Health and Safety Technician cheat sheet
Health and Safety Technician · Keep the key ideas within reach.
CHST Content Area 1: Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Control
Hierarchy of controls, most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment (PPE).
Risk = probability of harm × severity of harm. Risk assessment ranks hazards so controls go first to the highest risk, not the most convenient hazard.
Hazard categories to screen every task for: chemical, physical, biological, ergonomic, safety/mechanical, and psychosocial/organizational.
Exposure limits: OSHA PELs are legally enforceable; NIOSH RELs and ACGIH TLVs are recommended and often lower. When they conflict, the PEL is the legal floor, the lower value is the better practice target.
Permissible exposure limits are 8-hour time-weighted averages unless marked as ceiling or short-term exposure limit (STEL). A ceiling limit is never to be exceeded for any duration.
For a TWA: TWA = (C1T1 + C2T2 + ... + CnTn) / 8 hours, where C is concentration and T is time in hours. Compare the result to the 8-hour PEL.
Noise: OSHA action level is 85 dBA as an 8-hour TWA; hearing conservation program is required at or above 85 dBA, and hearing protection is required at or above 90 dBA TWA.
Noise dose rule: an exposure of 90 dBA for 8 hours equals a 100% dose. Each 5 dBA increase halves the allowable exposure time under OSHA's 5 dB exchange rate.
Hazard control verification: confirm engineering controls are functioning (ventilation airflow, guards, interlocks), then confirm administrative controls (procedures, training, rotation), then PPE fit and condition.
CHST Content Area 1 (continued): Program Elements, Inspections, and Incident Investigation
Written hazard communication program requires: inventory of hazardous chemicals, safety data sheets (SDS) accessible to workers, labels and warnings, and training on hazards and protections.
SDS format is the 16-section ANSI/GHS layout; Section 8 gives exposure controls and personal protection, Section 2 gives hazard identification.
Lockout/tagout applies to servicing and maintenance where unexpected energization or release of stored energy could injure. Verify zero energy state before work; only the authorized employee removes their own lock.
Incident investigation root-cause hierarchy: immediate cause (unsafe act/condition) → contributing cause (procedure, design, training gap) → root cause (management system failure). Corrective actions target root causes.
Inspection findings should be tracked to closure with an owner, due date, and verification of effectiveness, not just a completed checkbox.
Recordkeeping: OSHA 300 log records work-related injuries and illnesses meeting recording criteria; 300A summary is posted February 1 to April 30; retain logs 5 years.
Fatality reporting: work-related fatalities must be reported to OSHA within 8 hours; in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and eye losses within 24 hours.
Personal protective equipment hazard assessment: employers must certify a written assessment identifying hazards and PPE selected for each affected job.
Emergency action plan minimum elements: escape procedures and routes, procedures for critical operations, accounting for employees, rescue duties, alarm system, and training.