Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) Practice Exam

What type of hazard control was implemented by automating a high-hazard job?

1. Administrative

2. Engineering

3. Training

4. PPE

The correct answer is: Engineering

Automating a high-hazard job falls under engineering controls because this approach involves changing the work environment and processes to reduce or eliminate hazards. Engineering controls focus on designing equipment or processes to minimize risks to workers. By automating a task that was previously high-risk, the physical presence of workers in potentially dangerous situations is reduced or eliminated, thus lowering the likelihood of accidents and injuries. The other approaches to hazard control, such as administrative controls, involve changes in policies or procedures to reduce risk but do not involve modification of equipment or processes directly. Training encompasses providing knowledge and skills to workers to increase safety awareness and practices but does not fundamentally change the hazard itself. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) involves providing safety gear to workers but does not eliminate the hazard at its source. Therefore, automation is rightly categorized as an engineering control due to its inherent design changes aimed at improving workplace safety.