CHFM Hazardous Materials Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency primarily regulates the handling and disposal of hazardous waste generated by healthcare facilities?
- OSHA
- EPA (Correct answer)
- The Joint Commission
- CMS
Correct answer: EPA
The EPA regulates hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which governs generation, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous waste including that from healthcare facilities.
Question 2: Under RCRA, a healthcare facility that generates between 100 and 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per month is classified as a:
- Large Quantity Generator
- Small Quantity Generator (Correct answer)
- Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
- Universal Waste Handler
Correct answer: Small Quantity Generator
Facilities generating 100–1,000 kg of hazardous waste per month are classified as Small Quantity Generators (SQGs) under RCRA, with specific storage time limits and training requirements.
Question 3: Which document must accompany hazardous waste from the point of generation to the disposal facility?
- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
- Hazardous Waste Manifest (Correct answer)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Bill of Lading
Correct answer: Hazardous Waste Manifest
A Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest (EPA Form 8700-22) must accompany hazardous waste shipments from the generator to the disposal facility to track the waste chain of custody.
Question 4: OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) requires that chemical hazard information be communicated to employees through all of the following EXCEPT:
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Container labels
- Employee training programs
- Monthly safety audits (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Monthly safety audits
HazCom requires SDS, proper container labeling, and employee training; monthly safety audits are a best practice but are not a specific HazCom requirement.
Question 5: Which section of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) contains information about personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements?
- Section 4 – First Aid Measures
- Section 6 – Accidental Release Measures
- Section 8 – Exposure Controls/Personal Protection (Correct answer)
- Section 11 – Toxicological Information
Correct answer: Section 8 – Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
Section 8 of an SDS covers exposure controls and personal protection, including recommended PPE such as gloves, respirators, and eye protection.
Question 6: Pharmaceutical waste that exhibits ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity characteristics is regulated as:
- Universal waste
- Infectious waste
- RCRA hazardous waste (Correct answer)
- Radioactive waste
Correct answer: RCRA hazardous waste
Pharmaceutical waste that meets any of the four RCRA hazardous characteristics (ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, toxicity) must be managed as RCRA hazardous waste.
Question 7: A healthcare facility's spill response plan for hazardous chemicals should be based primarily on the requirements of which OSHA standard?
- 29 CFR 1910.119 – Process Safety Management
- 29 CFR 1910.120 – HAZWOPER (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.1200 – Hazard Communication
- 29 CFR 1910.132 – Personal Protective Equipment
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.120 – HAZWOPER
OSHA's HAZWOPER standard (29 CFR 1910.120) governs emergency response to hazardous substance releases, requiring facilities to have written emergency response plans and trained personnel.
CHFM Hazardous Materials Management 1
Which federal agency primarily regulates the handling and disposal of hazardous waste generated by healthcare facilities?