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PSDA Safety Inspector Exam study materials
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PSDA Safety Inspector Exam practice questions

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Question 1Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

Under a typical commercial diving safety program, which document establishes the minimum crew size and the required qualifications for the diving supervisor on a surface-supplied dive operation?

  1. The equipment manufacturer's warranty registration form
  2. The client's purchase order for the underwater work scope
  3. The operations manual or site-specific diving plan approved by program management Correct answer.
  4. The diver's personal logbook maintained for career records

Explanation

Crew composition and supervisor qualifications are governed by the written diving operations manual or site-specific plan that the program administers. That document translates regulatory requirements and consensus standards into enforceable procedures for each operation. Logbooks, warranties, and purchase orders do not set crewing requirements.

Question 2Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

A safety inspector finds that a diving contractor's written program references a consensus standard edition that was superseded two years ago. What is the most appropriate inspection finding?

  1. A documentation deficiency requiring the program to update references and verify current compliance Correct answer.
  2. A finding limited to the diving supervisor's personal certification file
  3. An immediate stop-work order for all diving activity at every company location
  4. No finding, because consensus standards are advisory only and never binding

Explanation

Program documents must reflect the standards and regulations currently in force, so citing a superseded edition is a documentation deficiency. The corrective action is to update the reference and confirm that field procedures still meet the current requirements. It is not automatically a stop-work condition unless an actual unsafe practice is found.

Question 3Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

Which element is essential in a diving program's written emergency plan for a remote site?

  1. A list of the dive team's favorite weather applications
  2. A schedule of annual office fire drills only
  3. The company's marketing brochure for underwater services
  4. A description of recompression chamber access, evacuation routes, and communication methods Correct answer.

Explanation

An emergency plan must identify how injured divers reach definitive treatment, including chamber availability, evacuation routes, and reliable communications. These elements determine whether a treatable injury becomes a fatality. General office drills and marketing materials do not address dive-specific emergency response.

Question 4Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

An inspector reviews a program where the diving supervisor also serves as the only tender and the only diver on a surface-supplied job. How should this be classified?

  1. Acceptable when the dive depth is under ten meters
  2. A records deficiency only, correctable after the job
  3. Acceptable if the diver holds a master diver certification
  4. A crewing deficiency, because supervisor, diver, and tender duties must be separated Correct answer.

Explanation

Diving programs require enough personnel to perform supervision, diving, and tending as distinct roles so that no single failure leaves the diver unassisted. Combining all three roles removes the standby and tending function that the crew structure exists to guarantee. Depth and certification level do not cure the structural deficiency.

Question 5Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

What is the primary purpose of a dive program's periodic internal audit?

  1. To verify that procedures, records, and equipment conform to the program's own standards Correct answer.
  2. To calculate the profitability of each diving contract
  3. To evaluate employee personality traits for promotion decisions
  4. To replace the regulatory authority's enforcement inspections

Explanation

Internal audits are a self-check that confirms field practice, documentation, and equipment match the program's written standards. They surface gaps before an external regulator or client finds them. Audits supplement but never replace regulatory inspections, and they are not personnel or financial reviews.

Question 6Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

A contractor's diving program requires annual diver physical examinations but the records show one diver's last examination was eighteen months ago. What is the correct inspection conclusion?

  1. The diver is compliant because the examination occurred within two years
  2. The diver is non-compliant but may continue diving while paperwork is filed
  3. The diver is non-compliant and must be removed from diving duty until medically cleared Correct answer.
  4. The diver is compliant if a supervisor verbally confirms fitness

Explanation

When the program sets an annual medical surveillance interval, a diver whose examination is overdue does not meet the fitness-for-duty requirement. The diver must be stood down until a current examination confirms medical clearance. Verbal assurance and pending paperwork do not satisfy the documented requirement.

Question 7Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

In a diving safety program, what does the term 'competent person' most accurately describe?

