Leading Indicators and Program Evaluation questions for the CHST
CHST5 Domain 3: Safety Program Development, Implementation, and Sustainment (S3.3 Identify trends; K3.6 Program evaluation). 3 free questions below. Every answer quotes and links the regulation paragraph it rests on.
Regulations covered
- OSHA, Using Leading Indicators to Improve Safety and Health Outcomes (2019) Using Leading Indicators to Improve Safety and Health Outcomes
Text pulled from the eCFR, current as of .
Question 1
A hospital safety technician tracks a weekly leading indicator: lift teams must arrive within five minutes of a page. Back injuries have dropped, but some still occur. Workers tell the technician that teams are arriving on time, yet there are not enough teams available to reach the next patient when paged. What is the most appropriate next step under the guidance?
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Answer: B. Review staffing levels, add lift teams with lifting equipment, and continue tracking the indicator
The indicator was being met, but worker feedback showed a capacity gap, so the guidance's response is to review staffing, add teams with equipment, and keep tracking. Stopping or reducing tracking is wrong because injuries are still occurring.
Answer B rests on
OSHA, Using Leading Indicators to Improve Safety and Health Outcomes (2019), PDF p. 11(opens ecfr.gov in a new tab)“Based on this discussion, you review your staff levels, decide to add three more lift teams with lifting equipment, and continue to track your leading indicator.”
Question 2
A site superintendent tracks the percentage of her 35 workers who attend mandatory quarterly refresher training, with a goal of 100%. Reviewing the sign-in sheet for the last quarter, she finds that only 70% attended. Several of the absent workers tell her they were out of work on the day of the session. Which action is most consistent with the guidance on using this leading indicator?
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Answer: D. Schedule makeup sessions for future training and continue tracking the indicator
When the result fell short and workers explained they were out that day, the guidance is to schedule makeup sessions and keep tracking the indicator. Lowering the goal or dropping the indicator does not address the cause of the gap.
Answer D rests on
OSHA, Using Leading Indicators to Improve Safety and Health Outcomes (2019), PDF p. 7(opens ecfr.gov in a new tab)“After discussing this with your workers, you learn that some of them did not attend because they were out from work that day. For the future sessions, you ensure that makeup sessions are scheduled and continue to track your leading indicator.”
Question 3
A general contractor's monthly safety dashboard shows that the average time between a worker submitting a hazard report and the hazard being corrected rose steadily over the last four months, from 2 days to 9 days. No recordable injuries have occurred during this period. The superintendent says the program is fine because the injury rate is unchanged. What is the best interpretation of the trend?
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Answer: C. It signals possible lack of management concern, meaning hazards are likely to remain uncontrolled and incidents more likely, so action is needed now despite the unchanged injury rate
The guidance says an increase in response time could signal a lack of management concern, leaving hazards uncontrolled and making incidents more likely. A flat injury rate (lagging) does not offset this early warning. A decrease, not an increase, in response time would suggest increased awareness.
Answer C rests on
OSHA, Using Leading Indicators to Improve Safety and Health Outcomes (2019), PDF p. 3(opens ecfr.gov in a new tab)“Conversely, an increase in response time could signal a lack of management concern, which could mean that hazards are likely to remain uncontrolled, and incidents are more likely to occur.”
13 more leading indicators and program evaluation questions in the full CHST bank
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