AWWA Safety Regulations and Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), what must be available to water utility workers who handle chemicals?
- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheets (SDS) (Correct answer)
- A verbal briefing from the supervisor
- A laminated quick-reference card
- An annual safety newsletter
Correct answer: Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
OSHA's HazCom Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires employers to maintain SDS (formerly MSDS) for all hazardous chemicals and make them accessible to workers.
Question 2: Which federal agency enforces the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) at the national level?
- OSHA
- EPA (Correct answer)
- CDC
- FEMA
Correct answer: EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the primary federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Question 3: A water utility worker is required to enter a below-grade valve vault. What OSHA standard primarily governs this activity?
- 29 CFR 1910.147 – Lockout/Tagout
- 29 CFR 1910.146 – Permit-Required Confined Spaces (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.134 – Respiratory Protection
- 29 CFR 1926.502 – Fall Protection
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.146 – Permit-Required Confined Spaces
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 covers permit-required confined spaces, which includes below-grade vaults that may accumulate hazardous atmospheres.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a Hazardous Energy Control (Lockout/Tagout) program at a water treatment plant?
- To document chemical inventories
- To prevent unexpected energization of equipment during maintenance (Correct answer)
- To ensure proper disposal of hazardous waste
- To train employees on spill response
Correct answer: To prevent unexpected energization of equipment during maintenance
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) programs prevent the unexpected release of stored energy (electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic) that could injure workers during equipment servicing.
Question 5: Which of the following is a key requirement of the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) for public water systems?
- Annual flushing of all distribution mains
- Monitoring tap water for lead and copper at high-risk sites (Correct answer)
- Replacing all copper pipes within 5 years
- Weekly reporting of lead levels to the public
Correct answer: Monitoring tap water for lead and copper at high-risk sites
The Lead and Copper Rule requires water systems to monitor lead and copper levels at consumer taps in homes most likely to have elevated levels.
Question 6: What does the term 'action level' mean under the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule?
- The maximum allowable lead concentration in source water
- The concentration that triggers required treatment and public notification actions (Correct answer)
- The level at which a water system is fined by the EPA
- The threshold above which lead pipes must be replaced within 30 days
Correct answer: The concentration that triggers required treatment and public notification actions
The action level (15 µg/L for lead) is the trigger point that requires a water system to take corrective actions such as optimizing corrosion control and notifying customers.
Question 7: Under AWWA standards, which practice is recommended when working around high-pressure water mains to reduce injury risk?
- Always use plastic tools to avoid sparks
- Depressurize and isolate the main before performing any maintenance (Correct answer)
- Wear only chemical-resistant gloves
- Avoid working during peak demand hours only
Correct answer: Depressurize and isolate the main before performing any maintenance
AWWA best practices require depressurizing and isolating water mains before maintenance to prevent high-pressure water ejection injuries.
AWWA Safety Regulations and Compliance 2
Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), what must be available to water utility workers who handle chemicals?