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DOSHS Safety Committee Exam study materials
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DOSHS Safety Committee Exam practice questions

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Question 1Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Under the Factories and Other Places of Work Act, which body is legally required to be established in a factory that employs the prescribed number of workers or more?

  1. A fire inspection unit
  2. A medical examination panel
  3. A trade union welfare board
  4. A safety and health committee Correct answer.

Explanation

The Act requires a safety and health committee to be established in factories and other places of work that meet the prescribed threshold of workers. The committee is the statutory mechanism for worker and employer representatives to jointly address workplace safety and health. The other bodies listed are not created by this statutory duty.

Question 2Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which group of persons is entitled to be represented on a workplace safety and health committee?

  1. Only management staff appointed by the occupier
  2. Only employees who hold first-aid certificates
  3. Only external government inspectors
  4. Both employer and worker representatives Correct answer.

Explanation

A safety and health committee is a joint body, so it must include representatives of both the employer and the workers. This bipartite structure is what allows the committee to address hazards from both operational and worker perspectives. Restricting membership to one side would defeat the purpose of joint consultation.

Question 3Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

What is the primary statutory function of a workplace safety and health committee?

  1. To advise on and monitor measures for safety and health at the workplace Correct answer.
  2. To negotiate wages and working conditions
  3. To discipline workers who breach safety rules
  4. To certify the structural integrity of buildings

Explanation

The committee's core function is to advise the employer on safety and health measures and to monitor their implementation. It acts as a consultative and monitoring body rather than an enforcement or disciplinary authority. Its role is directed specifically at workplace safety and health matters.

Question 4Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

How often should a safety and health committee ordinarily hold its meetings to remain effective and compliant with good practice?

  1. Only after a serious accident occurs
  2. Only once at the time of establishment
  3. Every five years at licence renewal
  4. At regular intervals, typically at least quarterly Correct answer.

Explanation

Good practice and regulatory guidance expect the committee to meet at regular intervals, commonly at least quarterly, so that hazards are reviewed continuously. Meeting only reactively or once would leave risks unmonitored between events. Regular meetings also allow follow-up on previous recommendations.

Question 5Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Who is responsible for ensuring that recommendations made by the safety and health committee are acted upon?

  1. The committee secretary personally
  2. The workers' representative alone
  3. The external auditor
  4. The employer or occupier Correct answer.

Explanation

The employer or occupier holds the legal duty to ensure workplace safety and health, so the duty to act on committee recommendations rests with that party. The committee advises and monitors, but it does not itself carry the legal obligation to implement controls. This division keeps accountability with the person in control of the workplace.

Question 6Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A newly registered factory with 60 employees is being set up. Which action best reflects compliance with the statutory duty to form a safety and health committee?

  1. Rely on the factory's insurance policy in place of a committee
  2. Wait until the first accident before forming the committee
  3. Form the committee once the workforce reaches the prescribed threshold and record its establishment Correct answer.
  4. Delegate committee formation to the external security contractor

Explanation

The duty to establish a committee arises once the workplace meets the prescribed threshold of workers, so formation should occur at that point and be documented. Waiting for an accident defeats the preventive purpose of the law. Documentation also provides evidence of compliance during inspection.

Question 7Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which document most directly provides evidence that a safety and health committee is functioning as required?

  1. Minutes of committee meetings and a record of actions taken Correct answer.
  2. The factory's product catalogue
  3. The company's marketing brochure
  4. The employees' salary schedule

Explanation

Meeting minutes and action records demonstrate that the committee meets, discusses hazards, and follows up on recommendations. These records are the standard evidence inspectors seek when verifying that the committee is active. Other commercial documents say nothing about committee activity.

Question 8Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which of the following best describes the legal status of a safety and health committee's decisions?

  1. They are legally binding court orders
  2. They automatically amend the Act
  3. They override the occupier's statutory duties
  4. They are advisory recommendations to the employer Correct answer.

Explanation

Committee decisions take the form of recommendations and advice to the employer, who remains legally responsible for safety and health. The committee does not issue binding orders or change legislation. Its influence comes from consultation and monitoring rather than legal coercion.

