Deck 12: Promoting Safety and Health

Question 1

Not so long ago, many workers were seriously affected through contact with asbestos in workplaces. What is this an example of?

A) occupational illnesses
B) occupational injuries
C) management negligence
D) industrial diseases

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Under health and safety legislation, which of the following is NOT required of employers?

A) take every reasonable precaution to guarantee worker safety
B) ensure that workers use or wear safety equipment, devices, or clothing
C) discipline employees who refuse to do work they believe is unsafe
D) inform their employees about health and safety requirements

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a high-risk work circumstance associated with workplace violence?

A) interacting with the public
B) dealing with the exchange of money
C) working with information technology
D) working alone

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT true of workers' compensation?

A) Unlimited medical aid is provided under workers' compensation.
B) The goal of workers' compensation is to return the employee to his or her job (or some modification thereof) as soon as possible.
C) The emphasis of workers' compensation is primarily on assessment, payments, and rehabilitation.
D) Injured workers can receive benefits in the form of a cash payout under workers' compensation.

Question 5

Harry Davis has been found guilty of smoking around a volatile substance in his workplace. It is his first offence after 25 years. The employer, ABC Inc., has a progressive disciplinary system where employees are first given a written warning, then suspended for repeated violations, and dismissed as a last resort. What action should ABC Inc. take?

A) ABC Inc. must follow the progressive disciplinary system in punishing Harry.
B) ABC Inc. may choose to terminate Harry, even though it is his first offence.
C) ABC Inc. must involve the courts before making a decision.
D) ABC Inc. must involve the government before making a decision.

Question 6

What do joint health and safety committees consist of?

A) management representatives
B) employee (union) representatives
C) both employee (union) and management representatives
D) health and safety officers

Question 7

In 2009, there were 939 workplace-related deaths-an average of four Canadian workers dying every working day. Given that there were 366 days in 2002, should this figure be lower?

A) Yes; 900/366 is approximately 2.5 deaths per day.
B) Yes; many of these deaths are based on fraudulent claims.
C) No; you have to subtract weekends, statutory holidays, and so forth to get working days.
D) No; it should be higher because many deaths are not reported.

Question 8

Management is encouraged to involve employees in safety programs. Which of the following is NOT a way that employees should be involved?

A) jointly setting safety standards
B) participating in safety training
C) developing safety legislation
D) establishing safety incentives and rewards

Question 9

What is the key role for the supervisor with respect to safety?

A) to administer employee disciplinary procedures
B) to communicate to an employee the need to work safely
C) to observe employee behaviour on-the-job
D) to monitor actions of supervisors

Question 10

Most jurisdictions require the establishment of health and safety committees with both union and management representation. Which of the following is one of the expectations of this approach?

A) that it would educate the union about the problems their membership cause
B) that it would show the union how tough management can be
C) that it would help to develop a nonadversarial union-management climate
D) that it would force the union not to strike

Question 11

When should safety training begin?

A) with new employee orientation
B) immediately after an accident or injury
C) before returning to work after an accident or injury
D) at the discretion of the supervisor

Question 12

Omar works as a supervisor with responsibility for discipline in the workplace; Cindy works as an attendant for a parking garage; Devi works as an IT programmer at a bank; and Lee works as a nurse in a hospital. Who is the LEAST likely to be at risk for workplace violence?

A) Lee
B) Cindy
C) Omar
D) Devi

Question 13

Employee protections in the workplace with respect to health and safety have improved significantly over the past few decades. Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons for this improvement?

A) increase in public concerns
B) pressures from the unions
C) pressures from the developing world to match their competitiveness
D) pressures from government

Question 14

What is the term for the number of injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time employees during a given year?

A) illness rate
B) accident rate
C) incidence rate
D) safety rate

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a worker's responsibility related to safety?

A) to advise on potential workplace hazards
B) to report hazardous conditions or defective equipment
C) to follow all employer safety and health rules and regulations
D) to exercise discretion in the use of protective equipment

Question 16

Why must supervisors observe employees' work safety behaviours?

A) to limit the company's liability in case of accident
B) to reduce insurance costs
C) to reinforce and ensure adherence to safe practices
D) to learn the proper procedures from line employees

Question 17

Which statement about penalties for violations of safety rules is NOT true?

A) Penalties are generally harsher than those for other types of offences.
B) Penalties are usually stated in the employee handbook.
C) In the case of a serious violation, a first offence may be cause for termination.
D) Supervisors must take immediate action when unsafe acts are detected.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT an initiative that can make health and safety training more effective?

A) involve workers in the program design
B) exclude the union in planning
C) use the Internet and information technology as appropriate
D) include related material in new employee orientation

Question 19

In Alberta, which of the following bodies regulate occupational health and safety?

