DSST Principles of Supervision Practice Exam

The likely failed management function in the case of a chemical spill leading to injuries and equipment damage is safety management. Safety management encompasses all practices aimed at protecting employees and the workplace from accidents and hazardous conditions.

In this scenario, a chemical spill resulted in injuries and equipment damage, indicating a clear lapse in safety protocols. Effective safety management involves identifying potential hazards, implementing safety procedures, training employees on these procedures, and ensuring that safety measures are regularly followed and updated. A failure in safety management means that proper procedures were either not established or not adhered to, which directly correlates to the incident in question.

Communication, planning, and human resources management are also essential functions, but their failure would not necessarily result in immediate physical harm or equipment loss. Communication may involve disseminating safety information, while planning may encompass the overall strategy for handling hazardous materials, but without robust safety management, the effectiveness of these functions diminishes significantly. Thus, the incident points primarily to shortcomings in safety management practices.