IOSH Managing Safely Practice Test

What is reactive law primarily concerned with?

1. Preventing safety hazards before they occur

2. Providing punishments for lawbreakers

3. Enhancing employee engagement

4. Developing safety guidelines

The correct answer is: Providing punishments for lawbreakers

Reactive law focuses primarily on responding to incidents or breaches of the law after they have occurred, rather than on proactive measures to prevent such incidents. This approach is concerned with the enforcement of legal standards and applies legal consequences or punishments to individuals or organizations that have violated safety regulations or laws. The objective of reactive law is to hold accountable those responsible for safety violations and to ensure compliance through penalties, thereby deterring future misconduct. By focusing on enforcement, reactive law plays a crucial role in the legal framework surrounding safety management, although it does not directly contribute to preventing hazards from arising in the first place. Understanding this concept is important for recognizing the distinction between reactive and proactive safety management strategies.