Chesapeake Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers

Answers to the May "Test Your Knowledge" Questions!

Test your Knowledge Questions from Pete Holzberg, CSP, ARM, ALCM

Whether you are studying for a certification exam, feeling a little rusty, or just enjoy a challenge, we invite to join in our monthly quiz feature.

Listed below are the answers for our last 6 questions for the Spring. Compare your answers. How well did you do?

Our Test Your Knowledge feature is now on Summer Break. Check back in the Fall for a new set of questions!

1. Which of the following best describes McGregor’s Management Theory “Y”?

a. Rigid style management-- intimidation is the only way to motivate their workers to do their jobs.
b. Supervisors should set a good example in their application and enforcement of safety rules and regulations
c. Employees naturally dislike work and must be forced, controlled and constantly directed to do tasks.
d. Employees envision work as a natural obligation, seek increased freedom (and responsibility) and like to achieve results.

2. A punch press machine has an action time of 0.66 seconds. The operator reaction time is 0.75 feet per second. What is the distance an activation switch must be located from the point of operation in order to provide effective “guarding”?

a. Have not a clue—not enough information given in question
b. 0.1 feet
c. 2.5 feet
d. 2.0 feet

Distance = Machine Action Time X Reaction Time , 0.66 sec X 0.75 ft / sec = about 0.5ft, but there is a safety factor of “5” hence 5 X 0.50 = 2.5 ft.

3. Fly By Nite Computer Company purchases 40% of its components from your company (Inferior Parts, Inc) and 60% of the identical parts were purchased from your competitor, (Sure-Thing, Inc.). In a products liability suit, an independent inspector conducts an investigation and finds out that 10% of your parts were defective and 5% of your competitor’s parts were defective.

If all the parts were combined into one container in the manufacturing process, what is the probability that the part picked at random came did not come from your competitor?

a. 0.57
b. 0.70
c. 0.20
d. 0.43

Watch out for “trick” wording. Question reads “Not from your competitor, implies defective part coming from YOUR company.

Calculation: Your company 40 (e.g. out of 100) x 10% = 4 (actual defective) and your competitor 60 (out of 100) x 5% = 3 (actual defective). Total defective (e.g. out of 100 picked) = 3 + 4 = 7 (0.70). But the question asks, probability of part picked is from your company; hence, it would be 4 out (total) of 7 or 0.57 or 57%

Answers to the May "Test Your Knowledge" Questions!

Test Your Knowledge Q&A Archives