Safety Test 1 August 21

Question 1

What do OSHA standards represent?

Answer 1

OSHA standards represent a minimum for compliance - may not be the safest procedure though - it means its the minimum you have to do to comply with the law

Question 2

OSHAct - who was it signed by and when, what is it also known as, and when did it take effect

Answer 2

• signed by President Richard M. Nixon on December 29,1970 as a Public Law
• AKA Williams-Steiger Act - took effect April 28, 1971

Question 3

Declared purpose of OSHAct - and what did it lead to

Answer 3

• congress declared the purpose of the legislation as: “to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the nation safe and healthful working conditions and preserve our human resources”
• OSHA formed as a result of OSHAct

Question 4

OSHA: Assigned to what, and what do its authorities include

Answer 4

• assigned to DOL
• authorities include:
• promulgation, modification, and revocation of safety and health standards
• conducting inspections and investigations using citations
• requiring employers to keep records of safety and health data
• petitioning the courts to issue restraining orders for imminent danger situations
• approving or rejecting state plans for OSH programs

Question 5

2 wings of OSHA

Answer 5

• Compliance (gives citations)

- consultation - doesn’t issue citations, there to help (generally aimed at small businesses)

Question 6

Federal OSHA states vs State Plan States

Answer 6

• Feds would run OSHA if the states didn’t opt for the state plan states
• about half the states opted for a state plan states (to run OSHA themselves)
• Feds pay half, state pays other half
• if a state wants a state plan state, their standards have to be at least as strict as federal ones- most states simply adopt federal standards

Question 7

Regional OSHA offices

Answer 7

• 10 regional offices
• each regional office has a regional administrator - has the responsibility to supervise, coordinate, evaluate, and execute all OSHA programs in the region

Question 8

1990 Chicken plant fire

Answer 8

• people stealing chickens, so they locked back doors
• there was a fire, but ppl couldn’t escape
• OSHA created an emphasis program from this to first ask about exits/emergency exits

Question 9

Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC)

Answer 9

• quasi-judicial board of 3 members appointed by president and confirmed by senate
• is an independent federal agency
• sole function is to decide contests of citations/penalites
• may affirm, modify, or vacate OSHA’s findings

Question 10

2 levels of adjudication within OSHRC

Answer 10

• administrative law judges

- the 3 member commission has the final authority

Question 11

NIOSH

Answer 11

• national institute of occupational safety and health
• created the same time as OSHA
• assigned to Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) under CDC in Atlanta
• primary role is to conduct occupational safety and health related research, education, and training

Question 12

3 primary functions of NIOSH

Answer 12

• develop recommended occupational health and safety standards
• conduct research experiments and demonstrations related to OSH
• develop educational programs to provide an adequate supply of qualified personnel to carry out purposes of OSHAct

Question 13

How many educational research centers (ERC’s) are there, and what is ours called?

Answer 13

• 18

- The Deep South Occupational Health and Safety

Question 14

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Answer 14

• assigned to DOL
• conducts surveys and compiles occupational injury and illness data
• publishes reports on injuries and illness experiences in Industry

Question 15

OSHA requirement for record keeping for the BLS

Answer 15

OSHA requires companies with more than 10 employees to keep records for BLS

Question 16

The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH)

Answer 16

• 12 members

- advises the secretaries of DOL and HHS on the administration of the act

Question 17

Standards Advisory Committee

Answer 17

• 15 members

- assists OSHA in development of standards

Question 18

what are companies required to do (with respect to rights)

Answer 18

companies required to put up an OSHA “rights” poster so everyone knows their rights at work

Question 19

who is governed under the OSHAct?

Answer 19

• organizations with 1 or more employees

- however, if there are 10 or fewer employees, the company is exempt from inspections and record keeping requirements

Question 20

Who is exempt from OSHAct?

Answer 20

• self-employed individuals
• family farms employing only family members
• coal miners (MSHA)
• state and local governments
• federal agencies (but they are covered under another legislation - separate executive order issued by President)

Question 21

variances from standards

Answer 21

• under certain circumstances an employer may request a variance from a particular standard
• 2 types of variances:
• permanent - if employer is providing equal to or greater safety than standard
• temporary - if employer cannot meet standard (lack of personnel, equipment, time to construct/alter facility), employer must state what is being done to protect workers from the specific hazard and how and when the employer expects to be able to come into compliance.

Question 22

Role of SH&E Professional

Answer 22

• hold paramount the safety and health of employees
• ensure the employees get the education/training they need to perform job safely
• ensure that OSH policy and corresponding rules/regulations are enforced at workplace
• be impartial about safety and health decision (race, creed,etc)