AERA Safety Standards & Environmental Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under EPA regulations, used engine oil collected during rebuilding operations must be stored in containers that are:
- Sealed, labeled, and kept in secondary containment (Correct answer)
- Open-top drums for easy access
- Mixed with coolant for disposal efficiency
- Stored indoors without ventilation requirements
Correct answer: Sealed, labeled, and kept in secondary containment
Used oil must be in labeled, sealed containers with secondary containment to prevent spills and ground contamination per EPA Used Oil Management Standards (40 CFR Part 279).
Question 2: Which OSHA standard specifically governs the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) during engine rebuilding maintenance?
- 29 CFR 1910.119
- 29 CFR 1910.147 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.178
- 29 CFR 1910.212
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.147
29 CFR 1910.147 is the OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy standard that requires lockout/tagout procedures when servicing or maintaining machinery.
Question 3: When using a parts washer with aqueous cleaning solution in an engine rebuilding shop, the waste water generated is typically classified as:
- Non-hazardous and can be poured down any drain
- Hazardous waste requiring licensed disposal
- Industrial wastewater subject to local pretreatment standards (Correct answer)
- Clean water exempt from all regulations
Correct answer: Industrial wastewater subject to local pretreatment standards
Aqueous parts washer wastewater is industrial wastewater regulated by local pretreatment standards under the Clean Water Act, not typically classified as RCRA hazardous waste.
Question 4: A technician must grind a crankshaft that has been contaminated with unknown fluids. The FIRST safety step should be:
- Start grinding immediately to remove contamination
- Identify the contaminants and assess exposure risks (Correct answer)
- Apply additional lubricant over the contaminants
- Increase grinding speed to minimize exposure time
Correct answer: Identify the contaminants and assess exposure risks
Identifying unknown contaminants before work begins is critical to selecting appropriate PPE and controls to protect the technician from chemical exposure.
Question 5: The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle C regulations apply to engine rebuilders primarily when they generate:
- More than 100 kilograms of hazardous waste per month (Correct answer)
- Any amount of used engine oil
- Scrap metal from worn engine parts
- Carbon dioxide emissions from test engines
Correct answer: More than 100 kilograms of hazardous waste per month
RCRA Subtitle C hazardous waste regulations kick in for Very Small Quantity Generators at 100 kg/month, triggering specific storage, handling, and disposal requirements.
Question 6: Which type of fire extinguisher is MOST appropriate for a solvent fire in an engine rebuilding shop?
- Class A water extinguisher
- Class B dry chemical or CO2 extinguisher (Correct answer)
- Class D powder extinguisher
- Class K wet chemical extinguisher
Correct answer: Class B dry chemical or CO2 extinguisher
Solvent fires are Class B (flammable liquid) fires, which require dry chemical, CO2, or foam extinguishers — never water.
Question 7: An engine rebuilding shop that uses more than 55 gallons of a listed hazardous solvent per month must comply with which regulatory threshold?
- Small Quantity Generator (SQG) requirements under RCRA (Correct answer)
- Large Quantity Generator (LQG) requirements automatically
- No additional requirements beyond standard storage rules
- Only state environmental agency rules, not federal
Correct answer: Small Quantity Generator (SQG) requirements under RCRA
Generating between 100 and 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per month places a facility in the Small Quantity Generator category with specific compliance obligations under RCRA.
AERA Safety Standards & Environmental Compliance 2
Under EPA regulations, used engine oil collected during rebuilding operations must be stored in containers that are: