Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What is the main goal of an occupational health and safety program?

1. To enforce strict disciplinary actions

2. To minimize the risk of occupational injuries

3. To conduct regular employee reviews

4. To increase employee output

The correct answer is: To minimize the risk of occupational injuries

The main goal of an occupational health and safety program is to minimize the risk of occupational injuries. Such programs are designed to create a safe working environment by identifying potential hazards and implementing measures to control or eliminate them. This focus on risk reduction not only helps protect employees from physical and health-related risks but also promotes overall well-being within the workplace. By prioritizing safety, these programs contribute to a culture of prevention, where both employers and employees are engaged in maintaining safety standards. This proactive approach ultimately leads to fewer workplace accidents and injuries, which benefits both workers and organizations by reducing costs associated with workers' compensation, loss of productivity, and potential legal issues. The other options, while relevant to certain aspects of workplace management, do not directly align with the primary objectives of occupational health and safety programs. Enforcing disciplinary actions or conducting employee reviews may be part of a broader organizational strategy but do not focus specifically on injury prevention. Increasing employee output relates to productivity goals rather than health and safety, which underscores that the primary aim of these programs is to safeguard health and prevent harm at work.