CEM Emergency Response & Environmental Incidents Flashcards
6 cards from real CEM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CEM Emergency Response & Environmental Incidents flashcards as text
A 'root cause analysis' conducted after an environmental incident is intended to:
Answer: Identify the underlying systemic factors that led to the incident to prevent recurrence
Root cause analysis goes beyond immediate causes to identify systemic failures in management, procedures, training, or design that contributed to an incident, enabling true prevention.
Under the Process Safety Management (PSM) standard (29 CFR 1910.119), facilities handling highly hazardous chemicals above threshold quantities must develop:
Answer: A comprehensive Process Hazard Analysis and multiple PSM program elements
PSM requires 14 program elements including Process Hazard Analysis, written procedures, employee training, mechanical integrity, and emergency planning for covered processes above threshold quantities.
The 'right-to-know' principle embodied in EPCRA requires facilities to publicly disclose chemical hazard information primarily to:
Answer: Enable communities and emergency planners to understand and prepare for chemical hazards in their area
EPCRA's right-to-know provisions empower communities, workers, and emergency responders by ensuring access to information about hazardous chemicals stored and used near them.
When a hazardous substance release occurs at a facility, the National Response Center (NRC) must be notified:
Answer: Immediately (as soon as practicable) when a reportable quantity is released
CERCLA Section 103 and Clean Water Act Section 311 require immediate notification to the NRC (1-800-424-8802) when releases of hazardous substances or oil above reportable quantities occur.
A 'lessons learned' document produced after an environmental incident drill or actual emergency is most valuable because it:
Answer: Captures what worked and what failed so response procedures can be improved before the next incident
Lessons learned documents capture actionable insights from drills and real incidents, driving improvements to plans, training, equipment, and coordination before the next emergency occurs.
The 'Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act' (CERCLA) holds which parties potentially liable for cleanup of contaminated sites?
Answer: Current owners, past owners, generators, and transporters of hazardous substances (joint and several liability)
CERCLA imposes joint and several liability on four classes of potentially responsible parties (PRPs): current owners/operators, past owners/operators during disposal, generators, and hazardous substance transporters.