Deck 14: Risk Management and Worker Protection

Question 1

Self-employed workers have higher accident rates than those who work for others because they are:

A) usually not eligible for insurance policies.
B) more likely to work in dangerous industries such as farming.
C) not regulated by the OSHA like company workers.
D) often preoccupied with their work and tend to be careless.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Employers who provide injured employees with light-duty work, typically:

A) increase the workers' compensation premiums till the workers are completely cured.
B) are violating FMLA regulations by not providing leave to injured employees.
C) can be held liable by law for any accidents caused by the injured employee at work.
D) give them less physically demanding work until they are able to perform their jobs.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Morse and Cremona Inc. continually monitors the workers' compensation expenditures they incur and takes several precautionary measures to ensure that the compensation claims filed are not fraudulent. Why is the company carefully monitoring all procedures?

A) Employers monitor claims in order to avoid being fined by the OSHA during audits.
B) False workers' compensation claims can cost employers billions of dollars annually.
C) Employers have to document all claims and report the expenditure to OSHA annually.
D) Employers have to document all claims and report the expenditure to the respective state governments annually.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Indirect costs associated with accidents in a workplace include:

A) safety fines.
B) cost of training substitutes.
C) damage to work equipment.
D) compensation costs.

Question 5

Employers should have at least _____ to be covered by the OSHA.

A) one employee
B) ten employees
C) five employees
D) twenty employees

Question 6

The purpose of a material safety data sheet (MSDS) is to:

A) track the amount of chemicals or such hazardous materials that are used on the job.
B) record information regarding the chemical composition of hazardous substances available to employees.
C) record cases where workers exposed to hazardous substances have been injured.
D) provide employees with antidotes to be taken if exposed to hazardous materials.

Question 7

An OSHA compliance inspector arrives at a meat processing unit and presents his credentials to the unit manager. The manager, however, refuses to allow the inspector to carry out the inspection process. Which of the following statements is true?

A) Refusing to allow an inspector to enter a factory is a crime for which the unit manager can be sued.
B) The unit manager has the right to appeal to the regional OSHA office and reschedule the inspection.
C) The OSHA inspector can enter the unit forcefully with the help of his officials.
D) The OSHA inspector must produce a search warrant to enter the unit.

Question 8

Who among the following is not covered under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970?

A) A farmer with eight employees working for him
B) A bakery with 50 employees working for it
C) A construction company with 100 employees working for it
D) A steel-manufacturing company with 2000 employees working for it

Question 9

Workplace standards are researched and developed by the:

A) OSHRC.
B) FLSA.
C) CDC.
D) NIOSH.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true of workers' compensation laws?

A) Employers across all industries are required to pay a standard amount as insurance premium.
B) Workers' compensation laws do not require employers to make payments for covering medical bills.
C) Employees who work from home are generally not covered under workers' compensation laws.
D) Under the workers' compensation laws, employers need to contribute to an insurance fund that compensates employees for injuries received while on the job.

Question 11

Alex, a graphic designer, suffers from a terrible headache while at work. He approaches the company nurse, who gives him aspirins. He gets back to work in an hour when his headache subsides. OSHA would categorize Alex's illness as a(n):

A) lost-time injury.
B) medical care injury.
C) minor injury.
D) disability injury.

Question 12

Which of the following is an immeasurable cost associated with accidents in an organization?

A) Damage to work equipment
B) Reduced work group efficiency
C) Time lost because of faulty or offline equipment
D) Negative influence on employees' group morale

Question 13

_____ typically provide the funds necessary for workers' compensation in a privately-owned company.

A) Employers
B) Employees
C) Federal government agents
D) State governments

Question 14

Which of the following is considered a safe job for workers under the age of 18 years?

A) Roofing operations
B) Cab driving
C) Newspaper delivery
D) Excavation operations

Question 15

In the context of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which of the following statements is true about medical-related information?

A) It should be maintained separately from all other confidential files, with restricted access and security provisions.
B) It should be given to the employee and no copies should be made or kept by the employer.
C) It should be used only by the safety committee when deciding what accommodations can be made for an affected employee.
D) It should be filed with all other confidential information about an employee, with access restricted to the employee and certain company officials.

Question 16

As part of PSM standards, hazard communication standards require employers who use hazardous chemicals to:

A) limit the amount of time an employee can work with chemicals.
B) provide information about hazardous substances to employees.
C) provide supplemental medical insurance for employees working with chemicals.
D) allow employees to opt out of jobs using chemicals in exchange for other duties.

