CA Risk Management & Mitigation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which integrated pest management (IPM) strategy is considered the most sustainable long-term approach for archival repositories?
- Quarterly pesticide application throughout the building
- Preventing pest entry through building maintenance and environmental controls (Correct answer)
- Freezing all incoming materials for 72 hours
- Fumigating the entire collection annually
Correct answer: Preventing pest entry through building maintenance and environmental controls
IPM emphasizes prevention through environmental controls and building maintenance rather than relying primarily on chemical treatments.
Question 2: A risk assessment matrix typically plots risks according to which two variables?
- Cost and duration
- Likelihood and impact (Correct answer)
- Frequency and visibility
- Complexity and urgency
Correct answer: Likelihood and impact
A risk matrix evaluates each risk based on its probability of occurrence (likelihood) and the severity of consequences (impact).
Question 3: For off-site backup storage of digital archival materials, which principle should guide the selection of the backup location?
- The backup site should be as close as possible to minimize transfer time
- The backup site should be in a different geographic risk zone from the primary site (Correct answer)
- The backup site should use identical hardware for compatibility
- The backup site should be managed by the same institution
Correct answer: The backup site should be in a different geographic risk zone from the primary site
Off-site backups should be located in a geographically separate risk zone so that a single regional disaster cannot destroy both the primary and backup copies.
Question 4: What is the 3-2-1 backup rule as applied to digital archives?
- Keep 3 backups, on 2 different media types, with 1 backup off-site (Correct answer)
- Backup every 3 days, verify every 2 weeks, audit every 1 year
- Use 3 servers, 2 cloud providers, and 1 tape system
- Retain files for 3 years, migrate every 2 formats, store in 1 location
Correct answer: Keep 3 backups, on 2 different media types, with 1 backup off-site
The 3-2-1 rule specifies three copies of data on two different media types, with one copy stored off-site for disaster resilience.
Question 5: When wet paper archival materials must be air-dried after water damage, what is the recommended maximum stack thickness to prevent additional damage?
- No more than 0.5 inches
- No more than 1 inch (Correct answer)
- No more than 2 inches
- No more than 4 inches
Correct answer: No more than 1 inch
Wet paper should be air-dried in stacks no more than one inch thick to allow adequate airflow and prevent additional distortion and mold growth.
Question 6: Which standard provides guidance for risk assessment and risk management applicable to cultural heritage institutions, including archives?
- ISO 31000 (Correct answer)
- ANSI/NISO Z39.48
- OSHA 1910.157
- NFPA 909
Correct answer: ISO 31000
ISO 31000 provides internationally recognized principles and guidelines for risk management applicable across sectors, including cultural heritage.
Question 7: An archivist notices evidence of silverfish in a storage area. Which corrective action addresses both immediate infestation and long-term prevention?
- Apply chemical pesticide and seal all boxes with tape
- Remove affected materials, reduce humidity, seal entry points, and consult a licensed pest control professional (Correct answer)
- Freeze all materials in the affected area and increase lighting
- Transfer all materials to a different building immediately
Correct answer: Remove affected materials, reduce humidity, seal entry points, and consult a licensed pest control professional
A comprehensive response addresses the immediate infestation, modifies the environment to be inhospitable to pests, and prevents re-entry through professional consultation.
CA Risk Management & Mitigation 3
Which integrated pest management (IPM) strategy is considered the most sustainable long-term approach for archival repositories?