Question 9Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A committee member identifies that machine guarding on a production line has been removed. What is the most appropriate immediate committee action?

  1. Ask workers to sign a waiver accepting the risk
  2. Ignore it because guarding is a maintenance matter
  3. Wait for the next annual inspection to mention it
  4. Record the finding, raise it with the employer, and recommend interim controls until the guard is restored Correct answer.

Explanation

The committee should document the hazard, escalate it promptly to the employer, and recommend interim controls such as restricting access until guarding is restored. Prompt escalation reflects the committee's monitoring and advisory role. Delaying action or relying on waivers leaves workers exposed to a serious hazard.

Question 10Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which practice best supports meaningful worker participation in a safety and health committee?

  1. Holding meetings only in a language most workers do not understand
  2. Selecting worker representatives without consulting the workforce
  3. Restricting worker representatives from raising agenda items
  4. Allowing worker representatives to be elected or selected by their peers Correct answer.

Explanation

Worker representatives carry more legitimacy and raise more relevant concerns when chosen by their peers. Genuine participation requires that workers have a voice in who represents them and what is discussed. Exclusionary or inaccessible practices undermine the committee's effectiveness.

Question 11Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

During a committee review, members note repeated near-misses on a loading bay but no recorded injuries. How should the committee interpret this pattern?

  1. As proof that the existing controls are fully effective
  2. As a warning sign requiring investigation and preventive action Correct answer.
  3. As a matter for the payroll department only
  4. As evidence that no action is needed because no injury occurred

Explanation

Near-misses are leading indicators of underlying hazards and should prompt investigation before an injury occurs. Treating the absence of injury as proof of safety ignores the risk that the same event could cause harm next time. The committee should recommend investigation and controls.

Question 12Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

What is the most appropriate way for the committee to prioritise competing safety recommendations when resources are limited?

  1. By the order in which issues were raised
  2. By the cost of the proposed control only
  3. By the level of risk, considering severity and likelihood of harm Correct answer.
  4. By seniority of the person raising the issue

Explanation

Risk-based prioritisation ensures that the most serious and likely hazards are addressed first, which aligns with the preventive aim of safety law. Severity and likelihood together give a defensible ranking. Seniority, chronology, or cost alone can leave high risks unaddressed.

Question 13Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which record should the committee maintain to demonstrate that identified hazards have been addressed over time?

  1. A hazard register with actions, responsible persons, and completion dates Correct answer.
  2. A copy of the company's advertising plan
  3. A list of employee birthdays
  4. A register of vehicle fuel purchases

Explanation

A hazard register tracking each hazard, the action taken, the responsible person, and the completion date provides a clear audit trail. It shows that the committee identified and followed up on risks. Unrelated administrative records do not evidence safety management.

Question 14Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A committee is reviewing a chemical store where labels are faded. Which recommendation best reflects the hierarchy of controls?

  1. Provide staff with a written warning to be careful
  2. Rely on workers' experience to identify chemicals
  3. Issue extra personal protective equipment only
  4. Replace the substance with a less hazardous alternative where reasonably practicable, and restore labelling Correct answer.

Explanation

The hierarchy of controls favours eliminating or substituting the hazard before relying on administrative measures or PPE. Replacing the substance where reasonably practicable addresses the hazard at source, and restoring labels is essential for safe handling. PPE and warnings are lower-order controls.

Question 15Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which of these best describes the committee's role in relation to accident investigations?

  1. To replace the official investigation entirely
  2. To participate in and review investigations and recommend preventive measures Correct answer.
  3. To set the compensation payable to injured workers
  4. To determine criminal liability of the employer

Explanation

The committee participates in reviewing accidents and recommends measures to prevent recurrence. It does not replace formal investigations, determine criminal liability, or set compensation. Its contribution is preventive and advisory.

Question 16Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A worker representative on the committee raises concerns about exposure to noise in a workshop. Which response best reflects the committee's advisory function?

