OSHA Safety Interview: 50 Questions and Sample Answers
1. What is OSHA?
Answer: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a U.S. government agency that sets and enforces workplace safety and health regulations to protect workers.
2. What is the main purpose of OSHA?
Answer: OSHA’s purpose is to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities by enforcing safety standards, conducting inspections, and providing training.
3. Who is covered under OSHA regulations?
Answer: OSHA covers most private-sector employees and some public-sector workers in the U.S., except for self-employed individuals and certain government workers.
4. What are an employer’s responsibilities under OSHA?
Answer: Employers must:
- Provide a safe work environment
- Follow OSHA standards
- Train workers on safety and hazards
- Keep records of workplace injuries
5. What are employees’ rights under OSHA?
Answer: Employees have the right to:
- Work in a safe environment
- Receive OSHA training
- Report workplace hazards
- Refuse dangerous work without retaliation
6. What are the OSHA General Duty Clause requirements?
Answer: The General Duty Clause requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that can cause death or serious harm.
7. What is the OSHA 300 Log?
Answer: The OSHA 300 Log is a record-keeping form where employers document workplace injuries and illnesses.
8. What industries are most regulated by OSHA?
Answer: High-risk industries include:
- Construction
- Oil & Gas
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
9. What are the different types of OSHA inspections?
Answer:
- Imminent danger inspections
- Fatality or accident investigations
- Employee complaints
- Programmed (scheduled) inspections
10. What should employers do during an OSHA inspection?
Answer:
- Cooperate with the OSHA inspector
- Provide required documents
- Address hazards immediately
11. What are the common OSHA violations?
Answer:
- Fall protection failures
- Hazard communication violations
- Scaffolding safety violations
- Machine guarding issues
12. What is the OSHA hierarchy of controls?
Answer:
- Elimination – Remove the hazard
- Substitution – Replace hazardous material/process
- Engineering controls – Use physical safety barriers
- Administrative controls – Implement policies/procedures
- PPE – Use protective equipment
13. What is a Job Safety Analysis (JSA)?
Answer: A JSA is a process of identifying workplace hazards and implementing controls before starting a job.
14. What is an OSHA citation?
Answer: An OSHA citation is a formal notice that an employer has violated safety regulations and must correct the issue.
15. What are the penalties for OSHA violations?
Answer: Penalties vary based on severity:
- Serious violations: Up to $15,625 per violation
- Willful/repeated violations: Up to $156,259 per violation
16. What is PPE, and why is it important?
Answer: PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) includes helmets, gloves, eye protection, and respirators, which protect workers from hazards.
17. What is an OSHA “competent person”?
Answer: A competent person is someone who has safety training, experience, and authority to identify and fix hazards.
18. What are OSHA’s fall protection requirements?
Answer:
- Provide guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems for workers at heights of 6 feet or more in construction.
19. What is OSHA’s lockout/tagout (LOTO) standard?
Answer: LOTO procedures prevent accidental startup of machines during maintenance by isolating hazardous energy sources.
20. What are the fire safety requirements under OSHA?
Answer:
- Maintain fire extinguishers
- Provide fire exits
- Train workers on fire emergency procedures
21. What is an SDS (Safety Data Sheet)?
Answer: An SDS provides safety information about hazardous chemicals, including handling, storage, and emergency measures.
22. What is an OSHA recordable injury?
Answer: A recordable injury requires medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, restricted work duties, or death.
23. What are the four types of OSHA violations?
Answer:
- Willful (intentional disregard for safety)
- Serious (could cause death or serious injury)
- Other-than-serious (safety impact but not life-threatening)
- Repeated (same violation found in previous inspections)
24. What is workplace ergonomics?
Answer: Ergonomics focuses on designing workstations and tasks to reduce strain, fatigue, and musculoskeletal injuries.
25. What is the purpose of emergency action plans?
Answer: Emergency action plans provide guidelines for evacuation, fire safety, and medical emergencies.
26. What is the purpose of OSHA’s confined space regulation?
Answer: OSHA’s confined space regulations protect workers from hazards like toxic gases, lack of oxygen, and entrapment in confined areas.
27. What are the requirements for confined space entry?
Answer:
- Obtain a confined space entry permit
- Conduct atmospheric testing
- Provide ventilation and rescue equipment
28. What are the OSHA noise exposure limits?
Answer: OSHA sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 90 dB over an 8-hour shift and requires hearing protection above this level.
29. What is the difference between an OSHA standard and a regulation?
Answer: A standard provides specific safety requirements, while a regulation is a law that enforces compliance.
30. What is the purpose of OSHA’s hazard communication (HAZCOM) standard?
Answer: The HAZCOM standard ensures that workers know about hazardous chemicals through labels, SDSs, and training.
31. What is an OSHA safety program?
Answer: An OSHA safety program is a set of policies and procedures to identify and control workplace hazards.
32. What are common electrical safety hazards in the workplace?
Answer:
- Exposed live wires
- Overloaded circuits
- Improper grounding
- Wet conditions near electrical equipment
33. What is OSHA’s requirement for first aid in the workplace?
Answer: Employers must provide first aid supplies and trained personnel for medical emergencies.
34. What is the role of an OSHA inspector?
Answer: OSHA inspectors conduct workplace inspections, issue citations, and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
35. How can an employee report an OSHA violation?
Answer: Employees can file a complaint online, by phone, or in person with OSHA without fear of retaliation.
36. What is the OSHA requirement for scaffolding safety?
Answer: Scaffolding must be properly constructed, inspected daily, and equipped with guardrails and fall protection.
37. What is the OSHA requirement for ladder safety?
Answer: Ladders must be stable, have proper load capacity, and be used according to manufacturer guidelines.
38. What is the purpose of an OSHA emergency eyewash station?
Answer: Emergency eyewash stations flush chemicals or debris from the eyes, reducing injury risk.
39. What does OSHA’s respiratory protection standard cover?
Answer: It requires proper respirators, fit testing, and training to protect workers from airborne hazards.
40. What is an OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)?
Answer: The VPP recognizes employers who go beyond OSHA standards to create a safer workplace.
41. What is the OSHA standard for bloodborne pathogens?
Answer: It protects workers from exposure to infectious diseases by requiring proper handling of blood and bodily fluids.
42. How often does OSHA require fire extinguisher inspections?
Answer: Fire extinguishers must be visually inspected monthly and professionally inspected annually.
43. What is the OSHA standard for machine guarding?
Answer: Machines must have barriers, covers, or automatic shut-off systems to prevent injuries.
44. What is an OSHA health and safety committee?
Answer: A safety committee is a group of employees and managers who review safety concerns and implement solutions.
45. What is an OSHA “Willful Violation”?
Answer: A willful violation occurs when an employer knowingly ignores OSHA rules or acts with intentional disregard for safety.
46. What is the OSHA standard for exit routes?
Answer:
- Must be clearly marked
- Free of obstructions
- Lead to a safe exit location
47. What should be included in an OSHA-compliant fall protection plan?
Answer:
- Risk assessments
- Fall protection equipment
- Training for workers
48. What is an OSHA “Serious Violation”?
Answer: A serious violation is when a hazard could cause death or serious injury, and the employer should have known about it.
49. How can an employer contest an OSHA citation?
Answer: Employers can request an informal conference or file a formal appeal with OSHA within 15 days of receiving the citation.
50. What are the key benefits of OSHA compliance?
Answer:
- Fewer workplace injuries and fatalities
- Lower legal and insurance costs
- Improved worker morale and productivity
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