Question 17

Child labor laws, found in section XII of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), set the minimum age for most employment at _____ years.

A) 14
B) 15
C) 16
D) 17

Question 18

The purpose of OSHA's "lockout/tag-out regulations" is to:

A) prevent the accidental start-up of defective machinery during repair or adjustment.
B) deny unauthorized individuals access to the workplace or factory machiner.
C) ensure that hazardous substances are kept under lock and key when not being used.
D) close down a workplace judged unsafe by an OSHA inspector.

Question 19

_____ is the study and design of the work environment to address the physiological and physical demands on individuals.

A) Occupational therapy
B) Phrenology
C) Ergonomics
D) Industrial physiology

Question 20

The workers at a construction site are refusing to work saying that the scaffolding on which they have been working is unsafe and that their management has been avoiding their requests for a safer work environment. Is their refusal to work justified?

A) Yes, because according to the OSHA, workers have the right to refuse to work if their fear is objectively reasonable
B) Yes, because the refusal to work can be considered as a legitimate and legal slow-down strike
C) No, because the workers have to abide by their employment contract, failing which, they can be legally sued
D) No, because refusal to work is justified only when sufficient proof has been submitted to the OSHA regarding lack of safety

Question 21

Which of the following guidelines has been cited by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for companies, when managing drug testing in the workplace?

A) The employees should be informed about a drug testing program 5 days before its implementation.
B) Lab results should be shared with other employees so that they would be aware of the consequences of using drugs.
C) Personnel decisions should be strictly based on the initial test results as they are considered the most accurate.
D) Drug- and alcohol-related problems should not be discussed without the presence of a witness.

Question 22

An employer may be in violation of the National Labor Relations Act if:

A) the company has joint management/employee safety committees.
B) employees are involved in whistle-blowing activities.
C) managers compose a majority on the committee.
D) the company is not located in a state mandating safety committees.

Question 23

ReNaPro Inc., a multinational marketing agency, offers a curriculum in health education for its employees. It provides health promotions on a regular basis and offers incentives to employees for joining the company's wellness and fitness programs. The company's health insurance also pays for smoking cessation and substance abuse services. ReNaPro is:

A) engaged in health promotion at the highest level of organizational commitment.
B) violating the ADA by indirectly forcing employees to join wellness programs.
C) violating the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.
D) working to curb cumulative trauma disorders.

Question 24

Identify the true statement about workplace violence.

A) Domestic violence can harm work attitudes and put the well-being of employees in jeopardy.
B) High self-esteem is regarded as a characteristic of a potentially violent employee.
C) Incivility is considered a serious crime against which formal action is to be taken.
D) Bullying in workplace typically escalates into incivility.

Question 25

Which of the following is typically a characteristic of potentially violent employees?

A) Tendency to be the centre of attention
B) Interest in several activities rather than treating work as a sole major activity
C) Absence of any strain or distress
D) Involvement in telephone harassment

Question 26

Most fitness-for-duty test failures are because of:

A) fatigue and illness.
B) the use of illegal drugs.
C) alcohol abuse.
D) the use of prescribed drugs.

Question 27

Who among the following is considered disabled under the ADA?

A) A person addicted to prescription drugs
B) A person addicted to an illegal drug
C) A person who is prone to developing an addiction to alcohol
D) A person who is prone to developing an addiction to illegal drugs

Question 28

According to OSHA, having loose ropes in a work area that could impact employees' health or safety but probably would not cause death or much harm is a(n) _____ violation.

A) serious
B) imminent danger
C) other than serious
D) de minimis

Question 29

The ____ approach to safety management focuses on designing jobs, developing and implementing safety policies, and using safety committees.

A) engineering
B) systems
C) organizational
D) individual

Question 30

Which of the following statements is true of workplace violence?

A) A domestic is a violent person who has a legitimate relationship with a business and has a personal relationship with a victim.
B) High self-esteem is regarded as a characteristic of a potentially violent employee.
C) Incivility is considered a serious crime against which formal action is to be taken.
D) Bullying can result in damage to an organization due to increased employee turnover.

Question 31

Which of the following acts would be violated if a majority of the members of a safety committee is composed of managers?

A) The Occupational Safety and Health Act
B) The Wagner Act
C) The Americans with Disabilities Act
D) The Family and Medical Leave Act

Question 32

Which of the following statements is true of the Americans with Disabilities Act?

