National Association of Boards of Long Term Care Administrator (NAB) CORE Practice Exam

Which of the following Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations is least likely to be associated with a fine?

1. Serious

2. Non-serious

3. De minimus

4. Imminent danger

The correct answer is: De minimus

The choice indicating that "de minimus" violations are least likely to be associated with a fine is correct because these types of violations are considered minor or of little significance in terms of safety risks. De minimus violations are those that do not have a direct or immediate impact on the health and safety of employees or the workplace environment. In essence, they might involve a technical lack of compliance but pose minimal risk to workers. In the realm of OSHA classifications, serious violations can lead to substantial fines because they have a direct relationship to serious physical harm. Non-serious violations may also incur fines, albeit generally smaller than those for serious violations, though still relevant to health and safety. Imminent danger violations are taken very seriously due to their potential for causing immediate harm, thus typically resulting in significant penalties. However, de minimus violations are often noted for correction without fines, given their negligible connection to workplace safety, emphasizing the regulatory approach of focusing enforcement efforts on more pressing concerns.