Occupational and Environmental Health: Recognizing and Preventing Disease and Injury - Multiple Choice Questions - Learn & Prevent

What key aspect differentiates the EU's approach to worker health and safety from that of the U.S.?

1. The EU focuses more on inherent safety and pollution prevention

2. The EU uses indicative Occupational Exposure Limits

3. The EU does not require the evaluation of new and existing chemicals

4. The EU lacks a general duty obligation like OSHA's general duty clause

The correct answer is: The EU uses indicative Occupational Exposure Limits

The key aspect that differentiates the EU's approach to worker health and safety from that of the U.S. is that the EU uses indicative Occupational Exposure Limits. This means that the EU sets recommended exposure limits rather than legally enforceable ones. Option A is incorrect because both the EU and the U.S. focus on inherent safety and pollution prevention as part of their OHS frameworks. Option C is incorrect because the EU does require evaluation of new and existing chemicals under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. Option D is incorrect because the EU does have a general duty obligation for employers to provide a safe and healthy work environment, but it is not as specific as OSHA's general duty clause.