CCIL Laboratory Safety Protocols 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of glove material provides the best resistance to concentrated sulfuric acid?
- Latex
- Nitrile
- Neoprene or butyl rubber (Correct answer)
- Vinyl
Correct answer: Neoprene or butyl rubber
Neoprene and butyl rubber offer superior resistance to strong mineral acids like concentrated sulfuric acid compared to latex, nitrile, or vinyl.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a Laboratory Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)?
- To track chemical inventory and purchasing records
- To describe procedures, equipment, and work practices that protect workers from hazardous chemicals (Correct answer)
- To document disposal records for regulatory compliance
- To outline laboratory accreditation requirements
Correct answer: To describe procedures, equipment, and work practices that protect workers from hazardous chemicals
A CHP is a written program required by OSHA's Lab Standard that outlines protective measures for handling hazardous chemicals.
Question 3: What does a purple or ultraviolet (UV) Biohazard warning label on a laboratory refrigerator indicate?
- Radioactive material storage
- Biohazardous specimen or material storage (Correct answer)
- Cryogenic liquid storage
- Flammable solvent storage
Correct answer: Biohazardous specimen or material storage
The universal biohazard symbol on refrigerators indicates the unit contains biological specimens or materials that may pose an infection risk.
Question 4: Which segregation rule applies to storing perchloric acid in a laboratory?
- Store with other mineral acids to consolidate corrosive waste
- Store separately from all organic materials and reducing agents (Correct answer)
- Store refrigerated with oxidizing agents
- Store in a flammable materials cabinet
Correct answer: Store separately from all organic materials and reducing agents
Perchloric acid is a strong oxidizer that reacts violently with organic compounds and must be stored completely segregated from them.
Question 5: A laboratory safety inspection reveals that a sharps container is three-quarters full. The correct action is to:
- Continue using it until completely full
- Seal and replace the container immediately (Correct answer)
- Compress the contents to make more room
- Transfer sharps to a larger container
Correct answer: Seal and replace the container immediately
Sharps containers should be sealed and replaced when they reach the fill line (typically 75% full) to prevent needlestick injuries.
Question 6: Under standard laboratory biosafety levels, BSL-2 conditions are appropriate for work involving:
- Non-pathogenic E. coli strains used in cloning
- Agents associated with moderate individual risk such as hepatitis B virus (Correct answer)
- Agents requiring space-suit-level protection
- Agents causing life-threatening disease with no available treatment
Correct answer: Agents associated with moderate individual risk such as hepatitis B virus
BSL-2 is designated for moderate-risk agents like hepatitis B that pose disease risk if accidentally ingested or through percutaneous exposure.
Question 7: When diluting a concentrated acid with water in a laboratory, the correct technique is to:
- Add water to acid slowly while stirring
- Add acid to water slowly while stirring (Correct answer)
- Mix equal volumes simultaneously
- Heat the water first to speed dissolution
Correct answer: Add acid to water slowly while stirring
Acid must always be added to water — never water to acid — to prevent violent exothermic reactions and spattering.
CCIL Laboratory Safety Protocols 4
Which type of glove material provides the best resistance to concentrated sulfuric acid?