C33 Safety 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When removing lead-based paint by power sanding or grinding on a California job site, which respiratory protection is the minimum required?
- NIOSH-approved half-face respirator with P100 filters (Correct answer)
- Dust mask (nuisance mask)
- N95 disposable respirator
- No respiratory protection is required outdoors
Correct answer: NIOSH-approved half-face respirator with P100 filters
High-dust lead paint removal tasks require at minimum a half-face air-purifying respirator with P100 (HEPA) filters per the Cal/OSHA lead standard.
Question 2: A painter notices that the rungs of an extension ladder are bent and cracked. What is the correct action?
- Remove the ladder from service, tag it 'Do Not Use,' and report it for repair or replacement (Correct answer)
- Use the ladder only for light tasks
- Tape over the cracks and continue using it
- Allow only experienced workers to use it at reduced height
Correct answer: Remove the ladder from service, tag it 'Do Not Use,' and report it for repair or replacement
Damaged ladders must be immediately taken out of service, tagged, and either repaired by a qualified person or destroyed to prevent accidental use.
Question 3: Which of the following is required before a painting employee enters a permit-required confined space?
- A written confined-space entry permit signed by the entry supervisor (Correct answer)
- Verbal authorization from the job foreman
- A standard safety briefing without documentation
- Atmospheric testing only if vapors are suspected
Correct answer: A written confined-space entry permit signed by the entry supervisor
Cal/OSHA Title 8 Section 5157 requires a completed written entry permit, atmospheric testing, and an attendant before entering a permit-required confined space.
Question 4: Under California's heat illness prevention regulation (Title 8 Section 3395), at what outdoor temperature must a painting employer provide shade for outdoor workers?
- 80°F or above (Correct answer)
- 90°F or above
- 85°F or above
- 95°F or above
Correct answer: 80°F or above
Cal/OSHA's heat illness prevention standard requires employers to provide shade when outdoor temperatures reach 80°F or above.
Question 5: What is the primary hazard of using oil-based paint in a poorly ventilated room without proper controls?
- Accumulation of flammable vapors that can reach the lower explosive limit (LEL) (Correct answer)
- Increased drying time only
- Reduced coverage of the paint
- Discoloration of the final paint film
Correct answer: Accumulation of flammable vapors that can reach the lower explosive limit (LEL)
Solvent vapors from oil-based paints can accumulate to the lower explosive limit (LEL), creating an explosion and fire hazard in enclosed spaces.
Question 6: Which document must a California painting contractor have available on site for every chemical product used by employees?
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) (Correct answer)
- Purchase receipt
- Manufacturer's advertising brochure
- Product color chart
Correct answer: Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Cal/OSHA's HazCom standard requires Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to be readily accessible to employees for every hazardous chemical present in their work area.
Question 7: A painting contractor's employee is diagnosed with blood lead level (BLL) of 40 μg/dL. What action does Cal/OSHA require?
- The worker must be removed from lead-exposure work and medically monitored until BLL drops below 25 μg/dL (Correct answer)
- Increase respirator use only
- No action until BLL reaches 60 μg/dL
- The worker may continue if BLL is under 50 μg/dL
Correct answer: The worker must be removed from lead-exposure work and medically monitored until BLL drops below 25 μg/dL
Cal/OSHA's lead standard requires medical removal when BLL reaches 40 μg/dL, with return to work only when BLL is confirmed at or below 25 μg/dL.
C33 Safety 3
When removing lead-based paint by power sanding or grinding on a California job site, which respiratory protection is the minimum required?