Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) Practice Exam

An organization is charged with a safety offence and defends itself on the grounds that it took all reasonable steps to avoid the particular event. What is this defence known as?

1. Due process

2. Reasonable cause

3. Due diligence

4. Just cause

The correct answer is: Due diligence

The correct answer is due diligence. This term refers to the efforts made by an organization to ensure compliance with safety regulations and to prevent accidents or harm. When an organization can demonstrate that it has taken all reasonable steps to ensure safety—such as providing training, maintaining equipment, and following safety protocols—it is leveraging the due diligence defense. This legal principle places the onus on the organization to proactively manage risk, showing that it has acted responsibly and attentively in its safety practices. In contrast, terms like due process are more about fair treatment within legal and administrative proceedings, reasonable cause typically pertains to having a legitimate reason for a particular action (like termination), and just cause is often related to having a fair and valid reason for disciplinary actions against an employee. These concepts do not apply to the specific context of demonstrating compliance and proactive measures in safety management, which is why they do not fit the scenario described.