OSHA #511 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry course

What is a key factor in managing employee exposure to workplace hazards?

1. Increasing overtime hours to reduce accidents

2. Controlling hazards to protect workers

3. Reducing the number of employees on-site

4. Implementing more rigorous safety signage

The correct answer is: Controlling hazards to protect workers

Managing employee exposure to workplace hazards fundamentally revolves around the concept of controlling those hazards effectively to protect workers. This approach is central to occupational safety and health standards, focusing on identifying risks and implementing measures that either eliminate the hazards or minimize their potential impact on employees. Controlling hazards involves a range of strategies, such as engineering controls (like improving ventilation systems), administrative controls (like job rotation to minimize exposure), and the provision of personal protective equipment. Each of these strategies is designed to create a safer work environment, thereby reducing the likelihood of accidents and health issues associated with various workplace hazards. The other options do not directly address the management of hazards in the same way. For instance, increasing overtime hours might put more pressure on workers and reduce their alertness, leading to a higher risk of accidents rather than a decrease. Reducing the number of employees on-site does not necessarily lessen the hazards present; it could simply concentrate risks among fewer individuals. Lastly, while rigorous safety signage can promote awareness and remind employees of safety practices, it does not address the underlying hazards themselves and thus is not a comprehensive solution for managing exposure.