Human Resource Management, 14e, Global Edition (Dessler)
Chapter 16 Employee Safety and Health
1) While accident rates are falling, ________ U.S. workers died in workplace incidents.
A) 2369
B) 4551
C) 6278
D) 8100
2) All of the following are effective methods of improving workplace safety EXCEPT ________.
A) analyzing accident rates
B) publicizing an organization’s safety policy
C) showing an organizational commitment to safety
D) setting unreasonable but challenging safety goals
3) Which of the following is the supervisor’s primary role in safety?
A) conducting daily safety inspections of the workplace
B) helping workers file claims for job-related injuries
C) alerting top management to OSHA inspections
D) setting health and safety standards for the firm
4) Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration?
A) set and enforce the safety and health standards for almost all workers in the U.S.
B) ensure that employees of state agencies have safe and healthy working conditions
C) provide safe and healthy working conditions to all self-employed persons
D) ensure that family farms provide healthy and safe working environments
5) The Occupational Safety and Health Act was intended to ________.
A) set national, state, and local safety and health standards
B) assure every person safe and healthful working conditions
C) provide safe and healthful working conditions to self-employed persons
D) prevent the occurrence of occupational illnesses among public employees
6) All of the following are covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act EXCEPT
________.
A) federal agents
B) hospital nurses
C) crane operators
D) self-employed persons
7) Which government agency enforces the standards set out in the Occupational Safety and
Health Act?
A) Department of Health and Human Services
B) Department of Agriculture
C) Department of Commerce
D) Department of Labor
8) Under OSHA, employers with ________ or more employees must maintain records of and
report occupational injuries and occupational illnesses.
A) 6
B) 11
C) 35
D) 50
9) What term is used to describe any abnormal condition or disorder caused by exposure to
environmental factors associated with employment?
A) on-the-job accident
B) chronic condition
C) occupational illness
D) work-related disease
10) According to OSHA, employers must report occupational injuries that result in any of the
following EXCEPT ________.
A) first aid treatment
B) loss of consciousness
C) restriction of motion
D) transfer to another job
11) Which of the following would most likely NOT be considered a reportable injury according
to OSHA?
A) Mike breaks his arm while playing in a softball game during a mandatory company picnic.
B) John sprains his ankle after becoming tangled in his car’s seat belt in the company parking lot.
C) Leah breaks her wrist after slipping in a puddle on a stairwell inside the company building.
D) Tom injures his back during a traffic accident as he delivers lumber in a company truck.
12) According to OSHA, which of the following would most likely be considered the highest
priority?
A) investigating the occurrence of a fatality
B) inspecting a site where there may be imminent danger
C) conducting random inspections and follow-up inspections
D) conducting a special-emphasis inspection aimed at a high-hazard industry
13) Which of the following would be considered OSHA’s lowest priority for inspection?
A) conducting a follow-up inspection
B) investigating an employee complaint
C) investigating the occurrence of a fatality
D) performing a high-hazard industry inspection
14) When a complaint indicates the possibility of imminent danger, OSHA conducts an
inspection within ________.
A) 12 hours
B) 24 hours
C) 3 days
D) 20 days
15) Which of the following is LEAST likely to be considered when OSHA calculates a penalty?
A) business size
B) compliance history
C) gravity of violation
D) legal representation
16) According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers are responsible for
________.
A) transferring workers who are cited for OSHA violations
B) examining workplace conditions for OSHA compliance
C) scheduling annual consultations with OSHA representatives
D) replacing old equipment on an annual basis to comply with OSHA
17) What is the primary cause of workplace accidents?
A) chance occurrences
B) unsafe conditions
C) unsafe employee behavior
D) insufficient safety training
18) Improperly guarded equipment, defective equipment, hazardous procedures, and improper
ventilation are all examples of ________.
A) chance occurrences
B) unsafe conditions
C) unsafe employee behavior
D) normal occupational hazards
19) Which of the following accounts for one-third of all industrial accidents?
A) forklifts and wheelbarrows
B) woodworking machines
C) pulleys and flywheels
D) ladders and scaffolds
20) Which of the following factors is LEAST likely to contribute to accidents at work?
A) unsafe conditions
B) nature of the work
C) day of the week
D) time of day
21) All of the following personality traits are associated with people who file vehicular insurance
claims EXCEPT ________.
A) impatience
B) entitlement
C) clumsiness
D) aggressiveness
22) Which of the following is NOT a method of minimizing workplace accidents?
