection with their jobs. Work injury rates were taking an upward swing. Summarize briefly the role organized labor has played in the advancement of the safety movement. Organized labor has fought for safer working conditions and appropriate compensation for workers injured on the job. servant rule The most important contributions of organized labor to the safety movement was their work to overturn anti-labor laws relating to safety in the workplace. The fellow servant rule held that employees were not liable for workplace injuries that resulted from the negligence of other employees contributory negligence If the actions of employees contributed to their own injuries, the employer was absolved of any liability. This was the doctrine of contributory negligence. assumption of risk Assumption of risk was based on the theory that people who accept a job assume the risks that go with it. Explain the Three E's of Safety. Three E's of Safety: Engineering - involves making design improvements to both product and process; Education - ensures that employees know how to work safely; and Enforcement - involves making sure that employees abide by safety policies, rules, regulations, practices, and procedures. Explain the term integration as it relates to modern safety and health By working together and drawing on their own respective areas of expertise, safety and health professionals are better able to identify, predict, control, and correct safety and health problems. What are the leading causes of death in the United States? Accidents are the fourth leading cause of death in this country behind heart disease, cancer, and strokes. When the overall cost of an accident is calculated, what elements make up the cost? These costs include such factors as lost wages, medical expenses, insurance administration, fire-related losses, motor vehicle property damage, and indirect costs. What are the five leading causes of accidental deaths in the United States? Motor vehicle, poison (solid, liquid), drowning, falls, and fire-related What are the leading causes of death in the United States of people between the ages of 25 and 44? Accidents, motor vehicle, poison (solid, liquid), drowning, falls, firerelated, cancer, and heart disease Explain how todays's rate of accidental work deaths now compares with the rate of the early 1900s Between 1912 and 1989, accidental work deaths per 100,000 population were reduced 81 percent, from 21 to 4. What are the five leading causes of work deaths Motor vehicle related, falls, electric current, drowning, and fire-related What are the five leading causes of work injuries by type of accident? Overexertion, impact accidents, falls, bodily reaction, and compression. When death rates are classified by industry type, what are the three leading industry types? Mining/quarrying, agriculture, construction Rank the following body parts according to frequency of injury from highest to lowest:neck, fingers, trunk, back, and eyes. Back, fingers, trunk, eyes, and neck Name three chemicals that frequently cause chemical burns in the workplace. Acids and alkalies; soaps, detergents, and cleaning compounds; solvents and degreasers; calcium hydroxide; potassium hydroxide; and sulfuric acids Identify three factors that contribute to heat burn injuries in the workplace. Employer has no safety and health policy regarding heat hazards. Employer fails to enforce safety procedures and practices. Employees are not familiar with the employer's safety policy and procedures concerning heat hazards. Employees fail to use or improperly use personal protection equipment. Employees have inadequate or worn personal protection equipment. Employees work in a limited space. Employees attempt to work too fast. Employees are careless. Employees have poorly maintained tools and equipment. Explain the difference between RSI and carpal tunnel syndrome Carpal tunnelsyndrome (CTS) is an injury to the median nerve inside the wrist. CTS is typically caused by repeated and cumulative stress on the median nerve. RSI is a broad andgeneric term that encompasses a variety of injuries resulting from cumulative trauma to the soft tissues of the body. Explain the reasons for high accident rates in developing countries. Rapid development and the pressure of global competition Missing safety and health infrastructure Explain the domino theory of accident causation, including its origin and its impact on more modern theories. There are five factors in the sequence of events leading up to an accident: 1) ancestry and social environment, 2) fault of person, 3)unsafe actimechanical or physical hazard, 4) accident, and 5) injury. What were the findings of Herbert W. Heinrich's 1920s study of the causes of industrial accidents? 88 percent of industrial accidents are caused by unsafe acts committed by fellow workers. 10 percent of industrial accidents are caused by unsafe conditions. 2 percent of industrial accidents are unavoidable. List five of Heinrich's Axioms of Industrial Safety Accidents result from a completed series of factors, one of which is the accident itself. An accident can occur only as the result of an unsafe act by a person and/or a physical or mechanical hazard. Most accidents are the result of unsafe behavior by people. An unsafe act by a person or an unsafe condition does not always immediately result in an accident/injury. The reasons why people commit unsafe acts can serve as helpful guides in selecting corrective actions. The severity of an accident is largely fortuitous and the accident that caused it is largely preventable. The best accident prevention techniques are analogous with the best quality and productivity techniques. Management should assume responsibility for safety since it is in the best position to get results. The supervisor is the key person in the prevention of industrial accidents. In addition to the direct costs of an accident (i.e., compensation, liability claims, medical costs, and hospital expenses) there are also hidden or indirect costs. Explain the