Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

OR
Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google
Quizzes > Business & Finance

OSHA accident investigation quiz for real-world practice

Quick, free OSHA incident investigation quiz with instant results and explanations.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Laura NeelyUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of safety helmet clipboard magnifying glass accident scene checklist icons on sky blue background

Use this OSHA accident investigation quiz to practice the steps that turn incidents into lessons: scene control, evidence, interviews, and root cause. Get quick feedback and see where to sharpen skills. For broader safety prep, try our workplace safety quiz, review high-risk controls in the lockout tagout test, or refresh gear basics with the osha ppe quiz.

What is the first step in an OSHA accident investigation?
Secure the accident scene
Interview witnesses
Notify OSHA immediately
Provide medical aid to the injured
The first priority in any workplace accident is immediate medical treatment and ensuring victims are safe. OSHA guidelines emphasize controlling hazards and aiding the injured before evidence collection and analysis. Once the injured are cared for, investigators can secure and document the scene.
OSHA requires employers to report any work-related fatality or hospitalization of three or more employees within how many hours?
48 hours
72 hours
24 hours
8 hours
Under 29 CFR 1904.39, employers must report any work-related fatality or amputation or hospitalization of three or more employees to OSHA within 8 hours of learning about the incident. This rapid notification allows OSHA to respond and inspect the site promptly. Failing to report in time can result in penalties.
Which OSHA form must be used to log each recordable injury or illness?
OSHA Form 300A
OSHA Form 302
OSHA Form 300
OSHA Form 301
OSHA Form 300, the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, is used to record each recordable case. Form 301 is an Incident Report with detailed descriptions, and Form 300A is the annual summary. Keeping accurate logs helps track workplace safety trends.
The primary objective of an accident investigation is to:
Fulfill paperwork requirements
Determine root causes to prevent recurrence
Assign blame to responsible parties
Minimize insurance claims
The main goal of any accident investigation is to identify both immediate and underlying causes so that corrective actions can prevent future incidents. Blame assignment does not lead to systemic improvement. Proper investigations focus on hazard control and process improvements.
Which of the following is NOT part of the Five Whys root cause analysis technique?
Documenting each step of the reasoning process
Assigning blame to an individual
Focusing on process and system errors
Asking 'Why?' repeatedly until the root cause is found
The Five Whys technique involves asking why a failure occurred and drilling down through process and system causes. It emphasizes understanding systems, not blaming individuals. Documenting the reasoning ensures transparency. Blame assignment is counterproductive to root cause analysis.
What is the main purpose of conducting witness interviews during an accident investigation?
To speed up the OSHA reporting process
To gather opinions on management performance
To penalize workers for mistakes
To collect factual accounts of what happened
Witness interviews are conducted to gather firsthand, factual information about the sequence of events and conditions leading up to an accident. Objective accounts help investigators reconstruct the scene accurately. Interviews should be unbiased and documented.
When preserving physical evidence at an accident scene, an investigator should:
Remove all items immediately for safekeeping
Rely solely on witness sketches
Label, photograph, and leave in place until documented
Ignore small or inconsequential debris
Proper evidence preservation involves labeling and photographing items in situ before any disturbance. Removing evidence prematurely can obscure the original conditions and hinder accurate analysis. Small debris can offer critical clues. Thorough documentation supports root cause analysis.
OSHAs Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) emphasize:
Proactive identification and prevention of hazards
Strict enforcement without employer input
Reactive investigation after accidents occur
Monthly reporting of near misses
OSHA VPP recognizes employers and workers who use proactive safety and health management systems to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. It focuses on collaboration and continuous improvement rather than reactive measures. Participants undergo rigorous evaluation.
Which tool is commonly used to visually map cause-and-effect relationships in accident analysis?
Pareto chart
Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram
SWOT analysis
Gantt chart
The Fishbone or Ishikawa diagram helps investigators categorize potential causes under headings like Equipment, Methods, Environment, and People. It provides a structured visual for brainstorming root causes. Gantt charts and Pareto charts serve different management purposes.
What does the term systemic failure refer to in the context of accident investigations?
Equipment malfunction due to wear
A single workers unsafe act
An isolated human error
A breakdown in organizational policies or procedures
Systemic failures are deficiencies in management systems, policies, or culture that allow hazards to persist. Focusing on systemic issues leads to stronger preventive actions. Isolated errors or equipment faults are often symptoms of deeper system problems.
Why should near-miss incidents be investigated with the same rigor as actual accidents?
They often reveal hidden hazards before injuries occur
They only involve minor equipment damage
They are less important than actual accidents
OSHA does not require near-miss reporting
Near-misses are events that could have resulted in injury or damage and often expose underlying hazards and process weaknesses. Investigating near-misses helps implement corrective actions before a serious incident occurs. This proactive approach reduces overall risk.
Which OSHA regulation specifies requirements for accident prevention signs and tags?
29 CFR 1910.1000
29 CFR 1910.132
29 CFR 1910.120
29 CFR 1910.145
29 CFR 1910.145 sets the standards for accident prevention signs and tags, including their design, color, and wording to ensure clear hazard communication. It covers safety color coding and standardized wording. Other sections address personal protective equipment and hazard communication but not signage specifics.
0
{"name":"What is the first step in an OSHA accident investigation?", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"What is the first step in an OSHA accident investigation?, OSHA requires employers to report any work-related fatality or hospitalization of three or more employees within how many hours?, Which OSHA form must be used to log each recordable injury or illness?","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}

Study Outcomes

  1. Understand OSHA Accident Investigation Procedures -

    Outline the essential OSHA steps for investigating workplace accidents, ensuring a solid foundation before tackling the OSHA accident investigation quiz.

  2. Analyze Accident Investigation Questions -

    Sharpen the ability to dissect accident scenarios, identify hazards, and determine causal factors in both the workplace accident quiz and real-world incidents.

  3. Apply Root Cause Analysis Techniques -

    Use proven root cause methods to trace incidents back to their origins, enhancing accuracy in safety incident investigation quiz responses.

  4. Evaluate Evidence and Documentation -

    Assess proper evidence-gathering and recordkeeping practices to meet OSHA compliance and improve case reporting in the safety incident investigation quiz.

  5. Implement Corrective Actions -

    Create effective corrective plans to mitigate risks, translating knowledge from the OSHA investigation training quiz into proactive safety measures.

  6. Enhance Decision-Making Under Pressure -

    Build confidence in selecting appropriate investigation steps within timed quizzes, strengthening proficiency in workplace accident response.

Cheat Sheet

  1. OSHA Recordkeeping & Classification Requirements -

    Familiarize yourself with OSHA's 29 CFR 1904 to determine which incidents are recordable, such as days-away-from-work cases versus first aid events. A handy mnemonic is "DFC" (Days-away, First aid, Cases) to remember key classifications. Mastering these definitions will help you accurately answer accident investigation questions and boost your confidence on the osha accident investigation quiz.

  2. Root Cause Analysis Techniques -

    Learn structured methods like the "5 Whys" and Ishikawa (fishbone) diagrams to dig past immediate causes and uncover underlying system failures. For example, keep asking "why" until you reach the human factor or process gap - usually within five layers. These techniques are core to any safety incident investigation quiz and real-world compliance work.

  3. Evidence Preservation & Scene Documentation -

    Document the accident scene immediately with photos, sketches, and date”stamped notes to maintain integrity of physical evidence. Use the "CAPTURE" approach (Camera, Annotate, Photographs, Take measurements, Use sketches, Record metadata, Evaluate) to ensure nothing's overlooked. Proper documentation underpins credible reports and is a must-know for workplace accident quiz scenarios.

  4. Effective Interview Techniques -

    Conduct unbiased interviews using open-ended questions ("Can you describe…?") and avoid leading prompts to get accurate witness accounts. The PEAR framework (Prepare questions, Engage neutrally, Ask open questions, Record thoroughly) helps you stay organized. Solid interviewing skills are routinely tested in osha investigation training quizzes and real investigations alike.

  5. SMART Corrective Actions & Follow-Up -

    Develop corrective actions that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) to prevent recurrence. For example, instead of "Improve training," specify "Conduct monthly lockout/tagout drills with pass/fail assessments by Q3." Demonstrating knowledge of SMART criteria shows mastery in safety protocols and is often a focus in safety incident investigation quizzes.

Make a Quiz (FREE) Copy & Edit This Quiz Create a Quiz with AI

Business & Industry Quizzes

Powered by: Quiz Maker