Midterm Test Bank Questions

Given that injuries and illnesses stem from what workers "do" on the job, why is OH&S not managed by the production/operations function? a. Safety is primarily a labour relations issue. b. Safety requires compliance with labour law. c. Safety is an educational issue. d. Safety is a cost issue.

B

When reporting workplace injuries, the employer report is designed to collect all the following information EXCEPT? a. the nature of the employment relationship b. the compensation the employee expects to receive c. the nature of the incident and injury d. the extent of time loss and medical treatment

B

Which of the following is NOT an example of an engineering control? a. lighting b. noise-cancelling hearing protection c. exhaust fans d. a better-designed screwdriver

B

If workers are at risk of heat-related disorders, what are employers required to do? a. conduct a heat stress assessment b. adjust work-rest schedules to reduce exposure c. send everyone home if the workplace is too hot d. a and b

D

According to the text, what was the primary reason that supervisors on construction sites underestimated health and safety risks? a. They could not recognize unsafe conditions. b. They believed that risks were unavoidable. c. They had not experienced any recent accidents. d. They were obsessed with meeting deadlines.

A

The Workers' Compensation Act retains which of the following principles? a. It provides collective liability for employers. b. It provides workers with compensation depending on the financial condition of the employer. c. It is a system that allows for recourse to the courts. d. It provides compensation based on organizational earnings.

A

According to the text, hazard identification includes which of the following factors? a. mechanical risk, situational, and environmental b. risk, human, situational, and environmental c. ergonomic, human, situational, and environmental d. ergonomic, human, situational, and mechanical

C

What HRM practice would support an enforcement solution to health and safety? a. compensation b. orientation and training c. performance management d. job analysis and job design

C

True/ False: Continued improvement to health and safety legislation has resulted in the decline of workplace fatalities.

False

True/ False: Due diligence ensures that organizations can avoid all foreseeable accidents.

False

True/ False: In an OH&S program the step after recognition of hazards is hazard control.

False

Research has found that there is a negative relationship between job insecurity and safety, and between performance-based pay and safety. Explain why job insecurity and performance-based pay programs can override safety training.

Job insecurity means fear of losing one's job (e.g. layoffs, downsizing)—commitment to safety may decrease because workers believe the organization no longer cares about them, or because they are just focused on getting their work done in order to improve their chances of keeping their job. Performance-based pay means reaching targets/goals to get rewards—such programs can switch the focus away from safety—workers will do whatever it takes to earn the reward.

True/ False: WHMIS is based on the workers' fundamental right to know about potential hazards in the workplace.

True

Name the three principal rights provide the basis for much of the health and safety legislature in Canada.

a) The right to refuse dangerous work without penalty. b) The right to participate in identifying and correcting health and safety problems. c) The right to know about hazards in the workplace.

All of the following are regulations and responsibilities of WCBs EXCEPT? a. The injured worker will receive payment while off work and will have all medical bills paid if the injury happened at work and because of work. b. The injured worker will receive a pension if the disability is, or becomes, permanent. c. The injured worker will receive benefits only if he or she cannot earn the same amount of money earned prior to the incident. d. The injured worker will receive benefits if he or she is affected by an industrial disease.

c

What is a main social goal of workers' compensation? a. to provide services intended to prevent injuries b. to focus on paying a worker for his or her losses c. to reduce the hardship of a work-related injury and the associated court costs d. to help families cope with an injured family member

A

Which of the following is an economic benefit of effective OH&S programs? a. a reduction in lost-time costs b. greater due diligence by employers c. workers look out for the safety of their coworkers d. improved health and safety provisions during collective bargaining

A

List four major stakeholders in OH&S.

Any of: • Health and safety professionals • Professional associations • Educators • Community associations • Organized labour • Employers • Employees • Government

Being an active member of a Joint Health and Safety Committee at work allows workers to satisfy which one of the principal OH&S employee rights? a. the right to refuse dangerous work without penalty b. the right to participate in identifying and correcting health and safety problems c. the right to know about hazards in the workplace d. the right to refuse wearing safety equipment that is uncomfortable

B

WCB works under which of the following system of compensation? a. Industries are classified according to their number of employees regardless of how much the organization makes in revenue. b. Is a system based on compulsory and collective liability. c. Each employer is liable for assessment irrespective of the cost of injuries sustained by its workers. d. Is a system based on compulsory and individual liability.

