CCIL Laboratory Safety Protocols 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A laboratory technician notices a strong solvent odor while working at the bench. The FIRST corrective action should be to:
- Continue working and report the odor at end of shift
- Move work into the fume hood immediately (Correct answer)
- Open a window for ventilation
- Apply a respirator and continue bench work
Correct answer: Move work into the fume hood immediately
Work involving volatile solvents generating detectable odors must be moved into a functioning fume hood to prevent inhalation exposure.
Question 2: Under laboratory waste management protocols, empty containers that held acutely hazardous chemicals must be:
- Placed directly in regular trash after rinsing once
- Triple-rinsed and managed as hazardous waste (Correct answer)
- Crushed and recycled with standard materials
- Returned to the chemical supplier for credit
Correct answer: Triple-rinsed and managed as hazardous waste
Empty containers of acutely hazardous materials require triple-rinsing and must still be managed as hazardous waste per regulatory standards.
Question 3: What minimum face velocity (in feet per minute) is generally required for a properly functioning chemical fume hood?
- 25–50 fpm
- 60–100 fpm (Correct answer)
- 150–200 fpm
- 250–300 fpm
Correct answer: 60–100 fpm
A face velocity of 60–100 fpm is the generally accepted range to ensure adequate containment in a chemical fume hood.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of an administrative control for laboratory chemical hazards?
- Installing a local exhaust ventilation system
- Substituting a less hazardous chemical
- Implementing mandatory buddy-system procedures (Correct answer)
- Requiring workers to wear a full-face respirator
Correct answer: Implementing mandatory buddy-system procedures
Administrative controls include work practices and procedural changes such as buddy systems, whereas engineering controls and PPE are separate hierarchy categories.
Question 5: When are laboratory workers required to remove personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves before leaving the lab?
- Only when going to restrooms
- Only when handling food
- Before exiting into any common area or corridor (Correct answer)
- Only when the PPE shows visible contamination
Correct answer: Before exiting into any common area or corridor
PPE must be removed before leaving the laboratory to prevent spreading contamination into common areas.
Question 6: A chemical with a flash point below 23°C is classified under which GHS flammable liquid category?
- Category 4
- Category 3
- Category 2 or 1 (Correct answer)
- Category 5
Correct answer: Category 2 or 1
GHS Flammable Liquid Categories 1 and 2 cover liquids with flash points below 23°C (with Category 1 having an additional boiling point criterion).
Question 7: In a CCIL-accredited laboratory, a documented emergency response plan must be:
- Available electronically but not required in print
- Posted and accessible to all laboratory personnel (Correct answer)
- Reviewed only during initial staff orientation
- Maintained solely by the laboratory safety officer
Correct answer: Posted and accessible to all laboratory personnel
Emergency response plans must be accessible to all personnel in the lab and are typically posted in visible locations.
CCIL Laboratory Safety Protocols 3
A laboratory technician notices a strong solvent odor while working at the bench.
The FIRST corrective action should be to: