CES Health and Safety Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom 2012), Safety Data Sheets must contain how many sections?
- 12
- 16 (Correct answer)
- 18
- 24
Correct answer: 16
GHS-aligned SDSs are standardized into 16 sections covering identification, hazards, composition, first aid, fire-fighting, accidental release, handling/storage, exposure controls, physical/chemical properties, stability, toxicology, ecological info, disposal, transport, regulatory, and other information.
Question 2: A confined space is classified as 'permit-required' under 29 CFR 1910.146 when it contains which characteristic?
- Dimensions smaller than 4 feet in any direction
- A recognized serious safety or health hazard (Correct answer)
- No means of natural ventilation
- Access restricted to authorized personnel only
Correct answer: A recognized serious safety or health hazard
A permit-required confined space has limited entry/exit, is not designed for continuous occupancy, AND contains or has the potential to contain a serious safety or health hazard.
Question 3: The hierarchy of controls places which option as the MOST preferred method for managing workplace hazards?
- Administrative controls
- Personal protective equipment
- Elimination (Correct answer)
- Engineering controls
Correct answer: Elimination
Elimination — physically removing the hazard — is the most effective control because it eliminates exposure entirely rather than managing it.
Question 4: What is the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise as an 8-hour time-weighted average?
- 80 dBA
- 85 dBA
- 90 dBA (Correct answer)
- 95 dBA
Correct answer: 90 dBA
OSHA's PEL for occupational noise exposure is 90 dBA as an 8-hour TWA, with a 5-dB exchange rate for shorter durations.
Question 5: During a site inspection, you find containers of hazardous waste stored together that could react to form toxic gases. This situation violates which principle?
- Chain of custody
- Compatibility grouping (Correct answer)
- Secondary containment sizing
- Manifest tracking
Correct answer: Compatibility grouping
RCRA and OSHA require incompatible wastes to be separated to prevent dangerous reactions; compatibility grouping ensures reactive, flammable, corrosive, and toxic materials are stored apart.
Question 6: Under the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134), employees must be medically evaluated before fit-testing when using which type of respirator?
- Dust masks only
- Air-purifying respirators only
- Supplied-air respirators only
- All respirators except disposable dust masks (N95 and tighter) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All respirators except disposable dust masks (N95 and tighter)
Medical evaluation is required before fit-testing and use of any tight-fitting respirator, including N95s and higher protection levels, to ensure the wearer can safely bear the physiological burden.
Question 7: A Tier II report under EPCRA Section 312 must be submitted annually by March 1 when a facility stores hazardous chemicals above threshold quantities. Who receives these reports?
- Only the EPA regional office
- SERC, LEPC, and local fire department (Correct answer)
- OSHA and state labor department
- NRC and Coast Guard only
Correct answer: SERC, LEPC, and local fire department
Tier II reports go to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), and the local fire department to support emergency planning.
CES Health and Safety Management 2
Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom 2012), Safety Data Sheets must contain how many sections?