A) the Alberta provincial government only
B) the federal and Alberta governments
C) the federal government only
D) the governments of Canada and all the provinces, including Alberta

Question 20

Tom Jones was recently injured on the job at ABC Steel Factory. Whose responsibility is it to report the accident to the Workers' Compensation Board?

A) Tom Jones himself
B) Tom Jones's coworkers
C) the government's safety officer
D) ABC Steel Factory

Question 21

An employee is showing signs of depression, including decreased energy, irritability, and hostility, in the workplace. What should the HR manager do?

A) suggest professional help
B) diagnose the problem and urgently try to remedy it
C) do nothing, as the problem will most likely go away
D) suspend the employee so as to prevent workplace violence

Question 22

Which of the following is LEAST likely to be promoted through company programs and services?

A) reduced absenteeism
B) increased efficiency
C) exemption from safety inspection
D) better morale

Question 23

Which of the following statements best describes drug testing in the workplace?

A) Managers are exempt from drug testing.
B) Employees may use or abuse legal prescription drugs that affect their behaviour.
C) Managers have a right to test employees for any substance at any time.
D) Human rights legislation encourages drug testing.

Question 24

If an employee is experiencing personal problems, who is the individual most likely to refer the worker to the company's employee assistance program?

A) his or her supervisor
B) his or her spouse or significant other
C) a member of the clergy
D) the employee himself or herself

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT a common cause of workplace stress?

A) having too much to do in too short a time
B) lack of recognition for a job well done
C) having to expend too much mental or physical energy over too long a period
D) empowerment

Question 26

Mary is beginning to sense a loss of security and adequacy in her work at ABC Inc. What is it that she is beginning to experience?

A) cumulative trauma disorders
B) distress
C) eustress
D) dysfunctional adaptation

Question 27

Jack Spratt, the HR manager at Risky Bank Inc., has been working on a plan to prevent workplace violence. He has so far redesigned the workplace to include electronic surveillance and implemented new administrative practices, such as background checks. Which of the following would NOT be a good additional measure?

A) keeping cash register funds to a minimum
B) keeping track of immigrants in the workplace
C) having a violence prevention policy in place
D) forming crisis management teams

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a cause of job-related stress?

A) learning new coping skills
B) having too much to do in a short time
C) having low control over the way the job is done
D) receiving no rewards for a job well done

Question 29

Assume that you are a new manager at a manufacturing plant. On your first day, you are on the factory floor and notice one employee verbally abusing another; a fight was imminent. Which of the following would NOT be a wise strategy for you to follow?

A) try to separate the individuals and ask them to see you individually in private
B) remain calm
C) publicly ask the aggressor to back down, as this would help with developing your authority in the workplace
D) listen and be nonjudgmental

Question 30

Improved individual employee health will have the LEAST impact on which of the following outcomes?

A) reduced absenteeism
B) improved compensation and reward systems
C) increased efficiency
D) better morale

Question 31

Jenny Jones has been working at the same job-typing almost all day-for the past five years. She has now damaged her wrist as a result of the work. What is her problem most likely a form of?

A) ambidextrosis
B) muscular dysfunctions
C) cumulative trauma disorder
D) systematic trauma

Question 32

Which category of service employees is at the highest risk of workplace violence?

A) insurance agents who visit clients' homes
B) postal workers who deliver the mail
C) nurses
D) firefighters

Question 33

Samantha works as a secretary at Bingo Bank and spends a significant period of her work day in front of a computer. She is at risk of experiencing various problems associated with video display terminal use. Which of the following is Samantha NOT at risk of experiencing?

A) visual difficulty
B) muscle ache
C) job stress
D) disorientation

Question 34

What is the best method to capitalize on the benefits of video display terminals while safeguarding employee health?

A) placing the computer monitor to the side of the desk
B) placing the computer screen 10 to 25 cm (4 to 9 inches) below eye level
C) placing the computer screen 30 cm (12 inches) above eye level
D) adjusting the brightness and contrast controls on the screen to be as high as possible

Question 35

Managerial, technical, or public contact jobs may all experience a kind of stress that usually energizes them. What is this positive stress called?

A) distress
B) functional stress
C) eustress
D) fight-or-flight stress

Question 36

An employee has been diagnosed with depression and possible mental illness. Her manager has organized professional counselling for her as part of the organizational response to her problems. This counselling is most likely a form of which of the following?

A) a new reward system
B) an employee assistance program
C) a mental preparedness program
D) a crisis prevention program

Question 37

What program aims to help employees with nutrition, weight control, and avoidance of substances harmful to health?

A) a fitness program
B) an employee assistance program
C) a health service program
D) a wellness program

Question 38

Which job is LEAST likely to result in a cumulative trauma disorder?

A) college teacher
B) meat cutter
C) dental hygienist
D) violinist

Question 39

Which best describes employees who smoke versus those who are non-smokers?