  1. Tell the worker to buy personal earplugs
  2. Recommend a noise assessment and, where exposure is excessive, controls such as engineering measures and hearing protection Correct answer.
  3. Dismiss the concern because noise is a normal part of factory work
  4. Refer the matter to the trade union only

Explanation

The committee should recommend a noise assessment and, if exposure exceeds acceptable levels, controls following the hierarchy such as engineering measures and hearing protection. This reflects its advisory role in identifying and addressing occupational health hazards. Dismissing the concern or shifting responsibility to the worker is inappropriate.

Question 17Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

What is the most appropriate frequency and content for safety and health training that the committee should recommend for workers?

  1. A single induction session with no refresher
  2. Training only after an accident
  3. Induction plus periodic refresher training covering relevant hazards and controls Correct answer.
  4. Training only for managers

Explanation

Effective training begins at induction and is refreshed periodically to keep workers aware of hazards and controls as conditions change. Covering relevant hazards and controls makes training practical and useful. One-off or manager-only training leaves gaps in worker competence.

Question 18Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which of the following is the strongest indicator that a safety and health committee is genuinely effective rather than merely formal?

  1. It holds meetings and can show measurable reduction in hazards and incidents Correct answer.
  2. It meets in a large conference room
  3. It has a printed constitution
  4. It has a large membership list

Explanation

Effectiveness is shown by outcomes: regular meetings that lead to identified hazards being controlled and incidents reduced. Documentation and facilities support but do not prove effectiveness. Measurable improvement in safety performance is the clearest evidence.

Question 19Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A committee recommends installing local exhaust ventilation in a spray-painting area. Which category of control does this represent?

  1. Engineering control Correct answer.
  2. Personal protective equipment
  3. Administrative control
  4. Elimination

Explanation

Local exhaust ventilation is an engineering control because it removes the hazard at source through physical design. Engineering controls rank above administrative controls and PPE in the hierarchy. Elimination would mean removing the process or substance entirely.

Question 20Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

How should the committee handle a recommendation that the employer considers too costly to implement immediately?

  1. Abandon the recommendation permanently
  2. Transfer the risk to workers by issuing a disclaimer
  3. Conceal the risk from workers
  4. Document the risk, propose interim controls, and press for a time-bound plan Correct answer.

Explanation

Where a control cannot be implemented immediately, the committee should document the risk, recommend interim controls, and seek a time-bound implementation plan. This keeps the hazard visible and managed while the permanent control is arranged. Abandoning, concealing, or disclaiming the risk is unacceptable.

Question 21Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which statutory duty most directly underpins the need for a functioning safety and health committee in a workplace?

  1. The duty to maximise production output
  2. The duty to advertise job vacancies
  3. The general duty of the employer to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of workers Correct answer.
  4. The duty to pay taxes on time

Explanation

The employer's general duty to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of workers is the foundation for requiring a committee. The committee supports that duty through consultation and monitoring. Production, tax, and recruitment duties are unrelated to workplace safety obligations.

Question 22Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A committee is asked to review a proposed change to a production process. What is the most appropriate timing for its involvement?

  1. Only at the next annual general meeting
  2. Only after the change has been fully implemented
  3. Only if an accident occurs after the change
  4. Before the change is implemented, so risks can be assessed and controls built in Correct answer.

Explanation

Management of change requires that safety and health risks be assessed before a new process is introduced, allowing controls to be designed in. Early committee involvement prevents hazards from being built into the change. After-the-fact review is far less effective.

Question 23Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which combination best reflects the committee's dual role in law and practice?

  1. Enforcement of discipline and collection of fines
  2. Marketing of products and customer relations
  3. Consultation with the employer and monitoring of safety and health conditions Correct answer.
  4. Recruitment of staff and payroll administration

Explanation

The committee functions as a consultative body that advises the employer and a monitoring body that reviews safety and health conditions. Together these roles support continuous improvement in workplace safety. It has no disciplinary, payroll, or commercial functions.

Question 24Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A safety committee discovers that a serious hazard report was submitted three months ago but never acted upon. What is the most legally significant consequence of this failure?

  1. The report becomes automatically void after 30 days
  2. The employer may be in breach of the general duty to ensure safety, health, and welfare Correct answer.
  3. The hazard ceases to exist because it was not actioned
  4. The committee secretary becomes personally liable for all injuries

Explanation

Failure to act on a reported serious hazard can constitute a breach of the employer's general duty to ensure safety, health, and welfare. The report does not lapse, and the hazard does not disappear because it was ignored. Liability rests primarily with the employer rather than the secretary personally.