B

WHMIS legislation applies to which type of workplace hazards? (A) biological hazards (B) chemical hazards (C) psychological hazards (D) physical hazards

B

What are sensitizers? a. chemicals that can cause damage to the nerves in the body b. chemical or biological agents that cause the body's immune system to respond abnormally by producing antibodies c. agents that can create defects in a developing fetus d. agents that cause or promote the formation of cancers

B

What do WCB benefits include? a. health care-related costs up to a maximum amount b. lost time wages and possible pension c. Ministry of Labour orders d. re-training for a job selected by the WCB

B

What is the PRIMARY function of the joint health and safety committee? (A) to communicate with the Ministry of Labour (B) to provide a nonadversarial opportunity for labour and management to work together to create a safer workplace (C) to conduct OH&S meetings (D) to ensure that safety messages are communicated

B

What is the first step in all risk assessments? a. choosing a qualitative approach b. the identification of hazards c. choosing a quantitative approach d. conducting the risk assessment

B

What mechanism has been found to be the most influential in terms of health and safety in the workplace? a. inspection by the Ministry of Labour b. the internal responsibility system c. fines and penalties d. industry self-regulation

B

If XL Foods in Alberta claims that it did everything it could to make sure its own employees were protected from risks due to tainted meat, on what legal defense are they relying? a. due process b. internal responsibility c. due diligence d. assumption of risk

C

In which three ways can noise affect humans? a. cognitively, sensorineurally, and sociologically b. sociologically, psychologically, and sensorineurally c. through physiological damage, physiological effects, and psychological effects d. physiologically, sociologically, and cognitively

C

What are the two basic types of physiological damage that can create hearing loss? a. conductive and permanent b. sensorineural and nerve deafness c. conductive and sensorineural d. irreversible and conductive

C

What does RAC stand for? a. risk, awareness, and control b. risk, assessment, and control c. recognition, assessment, and control d. recognition, assessment, and contact

C

What is the first step towards a healthier and safer workplace? a. safety training b. assessing hazards c. recognizing hazards d. controlling hazards

C

What is the main reason why the costs of workplace injuries may be higher than $12 billion per year? a. deaths may have been attributed to other causes b. injured workers buy some of their own medical supplies c. a large number of injuries go unreported d. rehabilitation takes a long time

C

What is the purposed of the WCB experience rating system? a. to provide protection from lawsuits b. to offer an incentive to employees to get back to work faster c. to offer an incentive to employers to reduce injuries d. a and b

C

Which of the following are examples of unsafe acts? a. improper illumination b. poor design c. improper use of personal protective equipment d. defective equipment

C

Which of the following is NOT an employer general duty? (A) appoint a competent supervisor (B) prepare policies regarding workplace violence and workplace harassment (C) appoint a Board of Directors (D) inform supervisors and workers of possible hazards

C

In OH&S terminology, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by members of Canada's military as a result of events during their tour of duty would be classified as what? a. a hazard b. an injury c. an agent d. an illness

D

The factors influencing the HR professionals decision in determining the type of hazard identification program include all of the following EXCEPT which one? a. source of the request for information b. costs associated with the program c. nature of the hazards d. WSIB/WCB policy communications

D

The human hearing response is conditional on which of the following three characteristics? a. duration, standards, and loudness b. loudness, duration, and level c. frequency, standards, and level d. frequency, duration, and loudness

D

What are the two essential limitations on the right to refuse unsafe work outlined in OH&S Acts across Canada? (A) There are no limits on the right to refuse unsafe work in Canadian jurisdictions. (B) The worker has previously performed the task, or the refusal would place another person's safety in jeopardy. (C) The employee works in a declared profession such as policing, or the refusal would place another person's safety in jeopardy. (D) The task in question is a normal condition of employment, or the refusal would place another person's safety in jeopardy.

D

What is an example of repetitive strain disorder? a. Raynauds syndrome b. tinnitus c. sprain d. abrasive injury

D

Which of the following is an example of an employer's responsibility under OH&S legislation? a. providing financial support for injured workers b. cleaning up the workplace before an inspection c. conducting research on health and safety issues d. preparing a written occupational health and safety policy

D

Which of the following is an example of process modification? a. machine guarding b. illumination c. heat stress testing d. preventative maintenance

D

Which one is NOT a health effect of whole body vibration? a. inhibition of muscular reflexes b. sore joints c. blurred vision d. shortness of breath

D

Give examples of direct and indirect costs of worker injuries.

Direct costs • Worker's lost time • Investigation time • Finding/training replacement worker • Increased WCB premiums Indirect costs • Potential increase in WCB assessment • Potential fines and legal costs • Family impact/stress • Pain and suffering for long-term effects of injury • Work stoppages/strikes/employee stress • Negative publicity