  1. The equipment supplier's field service technician
  2. Any employee who has completed a general site orientation
  3. A person designated by the employer who can identify hazards and has authority to correct them Correct answer.
  4. The client representative who signs the daily dive report

Explanation

A competent person is designated by the employer and combines recognized training or experience with the authority to identify and promptly correct hazardous conditions. Authority to act is as important as knowledge. General orientation, client sign-off, and vendor service do not confer that designation.

Question 8Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

An inspector finds the program's hazard identification process relies solely on post-incident reports. Which improvement should the inspector recommend?

  1. Reducing the frequency of internal audits to save time
  2. Requiring divers to sign a liability waiver before each dive
  3. Increasing the number of incident report forms available
  4. Adding proactive job hazard analysis and pre-dive safety briefings Correct answer.

Explanation

A program that learns only from incidents is reactive; effective safety management adds proactive tools such as job hazard analysis and pre-dive briefings to identify risks before harm occurs. More forms, waivers, and fewer audits do not create forward-looking hazard identification.

Question 9Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

Which record is most important to retain to demonstrate that a diver was medically fit on the date of a specific dive?

  1. The dated medical examination clearance covering that dive date Correct answer.
  2. The client's daily production report
  3. The equipment rental invoice for that day
  4. The diver's training certificate from initial certification

Explanation

Fitness for duty on a given date is demonstrated by a dated medical clearance whose validity period covers that dive. Training certificates prove qualification, not current medical status. Invoices and production reports say nothing about the diver's health.

Question 10Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

A diving program's standard operating procedures describe decompression tables that differ from the tables actually used in the field. What is the inspector's most appropriate action?

  1. Direct the program to reconcile the procedures with field practice and control which tables are authorized Correct answer.
  2. Confiscate all decompression tables on site
  3. Report only the divers who used the unauthorized tables
  4. Ignore the discrepancy because field crews know best

Explanation

A mismatch between written procedures and field practice is a configuration-control failure that can produce inconsistent decompression decisions. The program must reconcile the documents and formally authorize the tables in use. Confiscation or blaming individual divers does not fix the systemic control gap.

Question 11Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

What is the purpose of a dive program's management review meeting held at planned intervals?

  1. To review safety performance data and decide on program improvements and resources Correct answer.
  2. To schedule recreational diving trips for staff
  3. To assign blame for individual dive incidents
  4. To negotiate diver wage rates with the client

Explanation

Management review examines audit results, incident trends, and compliance data to set priorities and allocate resources for program improvement. It is a forward-looking governance activity, not an incident blame session or a commercial negotiation.

Question 12Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

A newly hired diver presents a certification card but no logged dives in the past three years. How should the program address this before assigning the diver to a saturation-type operation?

  1. Accept the card if the diver signs a skills self-declaration
  2. Assign the diver immediately because the card never expires
  3. Assign the diver only to deep mixed-gas dives as a test
  4. Require a documented refresher or requalification and supervised orientation before assignment Correct answer.

Explanation

Certification alone does not establish current proficiency; programs require documented currency or refresher training before assigning complex operations. A supervised requalification period restores and verifies skills. Self-declaration and immediate deep assignment expose the diver and team to unacceptable risk.

Question 13Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

Which practice best demonstrates a diving program's compliance with the principle of written authorization for deviations from standard procedures?

  1. Automatic approval whenever the client requests a schedule change
  2. Retroactive approval after the dive is completed
  3. Verbal approval from any crew member at the dive site
  4. A documented management-of-change process with risk assessment and approval Correct answer.

Explanation

Deviations from approved procedures should pass through a management-of-change process that documents the reason, assesses risk, and records formal approval before work proceeds. This preserves traceability and ensures someone with authority accepts the risk. Verbal, automatic, or retroactive approvals defeat that control.

Question 14Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

An inspector reviews a program's incident investigation files and finds every report concludes 'diver error' with no further analysis. What weakness should the inspector identify?