A) Those addicted to legal prescription drugs are not considered disabled.
B) Recovering substance abusers are considered disabled.
C) Illegal drug users are considered disabled.
D) Addiction to alcohol is not considered a disability.

Question 33

Jim, a construction employee, is seriously injured when a ladder falls on him while at his work site. The safety committee of the company arrives at the work site to investigate the accident. Which of the following should the safety committee do first?

A) Interview Jim if he is conscious.
B) Review the scene of the accident.
C) Prepare a report on the incident.
D) Locate and interview witnesses to the accident.

Question 34

Who among the following is considered disabled under the ADA?

A) A person addicted to alcohol
B) A person addicted to an illegal drug
C) A person who is prone to developing an addiction to nicotine
D) A person who is prone to developing an addiction to illegal drugs

Question 35

A de minimis OSHA violation:

A) typically carries a jail term of six months.
B) does not require the OSHA compliance officer to issue a citation.
C) involves conditions that could directly impact an employee's health or safety.
D) involves injuries that forces an employee to miss more than a day's work.

Question 36

While reviewing the safety statistics of his company, Gerard, a newly appointed HR manager, notices that the number of slip and fall accidents on the company floor has increased by more than 20 percent over the last year. Which of the following should Gerard do first?

A) Train the employees to effectively follow all safety rules.
B) File a complaint against the floor manager for not properly enforcing safety rules.
C) Investigate the likely causes for the increase in the slip and fall accidents.
D) Recommend changes that could reduce the number of accidents to the floor manager.

Question 37

Which of the following responsibilities related to health, safety, and security issues is typically handled by an operating manager in an organization?

A) Investigating accidents
B) Providing technical expertise on accident prevention
C) Assisting with disaster planning efforts
D) Designing employee identification systems

Question 38

Which of the following is typically a part of the organizational approach to safety management?

A) Applying ergonomic principles
B) Implementing safety policies
C) Designing work settings and equipment
D) Providing employee safety training

Question 39

Why are obese employees considered more expensive by firms than nonobese employees?

A) They are more accident-prone that nonobese employees.
B) They generally score less in intelligence and competency tests.
C) Obese employees have more health issues.
D) Obese employees are typically incompetent at work.

Question 40

Sam, a product development manager, and his team are in the process of designing ergonomic desks that would help the employees in their organization work effectively without any discomfort or physical ailments. Which of the following approaches is being used by Sam's organization for safety management?

A) The systems approach
B) The engineering approach
C) The organizational approach
D) The individual approach

Question 41

During disaster planning, organizational assessment includes the:

A) development of a disaster recovery plan.
B) creation of backup databases for storing employee contact details.
C) development of training modules in consultation with disaster experts.
D) creation of simulations for employees and managers.

Question 42

Julie, a legal assistant in a company, injures her back while lifting a box of trial documents onto her desk when working from home. Julie can depend on her company's workers' compensation coverage for treating her injury.

Question 43

Self-employed people are less willing to work in dangerous circumstances, and therefore they are less vulnerable to illnesses, injuries, and death.

Question 44

The provision of light-duty work to disabled people is an attempt by the ADA to increase the rate of employment among the disabled in the United States.

Question 45

Individuals of any age can work for a business that is owned and operated by their parents, except in the case of manufacturing or mining jobs.

Question 46

Medium-sized companies have the highest reported rates of workplace injuries and illnesses.

Question 47

The fear of losing needed contracts is one of the factors that explains instances of underreporting of illnesses and injuries by organizations.

Question 48

Which of the following is typically a characteristic of potentially violent employees?

A) Tendency to be the centre of attention
B) Interest in several activities rather than treating work as a sole major activity
C) Absence of any strain or distress
D) Tendency to hold obsessive grudges

Question 49

A security audit is also referred to as a(n) _____.

A) vulnerability analysis
B) risk analysis
C) independent review
D) risk assessment

Question 50

Sam, an HR manager, is asked to deal with a violent employee who is threatening her supervisor for not giving him an increment. Which of the following should Sam avoid while talking to the employee?

A) Remaining calm and neutral during the conversation
B) Getting assistance from external security personnel or people outside the organization
C) Asking questions that do not require detailed explanations
D) Indicating the need for time to respond and setting up another time for follow-up

Question 51

Under workers' compensation laws, employers transfer a portion of employees' basic compensation to an insurance fund that would compensate employees for injuries received while on a job.