following concepts in the domino theory: preceding factor; central factor. Heinrich's theory has two central points: 1) injuries are caused by the action of preceding factors; and 2) removal of the central factor (unsafe act/hazardous condition) negates the action of the preceding factor and, in so doing, prevents accidents and injuries. What are the three broad factors that lead to human error in the human factor theory? Overload - Overload amounts to an imbalance between a person's capacity at any given time and the load that person is carrying in a given state. Inappropriate Response/Incompatibility - How a person responds in a given situation can cause or prevent an accident. If a person detects a hazardous condition but does nothing to correct it, he or she has responded inappropriately. Inappropriate Activities - Human error can be the result of inappropriate activities. An example of an inappropriate activity would be a person undertaking a task he or she doesn't know how to do. Explain the systems failure component of the accident/incident theory First, it shows the potential for a causal relationship between management decisions/management behavior and safety. Second, it establishes management's role in accident prevention as well as the broader concepts of safety and health in the workplace. What are the key components of the epidemiological theory and how does their interaction affect accident causation? The key components are predisposition characteristics and situational characteristics. These characteristics, taken together, can either result in or prevent conditions that might result in an accident. Explain the systems theory of accident causation This theory views a situation inwhich an accident might occur as a system comprised of the following components: person (host), machine (agency), and environment. The likelihood of an accident occurring is determined by how these components interact. Changes in the patterns of interaction can increase or reduce the probability of an accident occurring. What impact do stressors have in the systems theory? When stressors are introduced between points 1 and 2 the likelihood of an accident increases List five factors to consider before making workplace decisions that involve risk. 1) Job requirements, 2) the worker's abilities and limitations, 3) what is gained if the task is successfully accomplished, 4) what is lost if the task is attempted but fails, and 5) what is lost if the task is not attempted. Explain the principles of behavior-based safety. There are seven basic principles of BBS: 1. Intervention that is focused on employee behavior 2. Identification of external factors that will help understand and improve employee behavior 3. Direct behavior with activators or events antecedent to the desired behavior, and motivation of the employee to behave as desired with incentives and rewards that will follow the desired behavior 4. Focus on the positive consequences that will result from the desired behavior as a way to motivate employees 5. Application of the scientific method to improve attempts at behavioral interventions 6. Use of theory to integrate information rather than to limit possibilities 7. Planned interventions with the feelings and attitudes of the individual employee inmind What is the role of the safety and health professional with regard to handling employees who might be drug or alcohol abusers? Safety and health professionals should be aware of the workplace problems that can be caused by alcohol and drug abuse. Should also be a member of the cross-functional team of representatives who develop a drug-free workplace program. List the warning signs of clinical depression Persistent dreary moods Signs of too little sleep Sleeping on the job or persistent drowsiness Sudden weight loss or gain General loss of interest, especially in areas of previous interest Restlessness, inability to concentrate, or irritability Chronic physical problems Forgetfulness or an inability to make simple decisions Persistent feeling of guilt Feeling of low self-worth Focus on death or talk of suicide What must management do if it is serous about providing a safe and healthy work environment for employees? Management must establish expectations, provide training, evaluate employee performance with safety in mind, and reinforce safe and healthy behavior. Explain the connections between obesity and injuries The most common causes of injuries to obese people were the result of overexertion and falls. Efforts to promoteoptimal body weight may reduce not only the risk of chronic diseases, but also the risk of unintentional injuries. What types of positions might be included in a modern safety and health team? Engineers, physicists, industrial hygienists, occupational physicians, and occupational health nurses. Briefly explain the impact such issues as workers' compensation and the environment have had on the commitment of corporate management to safety and health OSHA Standards, on-site inspections, and penalties have encouraged a greater commitment to safety and health than was evident in the past as has the growing awareness that providing a safe and healthy workplace is the fight thing to do from both an ethical and a business perspective. What is the difference between a staff and a line position? Line authority means the safety and health manager has authority over and supervises certain employees. Staff authority means the safety and health manager is the staff person responsible for a certain function, but he or she has no line authority over others involved with that function. Explain the types of problems modern safety and health managers can expect to confront in attempting to implement their programs. Lack of commitment Top management may go along with having a company-wide safety and health program because they see it as a necessary evil. Production versus Safety Industrial firms are in business to make a profit. Anything that interferes with production or processing is likely to be looked on unfavorably. Briefly explain what a company must do in order to succeed in today's competitive global marketplace The most productive company is the one that generates the most output with the least input. How can safety and health managers use the competitiveness issue to gain a commitment to their programs? Resources invested in safety and health can actually improve a company's competitiveness. Productivity, quality, cost, image, and response time can go a long way in helping to gain management commitment to safety and health. List five different college majors that can lead to a career as a safety and health manager. 