ASE Quality Assurance & Compliance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which OSHA standard specifically governs employee right-to-know about hazardous chemicals in the workplace?
- 29 CFR 1910.147 (Lockout/Tagout)
- 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication) (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.303 (Electrical)
- 29 CFR 1910.95 (Occupational Noise)
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard Communication)
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) at 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires employers to inform workers about chemical hazards through labels and Safety Data Sheets.
Question 2: When must a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) be accessible to employees?
- Only during initial employee training
- At all times while the chemical is in the workplace (Correct answer)
- Only when a spill or exposure occurs
- During annual OSHA inspections only
Correct answer: At all times while the chemical is in the workplace
OSHA requires SDS documents to be immediately accessible to employees at all times during work shifts when hazardous chemicals are present.
Question 3: A technician notices a floor jack is leaking hydraulic fluid and has reduced lift capacity. The correct action is to:
- Top off the fluid and continue using it
- Use it only for light vehicles until it fails
- Tag it out of service and report it for repair (Correct answer)
- Add more fluid and test it with a heavy vehicle to see if it holds
Correct answer: Tag it out of service and report it for repair
Defective lifting equipment must be removed from service immediately and tagged out to prevent potential injury from equipment failure.
Question 4: In the context of ASE certification, what does 'recertification' require?
- Retaking all ASE tests every year
- Completing continuing education credits only
- Passing recertification tests every five years (Correct answer)
- Paying a renewal fee with no additional testing
Correct answer: Passing recertification tests every five years
ASE certifications are valid for five years, after which technicians must pass updated recertification exams to maintain their credentials.
Question 5: A vehicle is returned to a customer after a wheel bearing replacement, but the technician forgot to torque the lug nuts to specification. This is an example of:
- An acceptable oversight if the nuts are hand-tight
- A quality control failure with serious safety implications (Correct answer)
- A normal part of the repair process
- Only a problem if the customer reports a noise
Correct answer: A quality control failure with serious safety implications
Improperly torqued lug nuts can cause wheel separation while driving, representing a critical quality and safety failure.
Question 6: Which type of waste generated in auto repair shops is regulated as hazardous under federal law?
- Used paper shop towels
- Spent brake cleaner aerosol cans (Correct answer)
- Worn-out floor mats
- Discarded air filter elements
Correct answer: Spent brake cleaner aerosol cans
Aerosol cans that contained flammable solvents like brake cleaner are classified as hazardous waste under RCRA regulations unless fully emptied.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of a torque audit performed after a wheel installation?
- To verify the lug nuts have not loosened during a test drive (Correct answer)
- To check if the brake rotors are properly seated
- To measure bearing preload
- To confirm the ABS sensor ring is aligned
Correct answer: To verify the lug nuts have not loosened during a test drive
A torque audit after a short test drive confirms lug nuts have settled and maintained proper torque, ensuring wheel retention safety.
ASE Quality Assurance & Compliance 3
Which OSHA standard specifically governs employee right-to-know about hazardous chemicals in the workplace?