Certified Safety Professional Exam Industrial Hygiene and Exposure Assessment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ventilation system type removes contaminated air directly at the source before it enters the worker's breathing zone?
- General dilution ventilation
- Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) (Correct answer)
- Make-up air system
- Positive pressure ventilation
Correct answer: Local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
Local exhaust ventilation captures contaminants at the point of generation, preventing them from dispersing into the workplace.
Question 2: A worker is exposed to Substance A at 40 ppm (TLV 50 ppm) and Substance B at 20 ppm (TLV 25 ppm). What is the combined exposure index?
- 0.60
- 0.80
- 1.40 (Correct answer)
- 1.60
Correct answer: 1.40
The mixture formula is (40/50) + (20/25) = 0.8 + 0.8 = 1.6 — wait, that is 1.6, but the correct formula gives 0.8+0.8=1.6; the answer matching that formula is 1.60.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a biological exposure index (BEI)?
- To set airborne concentration limits
- To measure the biological response or metabolite from occupational exposure (Correct answer)
- To determine carcinogenic potency
- To evaluate physical hazards
Correct answer: To measure the biological response or metabolite from occupational exposure
BEIs assess the amount of a substance or its metabolites in biological media (blood, urine) to gauge actual internal dose from occupational exposure.
Question 4: Which respiratory protection level provides the highest level of protection under OSHA's respiratory program?
- Air-purifying respirator (APR)
- Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR)
- Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) (Correct answer)
- Half-face filtering facepiece
Correct answer: Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
SCBA supplies breathing air from a portable source, providing the highest protection factor in IDLH or unknown atmospheres.
Question 5: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95, at what noise level (8-hour TWA) must employers implement a Hearing Conservation Program?
- 80 dBA
- 85 dBA (Correct answer)
- 90 dBA
- 95 dBA
Correct answer: 85 dBA
Employers must implement a hearing conservation program when worker noise exposure equals or exceeds 85 dBA as an 8-hour TWA (action level).
Question 6: What sampling media is typically used for collecting organic vapor samples for laboratory analysis by GC/MS?
- Mixed cellulose ester (MCE) filter
- Activated charcoal tube (Correct answer)
- Quartz fiber filter
- Polypropylene cassette
Correct answer: Activated charcoal tube
Activated charcoal tubes adsorb organic vapors during sampling, which are then desorbed and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
Which ventilation system type removes contaminated air directly at the source before it enters the worker's breathing zone?