AIEHS Certified Occupational Health and Safety
COHSP Exam
**Question 1.** Which step of the PDCA cycle is primarily concerned with establishing safety
objectives and procedures?
A) Plan
B) Do
C) Check
D) Act
Answer: A
Explanation: The “Plan” phase involves setting goals, defining processes, and establishing the
safety management system before implementation.
**Question 2.** In the Domino Theory of accident causation, which “domino” represents the
immediate cause of an incident?
A) Management decisions
B) Unsafe acts
C) Hazardous conditions
D) Personal factors
Answer: B
Explanation: Unsafe acts are the third domino and are considered the immediate cause that
triggers the accident.
**Question 3.** Which of the following best differentiates safety culture from safety climate?
A) Culture is observable behavior; climate is employee attitudes.
B) Culture is shared values over time; climate is the current perception of safety.
C) Culture is regulated by law; climate is voluntary.
D) Culture focuses on equipment; climate focuses on training.
Answer: B
, AIEHS Certified Occupational Health and Safety
COHSP Exam
Explanation: Safety culture reflects deep‑rooted values and beliefs, whereas safety climate is
the workers’ short‑term perception of safety policies and practices.
**Question 4.** A safety professional discovers a conflict between a client’s profit goals and
worker safety. Which ethical principle should guide the professional’s decision?
A) Loyalty to the employer
B) Beneficence – do no harm to workers
C) Utilitarianism – greatest good for the greatest number
D) Confidentiality of client information
Answer: B
Explanation: Professional codes of conduct prioritize the health and safety of workers over
business interests.
**Question 5.** Which cost is considered an indirect cost of a workplace injury?
A) Workers’ compensation premiums
B. Medical expenses for treatment
C. Lost productivity due to absenteeism
D. Replacement equipment purchase
Answer: C
Explanation: Indirect costs include productivity loss, training replacement workers, and morale
impacts, not the direct medical or insurance expenses.
**Question 6.** Which hazard category includes exposure to loud noise?
A) Physical
B) Chemical
C) Biological
, AIEHS Certified Occupational Health and Safety
COHSP Exam
D) Psychosocial
Answer: A
Explanation: Physical hazards encompass noise, vibration, radiation, and temperature extremes.
**Question 7.** When performing a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), the first step is to:
A) Identify existing controls.
B) Rank hazards by severity.
C) Break the job into individual tasks.
D) Assign responsibility for corrective actions.
Answer: C
Explanation: JHA begins by dissecting the job into steps to then evaluate each for hazards.
**Question 8.** In a qualitative risk matrix, a hazard rated “high likelihood” and “low
consequence” would be classified as:
A) Low risk
B) Medium risk
C) High risk
D) Critical risk
Answer: B
Explanation: The combination of high frequency but low impact generally yields a medium‑level
risk rating.
**Question 9.** Which control method is considered the most effective in the hierarchy of
controls?
A) Engineering controls
B) PPE
, AIEHS Certified Occupational Health and Safety
COHSP Exam
C) Elimination
D) Administrative controls
Answer: C
Explanation: Elimination removes the hazard entirely, making it the most protective option.
**Question 10.** Substituting a toxic solvent with a less hazardous one is an example of:
A) Elimination
B) Substitution
C) Engineering control
D) Administrative control
Answer: B
Explanation: Substitution replaces a hazardous material with a safer alternative without
removing the process.
**Question 11.** Which of the following is an engineering control for excessive noise?
A) Mandatory hearing‑protective devices
B) Rotating work schedules
C) Installing acoustic enclosures around machinery
D) Training workers on noise hazards
Answer: C
Explanation: Engineering controls modify the source or pathway of the hazard; acoustic
enclosures reduce noise at the source.
**Question 12.** Administrative controls typically involve:
A) Redesigning equipment
B) Changing work procedures or policies
COHSP Exam
**Question 1.** Which step of the PDCA cycle is primarily concerned with establishing safety
objectives and procedures?
A) Plan
B) Do
C) Check
D) Act
Answer: A
Explanation: The “Plan” phase involves setting goals, defining processes, and establishing the
safety management system before implementation.
**Question 2.** In the Domino Theory of accident causation, which “domino” represents the
immediate cause of an incident?
A) Management decisions
B) Unsafe acts
C) Hazardous conditions
D) Personal factors
Answer: B
Explanation: Unsafe acts are the third domino and are considered the immediate cause that
triggers the accident.
**Question 3.** Which of the following best differentiates safety culture from safety climate?
A) Culture is observable behavior; climate is employee attitudes.
B) Culture is shared values over time; climate is the current perception of safety.
C) Culture is regulated by law; climate is voluntary.
D) Culture focuses on equipment; climate focuses on training.
Answer: B
, AIEHS Certified Occupational Health and Safety
COHSP Exam
Explanation: Safety culture reflects deep‑rooted values and beliefs, whereas safety climate is
the workers’ short‑term perception of safety policies and practices.
**Question 4.** A safety professional discovers a conflict between a client’s profit goals and
worker safety. Which ethical principle should guide the professional’s decision?
A) Loyalty to the employer
B) Beneficence – do no harm to workers
C) Utilitarianism – greatest good for the greatest number
D) Confidentiality of client information
Answer: B
Explanation: Professional codes of conduct prioritize the health and safety of workers over
business interests.
**Question 5.** Which cost is considered an indirect cost of a workplace injury?
A) Workers’ compensation premiums
B. Medical expenses for treatment
C. Lost productivity due to absenteeism
D. Replacement equipment purchase
Answer: C
Explanation: Indirect costs include productivity loss, training replacement workers, and morale
impacts, not the direct medical or insurance expenses.
**Question 6.** Which hazard category includes exposure to loud noise?
A) Physical
B) Chemical
C) Biological
, AIEHS Certified Occupational Health and Safety
COHSP Exam
D) Psychosocial
Answer: A
Explanation: Physical hazards encompass noise, vibration, radiation, and temperature extremes.
**Question 7.** When performing a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), the first step is to:
A) Identify existing controls.
B) Rank hazards by severity.
C) Break the job into individual tasks.
D) Assign responsibility for corrective actions.
Answer: C
Explanation: JHA begins by dissecting the job into steps to then evaluate each for hazards.
**Question 8.** In a qualitative risk matrix, a hazard rated “high likelihood” and “low
consequence” would be classified as:
A) Low risk
B) Medium risk
C) High risk
D) Critical risk
Answer: B
Explanation: The combination of high frequency but low impact generally yields a medium‑level
risk rating.
**Question 9.** Which control method is considered the most effective in the hierarchy of
controls?
A) Engineering controls
B) PPE
, AIEHS Certified Occupational Health and Safety
COHSP Exam
C) Elimination
D) Administrative controls
Answer: C
Explanation: Elimination removes the hazard entirely, making it the most protective option.
**Question 10.** Substituting a toxic solvent with a less hazardous one is an example of:
A) Elimination
B) Substitution
C) Engineering control
D) Administrative control
Answer: B
Explanation: Substitution replaces a hazardous material with a safer alternative without
removing the process.
**Question 11.** Which of the following is an engineering control for excessive noise?
A) Mandatory hearing‑protective devices
B) Rotating work schedules
C) Installing acoustic enclosures around machinery
D) Training workers on noise hazards
Answer: C
Explanation: Engineering controls modify the source or pathway of the hazard; acoustic
enclosures reduce noise at the source.
**Question 12.** Administrative controls typically involve:
A) Redesigning equipment
B) Changing work procedures or policies
