CGM Emergency Response & Preparedness 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a severe thunderstorm warning, what is the safest immediate action for grounds crew working in open turf areas?
- Continue working if lightning is more than 5 miles away
- Seek shelter in a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle (Correct answer)
- Crouch low on the ground away from trees
- Use rubber-soled boots and continue mowing
Correct answer: Seek shelter in a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle
Substantial buildings or hard-topped vehicles provide the best protection from lightning during a severe thunderstorm.
Question 2: A grounds worker accidentally ingests a pesticide. The first action after calling poison control (1-800-222-1222) should be to:
- Induce vomiting immediately
- Give the victim milk to dilute the chemical
- Follow the specific instructions on the pesticide label or from poison control (Correct answer)
- Administer activated charcoal
Correct answer: Follow the specific instructions on the pesticide label or from poison control
Pesticide labels and poison control operators provide substance-specific guidance, as some chemicals cause more harm if vomiting is induced.
Question 3: An Incident Command System (ICS) is best described as:
- A federal database for recording workplace injuries
- A standardized on-scene emergency management system allowing coordinated response (Correct answer)
- A state-mandated training program for first responders only
- A software platform for tracking equipment during disasters
Correct answer: A standardized on-scene emergency management system allowing coordinated response
ICS is a standardized management system that allows multiple agencies and teams to coordinate effectively during any emergency.
Question 4: Which document should be immediately accessible to emergency responders when a chemical spill occurs on grounds?
- The facility's budget report
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the spilled chemical (Correct answer)
- The pesticide purchase invoice
- OSHA Form 300 injury log
Correct answer: Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the spilled chemical
The SDS provides first responders with critical hazard, handling, and emergency response information for the specific chemical.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a grounds department Business Continuity Plan (BCP)?
- To outline employee vacation schedules during disasters
- To ensure essential grounds operations can continue or quickly resume after a disruption (Correct answer)
- To track insurance claims following storm damage
- To document equipment depreciation for tax purposes
Correct answer: To ensure essential grounds operations can continue or quickly resume after a disruption
A BCP identifies critical functions and establishes procedures to maintain or rapidly restore operations after an emergency.
Question 6: When a grounds crew member collapses and is unresponsive in the field, what is the correct sequence of actions?
- Check for hazards, call 911, begin CPR if trained, use AED if available (Correct answer)
- Begin CPR immediately, then call 911 after two minutes
- Call the supervisor first, then call 911
- Move the victim to shade, then assess for pulse
Correct answer: Check for hazards, call 911, begin CPR if trained, use AED if available
Scene safety first, then activating EMS, then starting CPR and using an AED follows the standard emergency response chain of survival.
Question 7: Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, employers must train workers on chemical hazards:
- Only once during initial onboarding
- Whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced to the workplace (Correct answer)
- Every five years regardless of changes
- Only after a spill incident occurs
Correct answer: Whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced to the workplace
OSHA HazCom requires retraining whenever a new physical or health hazard is introduced into the work area.
CGM Emergency Response & Preparedness 2
During a severe thunderstorm warning, what is the safest immediate action for grounds crew working in open turf areas?