  1. The investigations stop at the individual and fail to examine systemic causes Correct answer.
  2. The reports are filed electronically rather than on paper
  3. The program investigates too many near-misses
  4. The reports are too long and detailed

Explanation

Investigations that end at individual blame miss the organizational, procedural, and equipment factors that allowed the error to occur. Sound investigations identify root and contributing causes so that corrective actions prevent recurrence. Report length, near-miss volume, and filing format are not the issue.

Question 15Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

Which document typically authorizes a specific dive operation and records the planned depth, breathing medium, and personnel?

  1. The equipment calibration certificate
  2. The diver's employment contract
  3. The company's annual tax filing
  4. The dive plan or dive project authorization form Correct answer.

Explanation

The dive plan or project authorization records the operational parameters, including depth limits, breathing gas, and assigned personnel, and serves as the basis for the pre-dive briefing. Calibration certificates, employment contracts, and tax filings do not authorize dive operations.

Question 16Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

A program's safety officer position is vacant, and the duties have been informally absorbed by the operations manager who also sets production targets. Why is this a concern for the inspector?

  1. It is acceptable because the operations manager is senior
  2. It increases payroll efficiency and should be encouraged
  3. It is acceptable if the manager has diving experience
  4. It creates a conflict between production pressure and independent safety oversight Correct answer.

Explanation

Independent safety oversight can be compromised when the same person is responsible for both production targets and safety enforcement. Segregating these functions protects the authority to stop unsafe work. Seniority and diving experience do not remove the structural conflict.

Question 17Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

What should a diving program do when a regulatory requirement is stricter than its internal standard?

  1. Apply whichever is more convenient for the schedule
  2. Follow the stricter regulatory requirement and update internal documents to match Correct answer.
  3. Ask the client to decide which standard applies
  4. Follow the internal standard because it is company policy

Explanation

Where a legal requirement is more stringent than an internal standard, the legal requirement controls and the program documents should be revised to reflect it. Internal policy cannot authorize less protection than the law requires, and convenience or client preference is irrelevant.

Question 18Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

An inspector finds that a diving contractor's safety committee meets regularly but has no authority to require corrective action. How should this be characterized?

  1. An acceptable arrangement if minutes are well written
  2. A fully effective safety committee
  3. A structural weakness that limits the committee's ability to close hazards Correct answer.
  4. A records problem only

Explanation

A safety committee without authority to direct or require corrective action can identify problems but cannot ensure they are fixed. Effective committees have defined authority and escalation paths. Good minutes and regular meetings do not substitute for the power to act.

Question 19Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

Which is the most appropriate way for a diving program to verify that contract divers from a subcontractor meet the program's safety standards?

  1. Require documented qualification, medical, and equipment checks before site access Correct answer.
  2. Delegate all safety responsibility to the subcontractor
  3. Assume compliance because the subcontractor is cheaper
  4. Rely on the subcontractor's verbal assurance

Explanation

The host program retains responsibility for safety on its site, so subcontractor personnel and equipment must be verified through documented checks before access. Verbal assurance, cost assumptions, and wholesale delegation do not discharge that duty.

Question 20Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

A program's training matrix shows that all divers are trained on the decompression tables, but no records exist for supervisor training on emergency chamber operations. What is the appropriate finding?

  1. No finding, because divers perform the actual decompression
  2. A training gap for supervisors that must be closed before they direct chamber-related emergencies Correct answer.
  3. A finding requiring cancellation of all diving
  4. A finding that divers are over-trained

Explanation

Supervisors direct emergency response, so they need documented training in chamber operations and related contingencies. A matrix showing diver training does not cover the supervisor role. The gap requires targeted training, not cancellation of all diving or a finding against the divers.

Question 21Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

What distinguishes a leading safety indicator from a lagging indicator in diving program performance measurement?

  1. There is no meaningful distinction between them
  2. Leading indicators measure preventive activities; lagging indicators measure incidents and injuries Correct answer.
  3. Leading indicators measure outcomes after harm; lagging indicators predict risk
  4. Leading indicators are always financial; lagging indicators are always medical

Explanation

Leading indicators track preventive activities such as audits completed, drills conducted, and near-misses reported, which predict future safety. Lagging indicators count events that already occurred, such as injuries and incidents. The distinction is about prediction versus outcome, not finance or medicine.

