OHST Practice Exam

Engineering controls are designed to minimize or eliminate hazards in the workplace by altering the environment or the way tasks are performed. These controls can include physical changes such as installing machine guards, improving ventilation systems, or designing ergonomic tools that can reduce the risk of injury.

By implementing engineering controls, a workplace can significantly lower the risk of accidents by mitigating exposure to potential hazards. For instance, a well-designed safety guard on machinery prevents body parts from coming into contact with moving parts, directly reducing the likelihood of injury. Improved ventilation can decrease exposure to harmful airborne contaminants, thereby protecting workers' health.

While aspects such as communication, productivity, and financial risk management are important in a workplace, they do not directly relate to the primary role of engineering controls, which focuses specifically on hazard prevention and risk reduction. Thus, the fundamental goal of engineering controls is to create a safer work environment, making the option regarding the reduction of accidents and injuries the most accurate choice.