for Guaranteed Success (Alberta Construction Safety
Association)
Instructions
This document contains 80 original exam-prep questions for the National Construction Safety
Officer (NCSO) certification by the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA). Questions
cover workplace safety, Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations, and legal
responsibilities. Each question includes a verified answer with a clear explanation. Read each
question carefully and select the best answer.
Questions
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act?
A. To regulate workplace wages
B. To ensure safe and healthy workplaces
C. To manage workers’ compensation claims
D. To enforce environmental standards
Answer: B
Rationale: The Alberta OHS Act establishes the legal framework to ensure safe and
healthy workplaces by setting standards for hazard identification, risk control, and worker
safety. It does not focus on wages, compensation claims, or environmental standards.
Question 2: According to the Alberta OHS Code, what must employers provide to ensure workers
have access to safety information?
A. Company financial reports
B. OHS Act, Regulation, and Code
C. Annual leave schedules
D. Equipment maintenance logs
Answer: B
Rationale: The OHS Code requires employers to provide workers with access to the OHS
Act, Regulation, and Code, ensuring they are readily available to inform workers of their
rights and safety obligations.
Question 3: What are the four hazard categories outlined in the Principles of Health and Safety Man-
agement (PHSM) course?
A. Physical, chemical, biological, psychological
B. Electrical, mechanical, thermal, radiological
C. Environmental, operational, financial, legal
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, D. Structural, procedural, human, environmental
Answer: A
Rationale: The PHSM course identifies four hazard categories: physical (e.g., noise,
falls), chemical (e.g., gases, liquids), biological (e.g., bacteria, viruses), and psychological
(e.g., stress, harassment).
Question 4: What formula is used to calculate the Lost Time Frequency Rate (LTFR)?
A. (Lost time cases × 200,000) ÷ Total employee hours of exposure
B. (Lost work days × 200,000) ÷ Total employee hours of exposure
C. (Medical aids × 200,000) ÷ Total employee hours of exposure
D. (Total incidents × 100,000) ÷ Total employee hours
Answer: A
Rationale: The LTFR is calculated as (Lost time cases × 200,000) ÷ Total employee
hours of exposure, providing a standardized measure of lost-time incidents.
Question 5: Who is responsible for developing a collaborative environmental management program
on a construction project?
A. Workers
B. Prime contractor
C. Safety officer
D. Government inspector
Answer: B
Rationale: The prime contractor is responsible for coordinating and developing a collab-
orative environmental management program to ensure compliance with safety and envi-
ronmental standards.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a Certificate of Recognition (COR) audit?
A. To evaluate financial performance
B. To assess health and safety management system effectiveness
C. To review employee attendance records
D. To certify equipment maintenance
Answer: B
Rationale: A COR audit evaluates the effectiveness of an organization’s health and safety
management system (HSMS) against established standards to ensure compliance and im-
prove safety.
Question 7: What does “readily available” mean under the Alberta OHS Code?
A. Stored in a locked office
B. Accessible near workers during each shift
C. Available only to supervisors
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, D. Kept off-site for reference
Answer: B
Rationale: “Readily available” means safety resources, such as the OHS Act and hazard
assessments, must be accessible near workers during each shift for immediate reference.
Question 8: Which of the following is a key responsibility of an NCSO?
A. Managing company finances
B. Communicating health and safety concerns
C. Scheduling worker shifts
D. Conducting equipment repairs
Answer: B
Rationale: An NCSO communicates health and safety concerns effectively between
workers, management, and government to maintain a safe workplace.
Question 9: How often must ACSA auditors take the Auditor Training Program to maintain certifica-
tion?
A. Every year
B. Every three years
C. Every five years
D. Every ten years
Answer: B
Rationale: ACSA auditors must complete the Auditor Training Program every three years
to stay current on auditing processes and maintain certification.
Question 10: What is one of the three factors of due diligence in a health and safety context?
A. Profitability
B. Foreseeability
C. Productivity
D. Efficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: Due diligence includes foreseeability, preventability, and control, ensuring
employers take reasonable steps to anticipate and mitigate workplace hazards.
Question 11: What is the minimum field experience required for NCSO certification?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 5 years
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