Question 22Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

A diving program stores breathing-gas analysis certificates but the certificates lack the sampling date and the analyzer used. Why is this a deficiency?

  1. Because gas analysis is optional for surface-supplied diving
  2. Because certificates must be framed and displayed
  3. Because traceability of gas quality requires date, method, and instrument identification Correct answer.
  4. Because only the client may sign gas certificates

Explanation

Gas quality records must be traceable, meaning they identify when the sample was taken, how it was analyzed, and with what instrument, so results can be trusted and reproduced. Missing traceability elements undermine confidence in breathing-gas purity. Display, signature authority, and optional analysis are not the issue.

Question 23Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

Which action best reflects a program's commitment to continuous improvement after an audit identifies repeated minor deficiencies?

  1. Conducting root cause analysis and tracking corrective actions to closure Correct answer.
  2. Waiting for the next external inspection to address them
  3. Issuing a memo reminding staff to be more careful
  4. Reclassifying the deficiencies as observations to close the audit

Explanation

Repeated minor findings usually signal an underlying systemic cause, so root cause analysis with tracked corrective actions is the appropriate response. Reclassifying findings, deferring to external inspection, or generic reminders do not correct the cause.

Question 24Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

A program's dive manual has no procedure for handoff of supervisory responsibility when a supervisor becomes ill mid-operation. What risk does this gap create?

  1. Improved diver autonomy and morale
  2. Reduced equipment maintenance costs
  3. Faster decompression schedules
  4. Unclear authority and delayed decisions during an emergency Correct answer.

Explanation

Without a defined handoff procedure, it may be unclear who is in charge when the supervisor is incapacitated, delaying critical decisions. Programs must specify how supervisory authority transfers and who assumes it. The gap has no positive effect on cost, morale, or decompression.

Question 25Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

Which practice best ensures that safety lessons from a near-miss are shared across all dive teams in a multi-site program?

  1. Filing the near-miss report at the site where it occurred
  2. Distributing a safety bulletin and reviewing the lesson at program-wide safety meetings Correct answer.
  3. Recording it only in the individual diver's logbook
  4. Discussing it informally among the crew involved

Explanation

Organizational learning requires that near-miss lessons reach everyone who could face a similar hazard, which means formal distribution and review across the program. Site-only filing, informal discussion, and personal logbook entries limit the lesson to those already involved.

Question 26Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

Under most diving safety program standards, which individual holds ultimate accountability for the diving program's compliance with regulatory and internal safety requirements?

  1. The senior diver with the most logged hours
  2. The designated diving supervisor for each operation
  3. The on-site standby diver assigned to the crew
  4. The diving program's management or operating authority Correct answer.

Explanation

Diving safety frameworks place ultimate accountability for program compliance on the operating authority or management that owns the program, not on field personnel. Supervisors and divers carry operational duties within that delegated authority but do not own program-level compliance. This distinction matters because accountability cannot be delegated downward to a diver or supervisor.

Question 27Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

An inspector is verifying that a diving program's written procedures match what divers actually do in the water. Which method provides the strongest evidence of compliance?

  1. Comparing written procedures against observed operations and dive records Correct answer.
  2. Interviewing only the program manager about procedures
  3. Confirming that the manual was approved by a regulatory body
  4. Reviewing the dive manual revision history alone

Explanation

Compliance is demonstrated when documented procedures align with actual field practice, so the inspector must compare the written standard against observed dives and the associated records. A manual alone shows intent, not execution. This gap analysis is the core of verifying that a program operates as written.

Question 28Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

A diving program's operations manual has not been reviewed since it was issued six years ago, and several referenced standards have since been revised. What is the most appropriate corrective action for the inspector to require?