Question 25Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employer wishes to dissolve a functioning safety and health committee to reduce administrative costs. Which statement best reflects the legal position?

  1. The employer cannot dissolve a committee required by law while the workplace remains within the prescribed scope Correct answer.
  2. The committee can only be dissolved by a worker ballot
  3. Dissolution is permitted if the employer notifies the trade union
  4. The employer may dissolve it freely because committees are voluntary

Explanation

Where the law requires a committee because the workplace falls within the prescribed scope, the employer cannot simply dissolve it to save costs. The statutory duty continues as long as the workplace remains within that scope. Cost reduction is not a lawful basis for removing a mandatory committee.

Question 26Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Under Kenya's Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007, which workplaces are legally required to establish a safety and health committee?

  1. Every workplace that employs twenty or more persons Correct answer.
  2. Only workplaces handling hazardous chemicals or explosives
  3. Only factories registered under the Factories and Other Places of Work Act
  4. Every workplace, regardless of the number of employees

Explanation

The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007 requires every workplace with twenty or more employees to establish a safety and health committee. Smaller workplaces are not covered by this specific committee requirement, though general duties to ensure safety still apply. The threshold applies to workplaces generally, not only to registered factories or high-hazard operations.

Question 27Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Who is responsible for appointing the members of a workplace safety and health committee in Kenya?

  1. The trade union branch secretary acting alone
  2. The employer, in consultation with workers or their representatives Correct answer.
  3. The occupational safety and health officer of the county
  4. The Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services directly

Explanation

The law places the duty to establish the committee on the occupier or employer, who appoints members in consultation with the workers or their representatives. This ensures both employer and worker interests are represented. External bodies such as the Directorate or county officers provide oversight and enforcement rather than appointing committee members.

Question 28Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A workplace safety and health committee is being constituted. Which composition best reflects the statutory requirement for balanced representation?

  1. Members selected exclusively by the trade union without employer involvement
  2. A majority of members chosen from the employer's senior management team
  3. All members drawn from management to ensure decisions are implemented
  4. Worker representatives elected by their fellow workers plus employer-nominated members Correct answer.

Explanation

A functioning committee must include representatives of the workers, chosen by the workers themselves, alongside members nominated by the employer. This balance allows both perspectives to be heard and gives the committee credibility with the workforce. A committee composed only of management or only of union appointees does not meet the balanced-representation expectation.

Question 29Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

How often must a workplace safety and health committee ordinarily meet to remain compliant with its statutory obligations?

  1. At least once every twelve months
  2. At least once every three months Correct answer.
  3. At least once every month
  4. Only when an accident has occurred

Explanation

The statutory expectation is that the committee meets at least once every three months, so that hazards are reviewed regularly rather than only after incidents. Meeting only when an accident occurs defeats the preventive purpose of the committee. More frequent meetings are permitted and may be appropriate in higher-risk workplaces.

Question 30Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which person typically chairs a workplace safety and health committee and convenes its meetings?

  1. An external inspector from the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services
  2. The most junior worker representative on the committee
  3. A worker elected by the committee members at each meeting
  4. A senior management representative designated by the employer Correct answer.

Explanation

The committee is normally chaired by a senior representative of the employer, who is also responsible for convening meetings and ensuring that recommendations are considered by management. This link to decision-makers allows committee findings to be acted upon. Worker representatives participate fully but do not ordinarily hold the chair in this statutory model.

Question 31Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A committee has identified a recurring hazard and agreed on a recommendation. What is the committee's proper authority over the employer's response?

  1. The committee can suspend the work activity until the employer complies
  2. The committee can compel the employer to implement its recommendation immediately
  3. The committee advises the employer, who retains legal responsibility for deciding and implementing controls Correct answer.
  4. The committee has no role once a recommendation is made

Explanation

A safety and health committee is an advisory and consultative body; it recommends, but the legal duty to ensure a safe workplace and to implement controls remains with the employer. The employer must consider the committee's recommendations in good faith and record its response. The committee does not hold enforcement or coercive powers of its own.

