On a job site, a Cal/OSHA inspector discovers that a piece of equipment does not comply with a new safety standard. A temporary variance may be granted if the equipment

On a job site, a Cal/OSHA inspector discovers that a piece of equipment does not comply with a new safety standard. A temporary variance may be granted if the equipment

• A. Is new and requires extra time to be brought into compliance
• B. Is older than ten years
• C. Is operated only by trained personnel
• D. Is not used on site for more than 30 days

Answer: (A)

A temporary variance is a time-limited permission to operate equipment that doesn’t yet meet a new safety standard, so work can continue while the required changes are made. This is most appropriate when the equipment is new and needs extra time to be brought into compliance—perhaps because retrofits, parts, or testing are required before it can meet the standard. The other scenarios don’t address the need for time to modify or update the equipment, so they don’t justify a temporary variance.

A temporary variance is a time-limited permission to operate equipment that doesn’t yet meet a new safety standard, so work can continue while the required changes are made. This is most appropriate when the equipment is new and needs extra time to be brought into compliance—perhaps because retrofits, parts, or testing are required before it can meet the standard. The other scenarios don’t address the need for time to modify or update the equipment, so they don’t justify a temporary variance.