Transcript
Chapter 13: Ensuring a Safe and Healthy Work Environment
1. Approximately 60,000 work-related deaths are reported each year in the United States.
Ans: False
Response: Approximately 6,000 work-related deaths are reported each year in the United States.
2. All U.S. organizations have OSHA record-keeping requirements.
Ans: False
Response: Universities and retail establishments are exempt from OSHA record-keeping requirements but they must comply with the law itself. See page 345.
3. The incidence rate is the number of injuries, illnesses, or lost workdays as it relates to a common base of full-time employees.
Ans: True
4. More than 1,000,000 workers are murdered on the job each year in the U.S.
Ans: False
Response: See page 354. It’s high, but not that high. 1,000 is the figure.
5. Sick buildings refer to office environments that contain harmful airborne, chemicals, asbestos, or indoor pollution that make employees sick.
Ans: True
Multiple Choice
6. The most significant piece of legislation in the area of employee health and safety is:
a) COBRA
b) OSHA
c) NIOSH
d) HIPPA
e) ERISA
Ans: b
Response A: No, this is a benefit law.
Response B: Correct!
Response C: NIOSH is the government agency that researches and sets OSHA standards.
Response D: No, this is a benefit law.
Response E: No, this is a benefit law.
7. A crack in the cooling tower of a nuclear facility is emitting green steam. OSHA inspectors were called for which level of priority?
a) Random inspection
b) Targeted inspection
c) Employee complaint
d) Potential accident
e) Imminent danger
Ans: e
Response A: No. That’s the lowest level, and inspectors aren’t called, they just show up.
Response B: No. Although this industry is a targeted industry, the inspectors are scheduled, not called.
Response C: No, that would take a different process.
Response D: Not an OSHA category.
Response E: Correct!
8. Last month the OSHA inspector in a dog food processing plant “red-flagged” a production area for an old and faulty mixing machine. Yesterday the machine exploded, blowing the contents all over the room. Fortunately, the incident occurred during the shift change, and no one was injured. The plant has had numerous record keeping violations in the past. What OSHA penalty can this firm expect?
a) The firm will be fined a maximum of $70,000 per day until the situation is corrected.
b) No penalty since no one died.
c) The shift supervisor will be fired.
d) No penalty if the firm promises to keep accurate records from now on.
e) Criminal charges will be filed against top management.
Ans: a
Response A: Correct!
Response B: No. See page 348.
Response C: Maybe, but that is probably not the OSHA action. See page 348.
Response D: Probably not. See page 348.
Response E: Probably not. Criminal charges are usually reserved for employee injury and death cases. See page 348.
9. Repetitive stress injuries account for nearly _________ of annual workplace illnesses from headaches, swollen feet, back pain, or nerve damage.
a) 10%
b) 20%
c) 40%
d) 60%
e) 70%
Ans: c
Response A: No.
Response B: No.
Response C: Correct!
Response D: No.
Response E: No.
10. Ishmael works for OSHA. He is testing chair heights and arm rest angles to minimize back strain at computer work stations. What area of standard setting is involved?
a) Bloodborne pathogens
b) Emergency preparedness
c) Chemical processing standards
d) Motor vehicle safety
e) Ergonomics
Ans: e
Response A: No. That would be hepatitis or something like hepatitis.
Response B: Not quite.
Response C: No.
Response D: No.
Response E: Correct!
11. Yvonne is a new employee at Company XYZ. She is stressed because she is unclear as to what she should do on the job. What is the cause of Yvonne’s stress?
a) Role conflicts
b) Role overload
c) Lack of role model
d) Role ambiguity
e) Lack of assertiveness
Ans: d
Response A: Not the best answer!
Response B: Not the best answer!
Response C: No.
Response D: Correct!
Response E: No.
12. Which of the following best describes role conflicts?
a) Expectations that are difficult to reconcile or achieve.
b) When an employee is not sure what work to do.
c) When an employee is expected to do more than time permits.
d) When employees use their organization’s Internet access during work hours to surf non-job related websites as to send or receive and read personal emails.
e) A dynamic condition in which an individual confronts an opportunity, constraint, or demand related to a desire and perceives the outcome both uncertain and important.
Ans: a
Response A: Correct!
Response B: No. This describes role ambiguity.
Response C: No. This describes role overload.
Response D: No. This describes Cyberloafing.
Response E: No. This describes stress.
13. Which of the following is a psychological symptom of stress?
a) Increased anxiety
b) More relaxed state
c) Heightened attention to detail
d) Increased smoking
e) Higher blood pressure
Ans: a
Response A: Correct!
Response B: No, just the opposite.
Response C: No, just the opposite, and that’s behavioral.
Response D: No. That’s behavioral.
Response E: No. That’s physiological.
14. Which of the following best describes burnout?
a) Expectations that are difficult to reconcile or achieve.
b) When an employee is not sure what work to do.
c) When an employee is expected to do more than time permits.
d) Chronic and long-term stress
e) A dynamic condition in which an individual confronts an opportunity, constraint, or demand related to a desire and perceives the outcome both uncertain and important.
Ans: d
Response A: No. This describes role conflicts.
Response B: No. This describes role ambiguity.
Response C: No. This describes role overload.
Response D: Correct!
Response E: No. This describes stress.
15. Which of the following is the government agency that researches and sets OSHA standards?
a) ERISA
b) NOSHA
c) NIOSH
d) MSD
e) EEOC
Ans: c
Response A: No. ERISA means Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
Response B: Not a real agency.
Response C: Correct!
Response D: No. MSD means Musculoskeletal disorder.
Response E: No. EEOC means Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
