CSLB General Building (B) — All Questions
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What year was the Occupational Safety and Health Act signed into law, creating OSHA?
- a.1970✓
- b.1965
- c.1980
- d.1955
The Occupational Safety and Health Act was signed into law in 1970 and OSHA began operating in 1971. Its purpose is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for workers. It also established the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Under the OSHA Act's General Duty Clause, what is an employer primarily required to provide?
- a.Free health insurance to all employees
- b.A workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious harm✓
- c.A guaranteed minimum wage above federal levels
- d.Paid time off after any workplace injury
The General Duty Clause requires employers to furnish a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. It applies when no specific OSHA standard covers a particular hazard. Employers must take reasonable steps to identify and correct such hazards.
Which of the following is a right guaranteed to workers under OSHA?
- a.The right to ignore safety training if experienced
- b.The right to set their own permissible exposure limits
- c.The right to receive information and training about hazards✓
- d.The right to skip using required PPE
Workers have the right to receive information and training about workplace hazards in a language they understand. They may also review records of work-related injuries and file confidential complaints. These rights help ensure workers can participate in maintaining a safe workplace.
By what date must an employer correct a hazard after an OSHA citation?
- a.Only if the worker sues
- b.There is no deadline
- c.Within exactly 24 hours in all cases
- d.By the abatement date set in the citation✓
A citation specifies an abatement date, which is the deadline by which the employer must correct the hazard. Employers must also post the citation near the location of the violation. Failure to abate by the deadline can result in additional penalties.
What form is generally used to record work-related injuries and illnesses in the OSHA recordkeeping system?
- a.IRS Form W-2
- b.OSHA Form 10
- c.Form I-9
- d.OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses)✓
The OSHA Form 300 is the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses used by covered employers to record recordable incidents. The Form 300A summary must be posted annually, and Form 301 records details of each incident. These records help identify hazard trends.
Which situation must an employer report to OSHA within 8 hours?
- a.Any first-aid case
- b.A near-miss with no injury
- c.A work-related fatality✓
- d.An employee arriving late
Employers must report a work-related fatality to OSHA within 8 hours of learning of it. In-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye must be reported within 24 hours. Prompt reporting allows OSHA to investigate serious incidents.
Can an employer legally retaliate against a worker for filing an OSHA complaint?
- a.Yes, if the complaint is dismissed
- b.No, retaliation is prohibited by law✓
- c.Yes, during the probationary period
- d.Only with written notice
Section 11(c) of the OSH Act prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who exercise their safety and health rights, such as filing a complaint. Prohibited retaliation includes firing, demotion, or reduced hours. Workers who face retaliation can file a complaint with OSHA.
What is the difference between a 'programmed' and an 'unprogrammed' OSHA inspection?
- a.Programmed inspections target high-hazard industries; unprogrammed follow complaints or incidents✓
- b.Programmed inspections are random lottery draws
- c.Unprogrammed inspections only occur at night
- d.There is no difference between them
Programmed inspections are planned and target industries or workplaces with high injury rates or specific hazards. Unprogrammed inspections respond to events such as complaints, referrals, fatalities, or catastrophes. Both types follow the same general inspection procedures.
During an OSHA inspection, what is the typical first step after the compliance officer arrives?
- a.An opening conference to explain the inspection's purpose✓
- b.Immediate issuance of penalties
- c.A mandatory shutdown of all operations
- d.Interviewing customers
An OSHA inspection typically begins with an opening conference where the compliance officer explains why the workplace was selected and the scope of the inspection. This is followed by a walkaround and a closing conference. Employer and employee representatives may accompany the walkaround.
Which of the following best describes a 'willful' OSHA violation?
- a.A minor paperwork error
- b.A violation committed with intentional disregard or plain indifference to the law✓
- c.A hazard the employer did not know about
- d.A first-time recordkeeping mistake
A willful violation is one the employer commits with intentional knowledge or plain indifference to OSHA requirements. Willful violations carry the highest penalties and can lead to criminal charges if they result in a worker's death. They reflect a conscious disregard for safety obligations.
Who is responsible for providing required personal protective equipment (PPE) in most cases?
- a.The worker, purchased personally
- b.The equipment manufacturer directly
- c.The employer, generally at no cost to the worker✓
- d.OSHA inspectors
Employers are generally required to provide required PPE at no cost to employees, with limited exceptions such as ordinary safety-toe footwear allowed to be worn off-site. Employers must also ensure PPE is properly maintained and that workers are trained in its use. This helps remove cost as a barrier to protection.
What is the purpose of the OSHA 'It's the Law' poster that employers must display?
- a.To advertise the company
- b.To list employee salaries
- c.To post the daily schedule
- d.To inform workers of their rights and how to file a complaint✓
The OSHA 'Job Safety and Health: It's the Law' poster informs workers of their rights and employer responsibilities under the OSH Act. It must be displayed in a conspicuous location where workers can see it. It also explains how to contact OSHA and file complaints.
How long must most OSHA injury and illness records generally be retained?
- a.30 days
- b.6 months
- c.Indefinitely with no limit
- d.5 years following the end of the calendar year they cover✓
OSHA 300 Logs, annual summaries, and incident reports must generally be retained for five years following the end of the calendar year those records cover. Employers must update the logs if new information about a recorded case emerges. Certain exposure and medical records must be kept far longer.
Which agency conducts research and makes recommendations to prevent workplace injury and illness?
- a.The FBI
- b.The FCC
- c.NIOSH✓
- d.The SEC
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injury and illness. Unlike OSHA, NIOSH is a research agency and does not issue or enforce regulations. It is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What is a State Plan under OSHA?
- a.A plan to eliminate all state taxes
- b.A state-run safety program that must be at least as effective as federal OSHA✓
- c.A federal budget document
- d.A voluntary insurance policy
A State Plan is an OSHA-approved workplace safety and health program operated by a state or territory. These plans must be at least as effective as the federal OSHA program and may cover public-sector workers. About half the states operate their own approved plans.
If a worker believes conditions are unsafe, what should generally be their FIRST step?
- a.Notify the employer or supervisor about the hazard✓
- b.Immediately quit the job
- c.Contact the local news
- d.Ignore it and continue working
Workers are generally encouraged to first notify their employer or supervisor about a hazard so it can be corrected. If the employer does not fix the problem, the worker may file a complaint with OSHA. Reporting internally often resolves issues most quickly.
Under OSHA, when may a worker refuse to perform a task?
- a.When there is a reasonable belief of imminent danger and no time to correct it through normal channels✓
- b.Any time they simply do not want to work
- c.Whenever the weather is bad
- d.Only with a doctor's note
A worker may refuse a task when they have a reasonable, good-faith belief of an imminent danger of death or serious injury, the employer has not corrected it, and there is no time to eliminate the danger through regular enforcement channels. The worker should ask the employer to correct the hazard first. This right is narrowly defined and not a general refusal privilege.
What is the primary goal of an effective safety and health program under OSHA guidelines?
- a.To reduce paperwork only
- b.To find and fix hazards before they cause injury or illness✓
- c.To increase production speed
- d.To lower employee wages
The primary goal of a safety and health program is to proactively find and fix workplace hazards before they cause harm. Core elements include management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification, and training. Such programs reduce injuries, illnesses, and related costs.