Question 32Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which statutory duty most directly requires an employer to consult workers on matters affecting their safety and health?

  1. The duty to consult workers and their representatives on arrangements for safety and health Correct answer.
  2. The duty to notify the regulator of accidents and dangerous occurrences
  3. The duty to prepare and keep an up-to-date safety and health policy
  4. The duty to provide free protective clothing and equipment

Explanation

The Act imposes a specific duty on employers to consult workers and their representatives on the arrangements for ensuring safety and health at work. This consultation duty is the legal foundation for worker participation through the committee. The other duties are separate obligations that do not themselves create a consultation requirement.

Question 33Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A committee member wants to inspect a section of the plant where a worker was recently injured. What is the most appropriate basis for the committee to conduct this inspection?

  1. Inspection is permitted only after the regulator has issued a formal notice
  2. Committee members may inspect the workplace as part of their functions, accompanied where necessary by a competent person Correct answer.
  3. Members may inspect only if the employer gives written permission for each visit
  4. Members may inspect only areas where no machinery is in operation

Explanation

Committee members are expected to inspect the workplace as part of their functions, so that they can identify hazards and verify controls. They may need to be accompanied by a competent person where specialised knowledge or safety precautions are required. The employer cannot make each inspection conditional on discretionary written permission.

Question 34Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which item is the most appropriate content of the minutes that a safety and health committee should keep?

  1. Only the names of members who attended each meeting
  2. A summary of the employer's financial performance for the quarter
  3. A general statement that safety matters were discussed
  4. Hazards identified, recommendations made, responsible persons and target dates Correct answer.

Explanation

Minutes should record the substance of the committee's work: hazards raised, recommendations agreed, who is responsible for action and by when. This creates an auditable trail that demonstrates the committee is functioning and allows follow-up. Recording only attendance or a vague statement provides no evidence of action.

Question 35Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employer is required to prepare a written safety and health policy. What is the committee's most appropriate relationship to that policy?

  1. The committee must draft and sign the policy in place of the employer
  2. The committee should only be informed after the policy is published and never review it
  3. The committee should be consulted on its content and review it periodically for continued relevance Correct answer.
  4. The committee has no legitimate interest in the policy document

Explanation

The employer is responsible for preparing the safety and health policy, but the committee should be consulted on its content and should review it periodically to ensure it remains relevant to current operations. This aligns the written policy with the hazards the committee actually observes. The committee does not replace the employer as author of the policy.

Question 36Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A worker tells a committee member that they fear retaliation for reporting a hazard. Which statement best reflects the legal position on such reports?

  1. Workers who report safety and health concerns are protected from victimisation for doing so Correct answer.
  2. Workers may report hazards only through their immediate supervisor
  3. Reports made anonymously have no legal standing and need not be investigated
  4. The committee may discipline the worker if the report proves unfounded

Explanation

Workers have a right to raise safety and health concerns, and the law protects them from being victimised or dismissed for doing so. The committee should reinforce this protection and ensure reports are investigated on their merits. Treating reports as valid only through a supervisor or penalising unfounded reports would discourage reporting and undermine the committee.

Question 37Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A committee is reviewing a draft emergency evacuation plan for a warehouse storing flammable solvents. Which element is most essential for the committee to confirm?

  1. That the plan is displayed in the managing director's office only
  2. That the plan has been approved by the trade union before any drill
  3. That evacuation routes, assembly points and drills are defined and communicated to all workers Correct answer.
  4. That the plan lists the cost of firefighting equipment purchased

Explanation

An effective evacuation plan must define escape routes, assembly points and arrangements for drills, and it must be communicated to everyone who may need to evacuate. For a solvent store, these elements are critical because rapid, orderly evacuation saves lives. Display location in a single office or procurement costs do not demonstrate readiness.

Question 38Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which statement best describes the legal effect of a recommendation recorded in the minutes of a safety and health committee meeting?

