Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

Section 1910.1000 (Air Contaminants) of the General Industry Standard is classified as what type of standard?

1. Prescriptive

2. Performance

3. Design

4. Regulatory

The correct answer is: Performance

The classification of Section 1910.1000 (Air Contaminants) of the General Industry Standard as a performance standard is based on its focus on achieving specific outcomes regarding air quality rather than strictly dictating how those outcomes must be achieved. Performance standards set forth criteria or objectives that must be met to protect employee health and safety, allowing for flexibility in how organizations meet those goals. In the context of air contaminants, this means that instead of providing a detailed, step-by-step method for compliance, the standard outlines permissible exposure limits (PELs) and the need for effective monitoring and control measures to ensure a safe working environment. This allows employers the ability to implement various methods tailored to the specific conditions of their workplaces while still meeting the health and safety goals laid out in the standard. Understanding this classification helps in recognizing the broader framework of safety regulations, which often vary in their approach, either being prescriptive (stating precisely how to comply), performance-based (focusing on the outcomes), or regulatory (encompassing the legal requirements that must be followed).