A) reducing unsafe conditions
B) reducing unsafe acts
C) screening employees
D) paying better wages
23) Supervisors can reduce unsafe acts in all of the following ways EXCEPT by ________.
A) listening to employee suggestions
B) identifying employee interests and preferences
C) involving workers in planning safety programs
D) providing workers with comfortable protective equipment
24) In most large facilities, who is responsible for reducing unsafe working conditions and
reducing unsafe acts by employees?
A) chief safety officer
B) OSHA representative
C) HR supervisor
D) line manager
25) All of the following are considered vulnerable workers EXCEPT ________.
A) young workers
B) male workers
C) immigrant workers
D) female workers
26) Which of the following should be the first method used to reduce workplace accidents?
A) enforcing job rotation
B) screening job applicants
C) removing physical hazards
D) requiring employees to use PPE
27) Thermo is a plastic supply and custom fabrication company. Thermo serves clients in the
medical, solar, and semiconductor industries by making acrylic and polycarbonate sheets, tubes,
and rods. The company employs approximately 500 workers at its facility in Ohio. Safety is a top
priority at Thermo, and supervisors are required to conduct daily inspections of all equipment.
Recently, three workers were seriously injured by a large press used to mold plastic parts. The
workers spent time in the hospital for hand injuries, and they are currently recuperating at home.
As a result, top management is evaluating all aspects of safety at the facility to determine what
changes need to be made.
Which of the following, if true, supports the argument that Thermo needs to modify its
screening, placement, and training procedures?
A) Interviews with the on-duty supervisor indicate that signs were clearly posted near the
accident site explaining the importance of using protective guards.
B) Supervisors use a combination of recognition and monetary incentives to encourage
employees to follow safety procedures.
C) Interviews with the injured workers indicate that the most experienced worker removed the
safety guard and the other two workers did not know how to respond.
D) Noise emitted from the press and the heat in the Thermo facility are considered distracting
and potentially dangerous.
28) Thermo is a plastic supply and custom fabrication company. Thermo serves clients in the
medical, solar, and semiconductor industries by making acrylic and polycarbonate sheets, tubes,
and rods. The company employs approximately 500 workers at its facility in Ohio. Safety is a top
priority at Thermo, and supervisors are required to conduct daily inspections of all equipment.
Recently, three workers were seriously injured by a large press used to mold plastic parts. The
workers spent time in the hospital for hand injuries, and they are currently recuperating at home.
As a result, top management is evaluating all aspects of safety at the facility to determine what
changes need to be made.
Which of the following questions is LEAST relevant to Thermo’s decision to minimize unsafe
acts at the facility?
A) Have Thermo managers trained employees in the use of the company’s mechanical security
system?
B) How are employee safety suggestions and complaints currently handled by Thermo
managers?
C) How are Thermo employees rewarded or praised for adhering to safety rules and procedures?
D) What is the current level of employee involvement in designing Thermos’ safety program?
29) How do managers reduce unsafe acts through selection?
A) identify traits linked to job accidents and screen candidates for such traits
B) train employees on the safe and proper use of equipment and tools
C) rotate employees through different positions within the company
D) offer monetary incentives to employee teams with low accident rates
30) OSHA standards on respiratory protection require that employees ________.
A) recognize and repair faulty respiratory equipment
B) receive eight hours of training in respiratory safety standards
C) demonstrate how to inspect, put on, and remove respirator seals
D) pass a written exam on safety inspections of respiratory equipment
31) A safety program that identifies employee conduct that contributes to accidents and then
trains workers to avoid such conduct is known as a ________ program.
A) strategic safety
B) behavior-based safety
C) positive reinforcement safety
D) employee participation-based safety
32) Thermo is a plastic supply and custom fabrication company. Thermo serves clients in the
medical, solar, and semiconductor industries by making acrylic and polycarbonate sheets, tubes,
and rods. The company employs approximately 500 workers at its facility in Ohio. Safety is a top
priority at Thermo, and supervisors are required to conduct daily inspections of all equipment.
Recently, three workers were seriously injured by a large press used to mold plastic parts. The
workers spent time in the hospital for hand injuries, and they are currently recuperating at home.
As a result, top management is evaluating all aspects of safety at the facility to determine what
changes need to be made.
Which of the following, if true, best supports the argument that Thermo supervisors need
additional training in OSHA standards?