  1. It has no legal significance unless signed by an inspector
  2. It creates a record that the employer is expected to consider and respond to, with reasons for any non-implementation Correct answer.
  3. It automatically transfers liability for the hazard to the committee members
  4. It becomes a binding legal order enforceable against the employer

Explanation

A recorded recommendation is not a legal order, but it places the employer on notice and creates an expectation that it will be considered and answered, with reasons given if it is not implemented. Such records are important evidence if an incident later occurs. Liability for workplace safety remains with the employer and is not shifted to committee members.

Question 39Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employer is considering whether to abolish an existing safety and health committee because managers find the meetings time-consuming. Which statement is most accurate?

  1. The employer may abolish the committee if no accident occurred in the previous year
  2. The employer may abolish the committee at will because it is a voluntary body
  3. The employer may abolish the committee only after notifying the trade union
  4. The employer cannot lawfully abolish a committee that the Act requires it to maintain where the threshold is met Correct answer.

Explanation

Where the statutory threshold of twenty or more employees is met, the committee is a legal requirement rather than a voluntary arrangement, so the employer cannot simply abolish it to save time. Any restructuring must still satisfy the statutory obligation to establish and maintain a committee. Administrative inconvenience is not a lawful ground for removing a required committee.

Question 40Occupational Safety and Health Legal and Regulatory Framework

A committee member discovers that a recommendation accepted six months ago has still not been implemented and the hazard persists. What is the most appropriate legal and practical response for the committee?

  1. Ask the affected workers to stop raising the hazard until resources allow
  2. Remove the item from the minutes so that the record shows no unresolved issues
  3. Wait for the next annual inspection before raising the matter again
  4. Record the outstanding item, escalate it to senior management and, where the risk is serious, press for interim controls and consider notifying the regulator Correct answer.

Explanation

The committee should keep the item on record, escalate it to senior management and, where the risk is serious, insist on interim controls while a permanent solution is arranged. If the employer fails to act on a serious risk, the committee may properly press for regulatory involvement. Deleting the record or silencing workers would conceal a continuing hazard and undermine the committee's purpose.

Question 41Safety and Health Committee Composition, Roles and Functions

Under Kenya's Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007, what is the minimum number of workers that ordinarily requires an employer to establish a safety and health committee at a workplace?

  1. Twenty or more workers Correct answer.
  2. One hundred or more workers
  3. Fifty or more workers
  4. Five or more workers

Explanation

The OSH Act, 2007 requires every employer who employs twenty or more workers to establish a safety and health committee at the workplace. Below that threshold the employer still has general duties to protect workers but is not compelled to constitute a committee. This twenty-worker trigger is the standard reference point for DOSHS compliance inspections.

Question 42Safety and Health Committee Composition, Roles and Functions

Who presides over meetings of a workplace safety and health committee?

  1. The occupational safety and health officer appointed by DOSHS
  2. The most senior trade union representative present
  3. A worker elected by the committee members as chairperson Correct answer.
  4. The employer's human resource manager

Explanation

A safety and health committee elects its own chairperson from among its members, reflecting the principle that the committee is a joint worker-management body rather than an arm of management. The chairperson convenes and guides meetings but does not hold executive authority over the employer. External DOSHS officers do not chair internal workplace committees.

Question 43Safety and Health Committee Composition, Roles and Functions

What is the primary purpose of keeping minutes of safety and health committee meetings?

  1. To create an auditable record of issues raised, decisions taken and actions assigned Correct answer.
  2. To replace the need for workplace risk assessments
  3. To document employee disciplinary warnings
  4. To satisfy tax record-keeping obligations

Explanation

Minutes provide a verifiable trail showing that hazards were raised, discussed and assigned to named persons with timelines, which is central to demonstrating the committee is functioning. They also support follow-up at the next meeting and can be produced during a DOSHS inspection. Minutes do not substitute for risk assessments or serve tax or disciplinary functions.

Question 44Safety and Health Committee Composition, Roles and Functions

How should membership of a safety and health committee be balanced between workers and management?

  1. With worker representatives chosen by workers and management representatives appointed by the employer Correct answer.
  2. Entirely from the shop floor to ensure independence
  3. Entirely from management to ensure decisions are binding
  4. With members selected exclusively by the DOSHS area office

Explanation

The committee is a joint body: workers select their own representatives so that concerns are voiced without management filtering, while the employer appoints management members who can commit resources. This balanced composition is what gives the committee legitimacy with both parties. Neither a purely managerial nor a purely worker body meets the joint-participation principle.