  1. Add a cover page noting that the manual is under revision
  2. Require a documented periodic review cycle with revision control and a current review of the manual Correct answer.
  3. Direct divers to rely on their training rather than the outdated manual
  4. Suspend all diving until a completely new manual is written from scratch

Explanation

Program documents must be maintained under a defined review and revision-control process so that referenced standards and procedures stay current. The proportionate correction is to establish that cycle and bring the manual up to date, not to abandon the document or halt operations unnecessarily. Document control is itself a compliance requirement.

Question 29Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

During an audit, an inspector finds that a dive team's pre-dive safety checks are performed consistently but are never recorded. How should this finding be characterized in the program's compliance assessment?

  1. Outside the scope of a safety program audit
  2. Fully compliant, since the checks are actually performed
  3. A recordkeeping deficiency that limits the program's ability to demonstrate compliance Correct answer.
  4. An operational failure requiring immediate suspension of diving

Explanation

Performing required checks without documenting them creates a verification gap: the program cannot demonstrate compliance to an inspector, regulator, or investigator after the fact. The finding is a documentation and evidence deficiency rather than proof that the checks failed. Corrective action should establish a recorded pre-dive checklist.

Question 30Diving Safety Program Administration and Standards Compliance

A multi-site diving contractor wants its safety program to detect drift from standards before incidents occur. Which set of performance measures best supports that objective?

  1. Counts of recordable injuries and lost-time incidents per year
  2. Total dives completed and total bottom time logged
  3. Trends in near-miss reports, pre-dive checklist completion rates, and procedural audit findings Correct answer.
  4. Numbers of regulatory citations received after inspections

Explanation

Leading indicators such as near-miss reporting trends, checklist completion, and audit findings reveal weakening controls before harm occurs. Injury counts and citations are lagging indicators that only confirm failures after the fact. A program seeking early detection should monitor process measures rather than outcome counts.

Question 31Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

Under the OSHA General Duty Clause, an employer must furnish a workplace free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Which condition is required before a hazard can be cited under this clause?

  1. The hazard must be addressed by a specific OSHA standard that has no applicable subsection
  2. The hazard must be identified in writing by a certified safety professional
  3. The hazard must be recognized by the employer's industry or a reasonable person with knowledge of the activity Correct answer.
  4. The hazard must already have caused at least one recordable injury at the site

Explanation

The General Duty Clause applies to hazards that are recognized, either by the employer or by general industry knowledge, and that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. There must also be a feasible means to abate the hazard. Prior injury history is not a prerequisite for recognition.

Question 32Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

An employer operates a process covered by OSHA's Process Safety Management standard. Which duty does PSM place on the employer regarding process hazard analysis (PHA)?

  1. Perform a PHA once at startup with no required revalidation
  2. Perform a PHA initially and revalidate it at least every five years Correct answer.
  3. Perform a PHA annually using only a what-if method
  4. Perform a PHA only after a release has occurred

Explanation

PSM requires an initial PHA for each covered process and revalidation at least every five years to confirm the analysis is current and the controls remain adequate. The revalidation must be documented and the team must include personnel with process knowledge.

Question 33Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

Which consensus standard is the primary reference for the design, installation, and maintenance of fixed water-based fire protection systems in the United States?

  1. NFPA 30
  2. NFPA 13 Correct answer.
  3. NFPA 70
  4. NFPA 101

Explanation

NFPA 13 governs the design, installation, and maintenance of automatic sprinkler systems. NFPA 70 covers electrical installations, NFPA 101 covers life safety, and NFPA 30 covers flammable and combustible liquids.

Question 34Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

An inspector finds that a portable fire extinguisher in a welding area has not had its annual maintenance check documented. Under NFPA 10, what is the required maintenance interval for portable extinguishers?

  1. Maintenance every two years, with no visual inspection requirement
  2. Annual maintenance by a qualified person, with monthly visual inspections Correct answer.
  3. Maintenance only after the extinguisher has been discharged
  4. Monthly maintenance by a qualified person, with annual visual inspections

Explanation

NFPA 10 requires extinguishers to receive a visual inspection at least monthly and maintenance by a trained or qualified person at least annually. Documentation of both activities is expected to demonstrate compliance.

