CAR Safety & Hazardous Material Handling 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document must accompany a shipment of hazardous waste from an automotive recycling facility to a treatment facility?
- Bill of lading
- Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest (Correct answer)
- Safety Data Sheet
- EPA Form 8700-12
Correct answer: Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest
The Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest (EPA Form 8700-22) is required by RCRA to track hazardous waste from cradle to grave during transport.
Question 2: Airbags in end-of-life vehicles are classified under OSHA and industry standards as:
- Inert safety devices with no disposal requirements
- Explosive devices requiring special handling and documented disposal (Correct answer)
- Universal wastes managed under simplified rules
- Class C flammable materials
Correct answer: Explosive devices requiring special handling and documented disposal
Undeployed airbags contain explosive propellants and are regulated as explosive devices, requiring trained personnel for removal and proper documentation of deployment or disposal.
Question 3: What is the maximum storage time for hazardous waste at a large quantity generator (LQG) automotive recycling facility before it must be shipped?
- 30 days
- 90 days (Correct answer)
- 180 days
- 270 days
Correct answer: 90 days
LQGs may accumulate hazardous waste on-site for no more than 90 days without a storage permit under 40 CFR 262.17.
Question 4: Which PPE is specifically required when removing mercury switches from vehicle hoods or trunk lids?
- Safety glasses only
- Nitrile or neoprene gloves and eye protection (Correct answer)
- Supplied-air respirator and full face shield
- Steel-toed boots and hard hat only
Correct answer: Nitrile or neoprene gloves and eye protection
Mercury switch removal requires chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or neoprene) and eye protection to prevent skin and eye contact with liquid mercury.
Question 5: A facility stores 500 kg of hazardous waste on-site at any given time. This classifies it as a:
- Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG)
- Small Quantity Generator (SQG) (Correct answer)
- Large Quantity Generator (LQG)
- Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
Correct answer: Small Quantity Generator (SQG)
Under 2016 RCRA reform rules, a Small Quantity Generator produces between 100 kg and 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per month and may store up to 6,000 kg on-site.
Question 6: When handling end-of-life vehicles suspected of containing asbestos in brake components, workers must avoid:
- Wearing respirators rated below N100
- Using compressed air to blow out brake dust (Correct answer)
- Wetting brake components before removal
- Using a HEPA vacuum on brake areas
Correct answer: Using compressed air to blow out brake dust
Using compressed air to clean brake assemblies can aerosolize asbestos fibers, creating an inhalation hazard; wet methods or HEPA vacuums must be used instead.
Question 7: Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), automotive recyclers must report releases of extremely hazardous substances above the reportable quantity to:
- Only the EPA regional office
- State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) (Correct answer)
- OSHA and local fire department only
- The National Response Center only
Correct answer: State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
EPCRA Section 304 requires immediate notification of releases above reportable quantities to both the SERC and LEPC, as well as the National Response Center under CERCLA.
CAR Safety & Hazardous Material Handling 3
Which document must accompany a shipment of hazardous waste from an automotive recycling facility to a treatment facility?