A) The three workers were working overtime during an evening shift at Thermo, and only one of
them had extensive experience using the press.
B) The safety gate had been removed from the press to bypass a safety interlock, and the gate
was not replaced prior to the three workers using the machine during their morning shift at
Thermo.
C) Thermo conducts air sampling on a weekly basis as part of its industrial hygiene program, and
the firm has never been cited for poor air quality.
D) All three of the injured workers had worked at Thermo for over thirty years and were nearing
retirement age prior to the accident.
33) Thermo is a plastic supply and custom fabrication company. Thermo serves clients in the
medical, solar, and semiconductor industries by making acrylic and polycarbonate sheets, tubes,
and rods. The company employs approximately 500 workers at its facility in Ohio. Safety is a top
priority at Thermo, and supervisors are required to conduct daily inspections of all equipment.
Recently, three workers were seriously injured by a large press used to mold plastic parts. The
workers spent time in the hospital for hand injuries, and they are currently recuperating at home.
As a result, top management is evaluating all aspects of safety at the facility to determine what
changes need to be made.
Which of the following, if true, best supports the argument that Thermo needs to implement a
positive reinforcement program?
A) Each of the injured workers was given a job simulation test prior to selection and placement.
B) The injured workers removed a safety guard while operating the press to speed the process.
C) The accident reporting rate at Thermo is lower than that of comparable businesses in the area.
D) One of the injured workers was on probation with Thermo for starting a fight with a co-
worker.
34) All of the following are effective ways that employers reduce workers’ compensation costs
EXCEPT ________.
A) enforcing safety policies
B) communicating safety policies
C) providing classroom training
D) utilizing claims-tracking software
35) Toyota uses cadmium pigments in the paint for its cars. At the Toyota plant, air samples are
frequently taken as a precautionary measure to ensure that employees are not exposed to levels
outside the OSHA safety standards. Which of the following best describes this situation?
A) job simulation tests
B) unsafe conditions
C) industrial hygiene
D) screening
36) All of the following are major sources of occupational respiratory disease EXCEPT
________.
A) lead
B) asbestos
C) silica
D) mold
37) According to OSHA standards, which of the following substances has the lowest permissible
exposure limit?
A) vinyl chloride
B) formaldehyde
C) asbestos
D) lead
38) If your employees are traveling to and from international destinations, which of the
following is the most appropriate option for preventing the entry or spread of an infectious
disease?
A) dismissing the workers from their positions
B) denying workers facility access for ten days
C) sending workers to a nearby hospital
D) offering workers a light-work option
39) All of the following recommendations are suggested for companies seeking to minimize the
entry or spread of infectious diseases EXCEPT ________.
A) staggering lunch breaks
B) administering drug tests frequently
C) making hand sanitizers easily available
D) cleaning work areas regularly and often
40) ________ percent of the US workforce has been impaired on the job at least once during the
previous year?
A) Eight
B) Fifteen
C) Twenty-seven
D) Forty-three
41) Which of the following is one of the earliest indicators of an employee’s possible
alcoholism?
A) mood swings
B) forgetfulness
C) missed deadlines
D) personal neglect
42) Centerline Communications wants to reduce the number of workplace accidents associated
with employee substance abuse. Which of the following would be the most effective method to
accomplish this goal?
A) preemployment drug testing
B) preemployment psychological screening
C) a combination of random ongoing drug testing with psychological evaluations
D) a combination of preemployment drug testing and random ongoing drug testing
43) Which of the following is NOT one of the primary methods of dealing with a current
employee who tests positive for illegal drugs?
A) arrest
B) discipline
C) in-house counseling
D) referral to outside counseling
44) All of the following are symptoms of employees in advanced stages of alcoholism EXCEPT
________.
A) drinking on the job
B) walking with an unsteady gait
C) delegating job responsibilities
D) showing incompetent job performance
45) Lisa, a supervisor at a manufacturing facility, suspects that one of her subordinates may be
under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Which of the following actions should Lisa take?
A) Lisa should contact the worker’s spouse for advice.
B) Lisa should contact the police and a security guard.
C) Lisa should observe the worker for signs of impairment.
D) Lisa should ignore the matter because it is a personal issue.
46) In some cases, employees accused of alcoholism or drug abuse have retaliated by suing the
employer for all of the following EXCEPT ________.
A) wrongful discharge
B) OSHA violations
C) illegal search
D) defamation