Question 35Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

A confined space has an internal configuration that could trap or asphyxiate an entrant. Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146, which classification applies?

  1. Non-permit confined space
  2. Permit-required confined space Correct answer.
  3. Atmospheric-only hazard space
  4. Construction-regulated excavation

Explanation

A permit-required confined space has one or more of the defined hazardous characteristics, including an internal configuration that could trap or asphyxiate an entrant. The employer must then implement a permit system or demonstrate the space is free of such hazards.

Question 36Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

Under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, what is the employer's core obligation regarding hazardous chemicals in the workplace?

  1. Maintain safety data sheets and a written program, and train exposed workers Correct answer.
  2. Use only chemicals listed on the EPA inventory
  3. Submit chemical inventory to OSHA annually
  4. Post the manufacturer's proprietary formula at each workstation

Explanation

HazCom requires employers to maintain a written program, obtain and make accessible safety data sheets, ensure containers are labeled, and train workers on hazards and protective measures. No annual OSHA inventory submission is required.

Question 37Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

Which legal doctrine allows an injured worker to pursue a claim against a manufacturer of a machine that lacked a point-of-operation guard, even when the employer provided the machine?

  1. Exclusive remedy of workers' compensation
  2. Contributory negligence
  3. Assumption of risk
  4. Strict product liability Correct answer.

Explanation

Strict product liability permits recovery from a manufacturer or seller for a defective product regardless of fault. Workers' compensation exclusivity bars suits against the employer, not against third-party manufacturers.

Question 38Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

Under OSHA 29 CFR 1904, within what time period must an employer report a work-related fatality to OSHA?

  1. Within 24 hours
  2. Within 30 days
  3. Within 72 hours
  4. Within 8 hours Correct answer.

Explanation

Employers must report work-related fatalities to OSHA within 8 hours of learning of them. In-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and eye loss must be reported within 24 hours.

Question 39Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

A safety inspector reviews a facility's emergency action plan. Which element is required by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38?

  1. Automatic sprinkler coverage in every room
  2. A designated 24-hour fire watch for all occupancies
  3. Annual OSHA approval of the plan
  4. Procedures for reporting emergencies and accounting for employees after evacuation Correct answer.

Explanation

The emergency action plan must include reporting procedures, evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures, accounting for employees after evacuation, rescue duties, and the names of those who can be contacted for plan information. Fire watches and sprinklers are not universal requirements of 1910.38.

Question 40Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

When must an employer provide a workplace hazard assessment under OSHA's personal protective equipment standards?

  1. Before selecting PPE, to identify hazards and determine required protection Correct answer.
  2. Only when a new employee is hired
  3. Only after an employee requests PPE
  4. Only after an OSHA inspection cites the employer

Explanation

Employers must assess the workplace to determine whether hazards require PPE, then select and provide appropriate equipment and train employees. The assessment is performed before PPE selection and is not triggered by employee requests or citations.

Question 41Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

Under NFPA 70E, which document must be developed to establish safe work practices for employees exposed to electrical hazards?

  1. A hazardous waste contingency plan
  2. A fire prevention plan
  3. A respiratory protection program
  4. An electrical safety program Correct answer.

Explanation

NFPA 70E requires an electrical safety program that includes principles, controls, and procedures for identifying and mitigating electrical hazards. The program addresses risk assessment, approach boundaries, and PPE selection.

Question 42Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

An employer uses a fall protection system for work at height. Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, at what height must conventional fall protection generally be provided for construction work?

  1. 10 feet
  2. 4 feet
  3. 15 feet
  4. 6 feet Correct answer.

Explanation

For construction, fall protection is generally required at 6 feet above a lower level, with some exceptions for specific activities. General industry under 1910 Subpart D uses 4 feet for general industry walking-working surfaces.

Question 43Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

A safety inspector is asked about the legal status of ANSI/ASSP consensus standards. How are these standards treated when adopted by reference into an OSHA regulation?