Question 52

Federal child labor laws have set the minimum age as 21 for all hazardous occupations.

Question 53

A security audit typically begins with:

A) a discussion with selected employees in an organization.
B) a background check of all the security personnel of a company.
C) a review of the disaster plans of a company.
D) a survey of the area around a company.

Question 54

Which of the following is a part of security audits?

A) Identification of mentally-ill employees
B) Identification of the whistle-blowers in a company
C) Validation of employee screening and selection
D) Review of disaster plans of an organization

Question 55

Concerns regarding pandemic diseases have led OSHA establish special guidelines for the poultry production industry because:

A) of the high rate of violence among the workers.
B) of the number of employees working in this industry.
C) of the high vulnerability of the employees of this industry.
D) of this industry's contribution to the import business.

Question 56

You are conducting a training session on security management for a group of senior employees. Which of the following suggestions would you provide while explaining to them the strategies for effectively dealing with potentially violent employees?

A) Get assistance from others, perhaps a manager not directly affected by the situation being discussed.
B) Respond to them strongly using aggressive keywords so as to indirectly demonstrate a position of power.
C) Avoid notifying security personnel as this might provoke violent reactions and worsen the situation.
D) Avoid asking questions that require long answers or explanations as this might irritate or intimidate them.

Question 57

Which of the following statements is true of disaster planning?

A) Conducting simulations is a mandatory part of organizational assessment in disaster planning.
B) Disaster training is usually conducted by the OSHA's compliance inspectors.
C) Having backup databases is a key consideration of human impact planning.
D) Terrorism is generally not considered in disaster plans since it is not a natural calamity.

Question 58

Which of the following guidelines should be followed when dealing with potentially violent employees?

A) Indicate the need for time to respond to the concerns voiced, and then set up another time for follow-up.
B) Respond to them strongly using aggressive keywords so as to indirectly demonstrate a position of power.
C) Avoid notifying security personnel as this might provoke violent reactions and worsen the situation.
D) Avoid asking questions that require long answers or explanations as this might irritate or intimidate them.

Question 59

The degree to which workers engage in work-related risks is a significant factor affecting injuries and safety practices for younger workers.

Question 60

Direct costs associated with accidents typically constitute almost 95% of the total costs to an organization.

Question 61

OSHA rules and standards are frequently complicated and technical, which makes it difficult for managers who do not have specialists on their staffs to read and understand the rules.

Question 62

The OSHA has banned smoking in workplaces all over the U.S.

Question 63

The OSHA provides guidelines to companies that help them continue operations with a depleted workforce.

Question 64

The individual approach to safety is based on the assumption that if work settings and equipment are designed well, the number of accidents in a company can be brought down.

Question 65

A construction worker is killed when the scaffolding he was standing on breaks and falls. The company he works for has violated safety rules several times before and therefore, the site manager can be arrested and imprisoned for six months for the crime.

Question 66

A serious drawback of most drug tests is that they show impairment of abilities even when the impairment is caused by fatigue or illness and not substance abuse.

Question 67

If an OSHA compliance officer finds a condition of imminent danger in a workplace, the officer may get a federal court injunction to close the company untill the condition is rectified.

Question 68

Recovering substance abusers are not considered disabled under the ADA.

Question 69

Ergonomics typically reduces economic for employers.

Question 70

The last phase of accident investigation involves preparing a report on the accident.

Question 71

The Occupational Safety and Health Act provides for on-the-spot inspections by OSHA representatives

Question 72

Cumulative trauma disorders are psychological issues that workers face due to repetitively performing the same task for years.

Question 73

Companies where employees are regularly exposed to blood and similar substances must have written control and response plans to train workers.

Question 74

The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) has been established to address disputes between OSHA and employers that have been cited by OSHA inspectors.

Question 75

OSHA mandates that in chemical industries, MSDSs be made available ony to the management.

Question 76

It is the primarily the duty of the HR unit in a company to implement disaster and recovery plans.

Question 77

If employees are provided safety training in English by a construction company despite knowing that some of the employees do not understand English, and one such employee is injured while on the job, the company is guilty of violating the OSHA.

Question 78

Emotional illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression are considered disabilities under the ADA.

Question 79

According to the Civil Rights Act and Pregnancy Discrimination Act, employers should not prevent people from working in hazardous jobs because of reproductive concerns.

Question 80

Often the difference between high-performing firms with good occupational safety records and other firms is that the former have effective safety management programs.