1. Industrial safety 2. occupational safety 3. environmental technology 4. safety health management 5. industrial hygiene. . Explain the importance of ongoing in-service training for modern safety and health managers and how to get it In-service training, ongoing interaction with professional colleagues, and continued reading of professional literature are effective ways to stay current. This means joining the appropriate professional organizations, becoming familiar with related government agencies, and establishing links with relevant standards organizations. How can safety and health managers become certified in their profession? In order to qualify to sit for a certification examination, safety and health managers must have the required education and experience and submit letters of recommendation as specified by the certification board. Name three professional societies a safety and health manager may join. American Academy of Industrial Hygiene American Industrial Hygiene Association American Occupational Medical Association American Society of Safety Engineers National Safety Council Society of Toxicology What is meant by the statement "If a physician makes an error he might harm one person, but an engineer who errs might harm one hundred"? Engineers can make a significant contribution to safety. Correspondingly, they can cause, inadvertently or through incompetence, accidents that result in serious injury and property damage. Explain how the design process can affect safety With a poorly designed seat belt installed in 10,000 automobiles, the engineer has inadvertently endangered the lives of as many as 40,000 people (estimating a maximum of four passengers per car). What typed of engineers are most likely to work as design engineers? Those that are most likely to be designers are aerospace, electrical, mechanical, and nuclear engineers. Why is the title safety engineer sometimes a misnomer It implies that the person filling the position is a degreed engineer with formal education and/or special training in workplace safety. Typically, the title is given to the person who has overall responsibility for the company's safety program or to a member of the company's safety team who is responsible for the traditional aspects of the safety program. What specific strengths might industrial engineers bring to bear as safety engineers? Their knowledge of industrial systems, both manual and automated, can make them valuable members of a design team, particularly one that designs industrial systems and technologies. What specific strengths might chemical engineers bring to the safety and health team? The coursework they take is particularly relevant since all of it relates either directly or indirectly to health. What specific strengths might chemical engineers bring to the safety and health team? A broad background has made the chemical engineer extremely versatile and capable of working in a wide variety of industries: chemical, petroleum, aerospace, nuclear, materials, microelectronics, sanitation, food processing, and computer technology. Describe the job of the industrial hygienist 1) To recognize environmental factors and to understand their effect on humans and their well-being. 2) To evaluate on the basis of experience and with the aid of quantitative measurement techniques, the magnitude of these stresses in terms of ability to impair human health and well-being, and 3) to prescribe methods to eliminate control, or reduce such stresses when necessary to alleviate their effects. What is a health physicist Health physicists are concerned primarily with radiation in the workplace. Their duties include monitoring radiation inside and outside the facility, measuring the radioactivity levels of biological samples, developing the radiation components of the company's emergency action plan, and supervising the decontamination of workers and the workplace when necessary. Describe the job of the occupational physician. Appraisal, maintenance, restoration, and improvement of the workers' health through application of the principles of preventive medicine, emergency medical care, rehabilitation, and environmental medicine.Promotion of a productive and fulfilling interaction of the worker and the job, via application of principles of human behavior. Active appreciation of the social, economic, and administrative needs and responsibilities of both the worker and work community. Team approach to safety and health, involving cooperation of the physician with occupational or industrial hygienists, occupational health nurses, safety personnel, and other specialists. Describe the job of the occupational health nurse. To adopt the nursing program to meet the specific needs of the individual company. To give competent nursing care for all employees. To ensure that adequate resources are available to support the nursing program. To seek out competent medical direction if it is not available on-site. To establish and maintain an adequate system of records-relating to workplace health care. To plan, prepare, promote, present, and broker educational activities for employees. To establish and maintain positive working relationships with all departments within the company. To maintain positive working relationships with all components of the local health care community. To monitor and evaluate the nursing program on a continual basis and adjust accordingly.