A) Non-smoking employees have lower levels of absenteeism than employees who smoke.
B) Employees who smoke and non-smokers have similar levels of absenteeism and productivity.
C) Health care costs are lower for employees who smoke than for non-smokers.
D) Employees who smoke are typically more productive and have less absenteeism than non-smokers.

Question 40

What is the best way to proactively manage workplace violence?

A) hire armed guards to oversee workplace activities
B) develop a zero-tolerance policy for violence
C) report violence to the police as soon as it happens
D) implement a strenuous disciplinary policy

Question 41

Employees do not have any specific duties related to their safety.

Question 42

Once informed by the employer of safety hazards or health regulations, it is the employee's responsibility to comply with occupational health and safety legislation.

Question 43

Occupational health and safety are regulated solely by the federal government.

Question 44

An occupational illness is any abnormal condition or disorder caused by exposure to environmental factors associated with employment.

Question 45

There is legislation pertaining to occupational health and safety in every province and territory in Canada.

Question 46

Cathy has been experiencing severe stress on the job, including depression, frustration, and a loss of productivity. What is she most likely experiencing?

A) burnout
B) an alarm reaction
C) eustress
D) severe eustress

Question 47

In 2009, there were more than 900 Canadian workplace-related deaths.

Question 48

Employers have many responsibilities in providing safe workplaces for employees.

Question 49

Scenario 12.2
Boat Xpress is a shipping firm in a small rural area in Northern Ontario. The company hires mainly part-time workers, but has them work full-time hours. This way, the firm does not have to pay employees benefits or provide them with more than 4 percent vacation pay. The working conditions at Boat Xpress are very bleak, and health and safety standards are nonexistent. If an employee is injured on the job, he/she goes home without pay until well enough to resume working. Several employees have tried to organize but they end up getting fired, and the firm threatens to shut down if they continue trying or report incidents. Because employees need these jobs to survive and take care of their families, they believe they have no other choice but to continue working.
Refer to Scenario 12.2. Boat Xpress, like any other Canadian firm, has certain duties. Which of the following is NOT a duty of Boat Xpress?

A) report all accidents that cause injuries to the Workers' Compensation Board
B) provide safety training to all employees
C) reward employees for safe work practices
D) prove due diligence has been carried out

Question 50

Which topic is LEAST likely to be included in an employer-sponsored stress-management program?

A) relaxation techniques
B) tips on consuming alcohol usefully
C) coping skills
D) ways of dealing with difficult people

Question 51

Scenario 12.1
Safe Haven is a daycare facility that caters to teenagers and adults with severe disabilities. Employees with Safe Haven get extensive training on how to keep their clients relaxed, stress free, and happy, but the training does not take into consideration how stressful the job is on employees. Recently, there has been an increase in turnover, and employees who do stay for some time tend to take more time off than normal. Even when they return to work, they seem uptight and stressed out. The HR manager wants to design some programs that can assist these employees in dealing with the stress that is inherent with this type of work.
Refer to Scenario 12.1. Which of the following is NOT a useful tip in helping to reduce job-related stress at Safe Haven?

A) set realistic deadlines and negotiate reasonable deadlines with managers
B) build rewarding relationships with coworkers
C) talk openly with managers and employees about job or personal concerns
D) wait to act on problems or concerns of importance

Question 52

Health and safety committees in the workplace are comprised only of management representatives.

Question 53

Kent Factory Inc. is a sausage plant that has been receiving bad reports in the press related to its health and safety problems. The reports are causing a loss in profits. Assume that you are the new HR manager. Which of the following would be one of your first initiatives to deal with the problems?

A) fire the HR staff because they have been ineffective in dealing with the problems
B) alert the CEO that you are not a trained psychologist or a safety officer, so another department should handle the issue
C) invite the press for a tour of the facilities
D) diagnose the cause of the problems and formulate a plan to deal with them

Question 54

Scenario 12.1
Safe Haven is a daycare facility that caters to teenagers and adults with severe disabilities. Employees with Safe Haven get extensive training on how to keep their clients relaxed, stress free, and happy, but the training does not take into consideration how stressful the job is on employees. Recently, there has been an increase in turnover, and employees who do stay for some time tend to take more time off than normal. Even when they return to work, they seem uptight and stressed out. The HR manager wants to design some programs that can assist these employees in dealing with the stress that is inherent with this type of work.
Refer to Scenario 12.1. If Safe Haven wants to design workshops to help its employees deal with the negative effect of job-related stress, it could include instructions in all of the following EXCEPT which one?

A) relaxation techniques
B) coping skills
C) off-the-job-training
D) listening skills

Question 55

Under workers' compensation, injured workers are entitled to a cash payout in the case of permanent disability.

