Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Safety Assessment Practice Test

Which agency recommends that workers assume all equipment is energized until they have verified otherwise?

1. EPA

2. OSHA

3. UAW

4. ANSI

The correct answer is: OSHA

The correct choice is associated with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), which emphasizes the importance of treating all equipment as potentially energized until it has been verified to be de-energized. This approach is critical in maintaining workplace safety, as it minimizes the risk of accidental electrocution or electrical shock. Workers are trained to follow this precautionary principle to ensure that they do not assume safety without verification, which could lead to dangerous situations. OSHA's guidelines reinforce the value of prudent safety practices in environments where electrical equipment is present. By instilling this mindset, OSHA aims to foster a culture of safety where workers remain vigilant and proactive about equipment status. This is part of broader safety standards they enforce to protect workers from various hazards in the workplace. The other agencies listed do not specifically focus on this electrical safety protocol. For instance, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is primarily concerned with environmental regulations, while the UAW (United Auto Workers) focuses on labor union activities, and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) develops consensus standards but does not provide direct worker safety guidelines like OSHA does.