  1. They become enforceable requirements with the force of the regulation Correct answer.
  2. They remain advisory and cannot be enforced
  3. They preempt all state requirements
  4. They apply only to federal agencies

Explanation

When OSHA incorporates a consensus standard by reference, the standard becomes part of the enforceable regulation. Otherwise, consensus standards are generally treated as evidence of industry practice and may support a General Duty Clause case.

Question 44Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

Which OSHA standard requires employers to develop and implement a written hazard communication program and to train employees on the hazards of chemicals in their work area?

  1. 29 CFR 1910.147
  2. 29 CFR 1910.1030
  3. 29 CFR 1910.134
  4. 29 CFR 1910.1200 Correct answer.

Explanation

29 CFR 1910.1200 is the Hazard Communication Standard, requiring a written program, labels, safety data sheets, and training. 1910.134 covers respiratory protection, 1910.147 covers hazardous energy control, and 1910.1030 covers bloodborne pathogens.

Question 45Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

During a lockout/tagout program audit, an inspector finds that the employer has not established a periodic inspection of the energy control procedures. Under 29 CFR 1910.147, how often must periodic inspections occur?

  1. Only when a new machine is installed
  2. At least annually, with certification of the inspection Correct answer.
  3. Every three years, with no documentation
  4. Every six months, with a written report to OSHA

Explanation

The employer must conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedures at least annually to ensure the procedure and its requirements are followed. The inspection must be certified and identify the machine, the date, the employees included, and the person performing the inspection.

Question 46Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

Which legal principle holds an employer responsible for the safety of workers even when no specific OSHA standard applies to a recognized hazard?

  1. The exclusivity provision of workers' compensation
  2. The General Duty Clause Correct answer.
  3. The doctrine of sovereign immunity
  4. The statute of limitations

Explanation

The General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm when no specific standard applies. It fills gaps left by specific standards.

Question 47Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

An inspector is evaluating a confined space entry program and finds that the employer has classified a space as non-permit based on an initial atmospheric test only. What is the most significant deficiency?

  1. The employer must demonstrate that the space poses no actual or potential atmospheric or configuration hazard Correct answer.
  2. The employer must notify OSHA before reclassifying the space
  3. The employer must still obtain a permit for every entry regardless of conditions
  4. The employer must install continuous ventilation before any test

Explanation

Reclassification to non-permit requires documentation that all hazards, including potential atmospheric hazards and configuration hazards, have been eliminated. A single initial atmospheric test does not address potential hazards or physical configuration risks.

Question 48Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

An employee is exposed to noise at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 87 dBA. Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95, what is the employer's obligation?

  1. Provide hearing protection only if the employee requests it
  2. Immediately reduce exposure below 85 dBA using engineering controls
  3. Take no action because exposure is below the 90 dBA permissible limit
  4. Implement a hearing conservation program, including audiometric testing and training Correct answer.

Explanation

When exposures equal or exceed the 85 dBA action level, the employer must implement a hearing conservation program including monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protection availability, training, and recordkeeping. Engineering controls are required when exposures exceed the 90 dBA permissible exposure limit.

Question 49Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

Under the OSH Act, what is the role of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) relative to OSHA?

  1. NIOSH and OSHA are the same agency under different names
  2. NIOSH conducts research and recommends exposure criteria, while OSHA enforces standards Correct answer.
  3. NIOSH issues citations to employers for violations
  4. NIOSH enforces standards, while OSHA conducts research

Explanation

NIOSH is the research arm that develops recommended exposure limits and conducts research, while OSHA is the enforcement agency within the Department of Labor. NIOSH does not issue citations or enforce standards.

Question 50Regulations, Consensus Standards, and Legal Duties of Care

A safety inspector reviews a facility's handling of flammable liquids. Which NFPA standard primarily addresses the storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids?

  1. NFPA 72
  2. NFPA 13
  3. NFPA 30 Correct answer.
  4. NFPA 99

Explanation

NFPA 30, the Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, addresses classification, storage, and handling requirements. NFPA 13 covers sprinklers, NFPA 72 covers fire alarm and signaling, and NFPA 99 covers health care facilities.