PHMSA Near-Miss Reporting Program
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. Which of the following best defines a near-miss in pipeline
operations?
A) An event that causes immediate equipment failure
B) An incident resulting in injury or fatality
C) An unplanned event that could have resulted in an accident but did
not
D) A scheduled maintenance activity
C) An unplanned event that could have resulted in an accident but did not
Rationale: A near-miss is an event that did not cause harm but had the
potential to cause injury, damage, or environmental impact.
2. The primary goal of a near-miss reporting program is to:
A) Assign blame for safety incidents
B) Identify hazards and prevent accidents
C) Reduce reporting workload
D) Document equipment malfunctions
B) Identify hazards and prevent accidents
Rationale: Near-miss reporting is proactive; it helps organizations
recognize and mitigate hazards before accidents occur.
, 3. Which regulatory body provides oversight for pipeline safety in the
United States?
A) OSHA
B) EPA
C) PHMSA
D) DOT
C) PHMSA
Rationale: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA) regulates pipeline safety and oversees reporting programs.
4. Which type of incident should always be reported as a near-miss?
A) Only those resulting in property damage
B) Events with potential to cause harm, regardless of outcome
C) Minor equipment malfunctions with no safety risk
D) Only incidents reported by management
B) Events with potential to cause harm, regardless of outcome
Rationale: Near-miss reporting focuses on potential hazards, not just
outcomes.
5. Who is typically responsible for submitting near-miss reports in a
pipeline operation?
A) Safety managers only
B) All employees
C) External auditors
D) Regulatory inspectors
B) All employees
Rationale: Near-miss programs encourage reporting from all personnel to
capture a comprehensive view of hazards.
6. A near-miss reporting system that is anonymous encourages:
A) Reduced reporting frequency
B) Honest and open reporting
, C) Delays in corrective actions
D) Only management participation
B) Honest and open reporting
Rationale: Anonymity reduces fear of blame and promotes reporting of
hazards.
7. Which of the following is a key metric in evaluating near-miss
programs?
A) Total number of pipeline miles
B) Number of reported near-misses and corrective actions
implemented
C) Equipment inventory
D) Employee turnover rate
B) Number of reported near-misses and corrective actions implemented
Rationale: Tracking reported near-misses and actions taken demonstrates
program effectiveness.
8. The “hierarchy of controls” in safety management prioritizes:
A) Administrative documentation over physical controls
B) Elimination of hazards first, followed by substitution, engineering,
administrative, and PPE
C) Employee training over engineering solutions
D) Reporting after accidents occur
B) Elimination of hazards first, followed by substitution, engineering,
administrative, and PPE
Rationale: This is a standard approach to risk mitigation used in PHMSA
safety programs.
9. A near-miss report should include which of the following details?
A) Event description, location, and potential consequences
B) Employee salaries
C) Internal audits only
D) Equipment procurement dates
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which of the following best defines a near-miss in pipeline
operations?
A) An event that causes immediate equipment failure
B) An incident resulting in injury or fatality
C) An unplanned event that could have resulted in an accident but did
not
D) A scheduled maintenance activity
C) An unplanned event that could have resulted in an accident but did not
Rationale: A near-miss is an event that did not cause harm but had the
potential to cause injury, damage, or environmental impact.
2. The primary goal of a near-miss reporting program is to:
A) Assign blame for safety incidents
B) Identify hazards and prevent accidents
C) Reduce reporting workload
D) Document equipment malfunctions
B) Identify hazards and prevent accidents
Rationale: Near-miss reporting is proactive; it helps organizations
recognize and mitigate hazards before accidents occur.
, 3. Which regulatory body provides oversight for pipeline safety in the
United States?
A) OSHA
B) EPA
C) PHMSA
D) DOT
C) PHMSA
Rationale: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA) regulates pipeline safety and oversees reporting programs.
4. Which type of incident should always be reported as a near-miss?
A) Only those resulting in property damage
B) Events with potential to cause harm, regardless of outcome
C) Minor equipment malfunctions with no safety risk
D) Only incidents reported by management
B) Events with potential to cause harm, regardless of outcome
Rationale: Near-miss reporting focuses on potential hazards, not just
outcomes.
5. Who is typically responsible for submitting near-miss reports in a
pipeline operation?
A) Safety managers only
B) All employees
C) External auditors
D) Regulatory inspectors
B) All employees
Rationale: Near-miss programs encourage reporting from all personnel to
capture a comprehensive view of hazards.
6. A near-miss reporting system that is anonymous encourages:
A) Reduced reporting frequency
B) Honest and open reporting
, C) Delays in corrective actions
D) Only management participation
B) Honest and open reporting
Rationale: Anonymity reduces fear of blame and promotes reporting of
hazards.
7. Which of the following is a key metric in evaluating near-miss
programs?
A) Total number of pipeline miles
B) Number of reported near-misses and corrective actions
implemented
C) Equipment inventory
D) Employee turnover rate
B) Number of reported near-misses and corrective actions implemented
Rationale: Tracking reported near-misses and actions taken demonstrates
program effectiveness.
8. The “hierarchy of controls” in safety management prioritizes:
A) Administrative documentation over physical controls
B) Elimination of hazards first, followed by substitution, engineering,
administrative, and PPE
C) Employee training over engineering solutions
D) Reporting after accidents occur
B) Elimination of hazards first, followed by substitution, engineering,
administrative, and PPE
Rationale: This is a standard approach to risk mitigation used in PHMSA
safety programs.
9. A near-miss report should include which of the following details?
A) Event description, location, and potential consequences
B) Employee salaries
C) Internal audits only
D) Equipment procurement dates