Question 45Safety and Health Committee Composition, Roles and Functions

A safety and health committee member identifies a hazard during a routine walk-through. What is the most appropriate immediate step within the committee's role?

  1. Record the hazard and raise it for the committee to prioritise and assign corrective action Correct answer.
  2. Stop all production indefinitely without consulting anyone
  3. Ignore it because the committee only handles matters raised in formal meetings
  4. Refer it directly to the police

Explanation

The committee's function is to identify hazards, deliberate on them and recommend or assign corrective measures with responsible persons and deadlines. Unilateral shutdown of operations is not a committee power, and ignoring hazards outside meetings undermines continuous risk management. Police referral is irrelevant to a workplace hazard.

Question 46Safety and Health Committee Composition, Roles and Functions

Which of the following best describes the committee's role in relation to accident investigations at the workplace?

  1. It handles compensation payments to injured workers
  2. It determines criminal liability for the accident
  3. It participates in investigating accidents and recommending preventive measures Correct answer.
  4. It replaces the employer's legal duty to report accidents to DOSHS

Explanation

Safety and health committees typically participate in or review accident investigations so that root causes are identified and preventive recommendations are made. The statutory duty to notify DOSHS of certain accidents remains with the employer, and compensation is handled through separate injury benefit processes. Criminal liability is a matter for the courts.

Question 47Safety and Health Committee Composition, Roles and Functions

Why should the safety and health committee meet at regular intervals rather than only after an accident?

  1. To reduce the employer's insurance premiums automatically
  2. To elect new management staff
  3. To satisfy attendance records for payroll purposes
  4. To review risks, track corrective actions and address emerging hazards proactively Correct answer.

Explanation

Regular meetings allow the committee to monitor the risk register, follow up outstanding corrective actions and consider new hazards before they cause harm. A reactive-only pattern means preventive opportunities are missed. Meeting frequency supports proactive safety management, not payroll, insurance or staffing decisions.

Question 48Safety and Health Committee Composition, Roles and Functions

What does the committee's function of promoting safety and health awareness among workers primarily involve?

  1. Organising training, campaigns and information sharing on workplace hazards Correct answer.
  2. Conducting criminal prosecutions of negligent workers
  3. Issuing disciplinary sanctions for unsafe behaviour
  4. Auditing the employer's financial statements

Explanation

Awareness promotion is carried out through toolbox talks, induction sessions, posters, drills and sharing of incident lessons so workers understand the risks they face. Discipline and prosecution are separate processes, and financial auditing is unrelated to safety promotion. The committee's educational role complements the employer's duty to provide training.

Question 49Safety and Health Committee Composition, Roles and Functions

A workplace employs 35 workers but has never constituted a safety and health committee. Which statement best reflects the employer's position under the OSH Act, 2007?

  1. The employer is compliant provided a first aid box is available
  2. The employer is in breach of the duty to establish a committee at that workplace Correct answer.
  3. The employer need only form a committee after the first serious accident
  4. The employer is compliant because committees are optional at all sizes

Explanation

With 35 workers the workplace exceeds the twenty-worker threshold, so the employer is obliged to establish a safety and health committee. Failure to do so is a breach of statutory duty that a DOSHS inspector can act upon. First aid provision and post-accident reactions do not discharge this separate obligation.

Question 50Safety and Health Committee Composition, Roles and Functions

During a committee meeting, management members oppose a worker representative's proposal to purchase improved machine guards. What is the most appropriate committee response?

  1. The chairperson closes the matter permanently because management disagrees
  2. The matter is referred to the trade union to decide for the employer
  3. The issue is recorded, reasons for the decision documented and alternatives explored before a decision Correct answer.
  4. Worker representatives are removed from the committee

Explanation

Where consensus is not reached, the committee should document the issue, the arguments and any interim controls, then explore alternatives such as phased purchase or engineering modifications. Permanently closing a legitimate safety concern or removing members undermines the committee's function. Unions do not make employer purchasing decisions.