Risk Management & Mitigation Flashcards

A building analyst discovers a cracked heat exchanger in a forced-air furnace. Which action is REQUIRED before leaving the property?

Answer: Notify the occupants of the risk and recommend they shut down the furnace immediately

A cracked heat exchanger allows combustion gases including CO to enter the air stream; occupants must be notified immediately due to imminent health risk.

Which risk mitigation strategy is exemplified by adding a CO detector near sleeping areas in a home with combustion appliances?

Answer: Risk reduction

A CO detector reduces the risk of harm by providing early warning, though it does not eliminate the source of carbon monoxide.

Under BPI protocols, what action is required if a client refuses to address a health and safety hazard identified during an assessment?

Answer: Provide written notification of the hazard and document the client's refusal before proceeding with any work

BPI requires written disclosure of all health and safety hazards; the analyst must document client refusal and may decline to proceed with work that exacerbates the hazard.

What is the purpose of a risk hierarchy (eliminate → substitute → engineer → warn → PPE) in a building assessment context?

Answer: To guide selection of controls from most to least effective, addressing hazards at the source first

The hierarchy of controls guides analysts to prefer source elimination over personal protective equipment because higher-order controls are more reliable.

During a diagnostic assessment, zone pressure testing reveals that the attached garage is positively pressurized relative to the house. This finding indicates:

Answer: Garage air, potentially containing CO or volatile organic compounds, is being pushed into the living space

Positive garage pressure relative to the living space drives garage pollutants through gaps and unsealed penetrations into the home.

Which documentation practice is MOST important for managing liability risk after completing a building assessment?

Answer: Providing a written report listing all identified hazards, recommended actions, and client acknowledgments

A written report with documented hazard disclosures and client acknowledgments creates the legal record that the analyst fulfilled their professional duty.

A building analyst discovers elevated indoor formaldehyde levels likely originating from new composite wood cabinetry. The BEST immediate mitigation strategy is:

Answer: Increase fresh air ventilation to dilute and exhaust the pollutant while evaluating source control options

Increased ventilation reduces occupant exposure quickly while a longer-term source control solution is evaluated.