Question 56

Scenario 12.2
Boat Xpress is a shipping firm in a small rural area in Northern Ontario. The company hires mainly part-time workers, but has them work full-time hours. This way, the firm does not have to pay employees benefits or provide them with more than 4 percent vacation pay. The working conditions at Boat Xpress are very bleak, and health and safety standards are nonexistent. If an employee is injured on the job, he/she goes home without pay until well enough to resume working. Several employees have tried to organize but they end up getting fired, and the firm threatens to shut down if they continue trying or report incidents. Because employees need these jobs to survive and take care of their families, they believe they have no other choice but to continue working.
Refer to Scenario 12.2. Boat Xpress is violating the occupational health and safety regulations. Which of the following is accurate about the penalties for employer noncompliance?

A) fines up to $500,000 and offenders can be sent to jail
B) fines up to $1,000,000 but jail time is not part of any penalty
C) only a warning for first-time offenders
D) no criminal charges against coworkers, supervisors, or executives

Question 57

Which of the following statements best describes job-related stress?

A) Stress that is harmful to some employees may be healthy for others and improve their performance.
B) Burnout is the first stage of eustress.
C) Providing music of any kind will help relieve stress.
D) Setting ever higher performance goals relieves employee stress by giving them self-esteem about their ability to achieve goals.

Question 58

Scenario 12.2
Boat Xpress is a shipping firm in a small rural area in Northern Ontario. The company hires mainly part-time workers, but has them work full-time hours. This way, the firm does not have to pay employees benefits or provide them with more than 4 percent vacation pay. The working conditions at Boat Xpress are very bleak, and health and safety standards are nonexistent. If an employee is injured on the job, he/she goes home without pay until well enough to resume working. Several employees have tried to organize but they end up getting fired, and the firm threatens to shut down if they continue trying or report incidents. Because employees need these jobs to survive and take care of their families, they believe they have no other choice but to continue working.
Refer to Scenario 12.2. Which of the following is a duty of supervisors at Boat Xpress?

A) requesting and receiving information about safety and health conditions
B) advising employees of potential workplace hazards
C) exercising the right to refuse unsafe work without fear of reprisal
D) reporting concerns of hazardous working conditions to supervisors, which will trigger investigations

Question 59

Scenario 12.1
Safe Haven is a daycare facility that caters to teenagers and adults with severe disabilities. Employees with Safe Haven get extensive training on how to keep their clients relaxed, stress free, and happy, but the training does not take into consideration how stressful the job is on employees. Recently, there has been an increase in turnover, and employees who do stay for some time tend to take more time off than normal. Even when they return to work, they seem uptight and stressed out. The HR manager wants to design some programs that can assist these employees in dealing with the stress that is inherent with this type of work.
Refer to Scenario 12.1. Which of the following is a step in the right direction if Safe Haven wants to help its employees better deal with job-related stress?

A) redesigning and enriching jobs as much as possible
B) focusing on less important items and making them important
C) recognizing that change is not always good, thus making no changes in the physical factors in the environment
D) making employees' work roles very defined

Question 60

Penalties for violations of health and safety regulations include substantial fines, as well as jail terms.

Question 61

Health and safety procedures should be an important part of new employee orientation.

Question 62

The emphasis in workers' compensation has been shifting to creating safer workplaces.

Question 63

Crisis management teams are composed of both hourly and managerial employees who develop action plans to respond to violent situations.

Question 64

Safety incentive programs are only effective when they are based on monetary rewards.

Question 65

The Internet and other forms of information technology can play a key role in health and safety programs.

Question 66

A serious violation of a safety rule may be grounds for employee termination, even for a first offence.

Question 67

It is the supervisor's duty to ensure that workers use or wear safety equipment, devices, or clothing.

Question 68

An individual who suffers clinical depression after a serious accident is eligible for workers' compensation while receiving treatment for the accident.

Question 69

An employee's supervisor is the primary source of safety-related information.

Question 70

If an injured employee has been off work for six months, that person has only a 20 percent chance of returning.

Question 71

Crisis management teams should also concern themselves with the aftermath of violence, such as the guilt and fear employees may have.

Question 72

The success of a safety program depends largely on the HR department.

Question 73

The definitions of accidents and injuries have expanded to include stress.

Question 74

In addition to rewards for safe behaviour, it is equally important that organizations enforce safety rules through penalties such as discipline.

Question 75

A supervisor's primary obligation to employee safety is to communicate safety standards and train employees in safe practices.

Question 76

Very few Canadian employers have a formal safety program.

Question 77

The members of the safety committee should investigate only accidents resulting in serious injuries.

Question 78

Employees who work alone are at a lower risk of encountering workplace assaults.

Question 79

Nurses are victims of violence at a rate that is 16 times higher than other service workers.

Question 80

The goal of workers' compensation is to return the employee to work as soon as possible.