CGM Health & Safety Protocols 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency enforces the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for agricultural pesticide use?
- OSHA
- EPA (Correct answer)
- USDA
- CDC
Correct answer: EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers and enforces the Worker Protection Standard, which covers pesticide safety for agricultural workers and handlers.
Question 2: A grounds worker is stung multiple times by wasps while mowing near a hidden nest and shows signs of throat swelling and difficulty breathing. The manager should FIRST:
- Apply an ice pack and monitor the worker
- Call 911 immediately as these are signs of anaphylaxis (Correct answer)
- Have the worker sit and drink water
- Administer an oral antihistamine and wait 30 minutes
Correct answer: Call 911 immediately as these are signs of anaphylaxis
Throat swelling and breathing difficulty after multiple stings indicate anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate EMS activation.
Question 3: Under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard, which body fluid from a public space requires grounds workers to use universal precautions?
- Sweat on exercise equipment
- Blood found on a playing field (Correct answer)
- Mud containing soil bacteria
- Rain puddle water
Correct answer: Blood found on a playing field
Blood is a primary vehicle for bloodborne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis B, requiring universal precautions including gloves and proper disposal.
Question 4: What is the recommended action before allowing workers to re-enter a treated area after pesticide application?
- Wait until the spray equipment has been cleaned and stored
- Observe the pesticide label's Re-Entry Interval (REI) (Correct answer)
- Post a sign for 24 hours regardless of product used
- Wait until the treated area is dry to the touch
Correct answer: Observe the pesticide label's Re-Entry Interval (REI)
The Re-Entry Interval (REI) stated on the pesticide label is a legal requirement that must be followed before workers re-enter treated areas.
Question 5: A grounds worker is using a string trimmer when a piece of debris strikes their lower leg and causes a deep laceration. The FIRST priority is:
- Completing the task and reporting the injury at end of shift
- Applying direct pressure to control bleeding and calling for help (Correct answer)
- Rinsing the wound with the nearest water source and continuing work
- Photographing the injury site for the incident report
Correct answer: Applying direct pressure to control bleeding and calling for help
Controlling hemorrhage with direct pressure is the immediate life-safety priority for a significant laceration before any other steps.
Question 6: Lock-out/Tag-out (LOTO) procedures are required when grounds workers perform which activity?
- Refueling a ride-on mower with the engine off
- Clearing a clog from a running chipper's feed chute
- Servicing or unclogging equipment where unexpected energization could cause injury (Correct answer)
- Changing the cutting deck height on a mower
Correct answer: Servicing or unclogging equipment where unexpected energization could cause injury
LOTO (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147) must be applied any time a worker services equipment where unexpected startup or energy release could cause injury.
Question 7: Which component of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) identifies the specific hazards associated with each step of a task?
- The equipment inventory checklist
- The hazard identification column (Correct answer)
- The training records section
- The incident summary report
Correct answer: The hazard identification column
In a JHA, after listing each job step, the hazard identification column documents what could go wrong at each step, driving the selection of controls.
CGM Health & Safety Protocols 3
Which federal agency enforces the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for agricultural pesticide use?