CHFM Hazardous Materials Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which category of medical waste requires incineration or autoclaving prior to disposal in a licensed facility?
- Pharmaceutical waste
- Chemotherapy (trace) waste
- Regulated medical waste (infectious waste) (Correct answer)
- Universal waste
Correct answer: Regulated medical waste (infectious waste)
Regulated medical waste, which includes pathological waste, sharps, and infectious materials, must be treated by incineration or autoclaving (steam sterilization) to render it non-infectious before final disposal.
Question 2: Under the EPA's P-listed hazardous waste rules, which of the following drugs commonly used in hospitals is classified as a P-listed (acutely hazardous) waste?
- Warfarin (≥0.3%)
- Epinephrine (Correct answer)
- Acetaminophen
- Ibuprofen
Correct answer: Epinephrine
Epinephrine (adrenaline) is a P-listed acutely hazardous waste under RCRA (P042), requiring stringent management even in very small quantities when discarded.
Question 3: The maximum allowable on-site storage time for hazardous waste at a Large Quantity Generator (LQG) without a storage permit is:
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days (Correct answer)
- 180 days
Correct answer: 90 days
Large Quantity Generators may store hazardous waste on-site for a maximum of 90 days without obtaining a RCRA storage permit.
Question 4: Which labeling element is required on all hazardous waste containers at the point of accumulation under RCRA?
- The EPA identification number of the generator
- The words 'Hazardous Waste' and the nature of the hazard (Correct answer)
- The name and address of the disposal facility
- The generator's OSHA establishment number
Correct answer: The words 'Hazardous Waste' and the nature of the hazard
RCRA requires that all hazardous waste containers be labeled with the words 'Hazardous Waste' and a description of the hazard (e.g., flammable, corrosive) from the date accumulation begins.
Question 5: In a healthcare facility, used mercury-containing devices such as thermometers and blood pressure cuffs are typically managed under which waste program?
- RCRA Subtitle C hazardous waste rules
- Universal Waste Rule (Correct answer)
- State infectious waste regulations
- Clean Water Act effluent limits
Correct answer: Universal Waste Rule
Mercury-containing equipment is an EPA-designated universal waste, allowing streamlined management under the Universal Waste Rule rather than full RCRA hazardous waste requirements.
Question 6: The Right-to-Know provisions of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard apply to:
- Only manufacturing facilities with 50 or more employees
- All employers where workers may be exposed to hazardous chemicals (Correct answer)
- Facilities generating more than 100 kg of hazardous waste per month
- Hospitals accredited by The Joint Commission only
Correct answer: All employers where workers may be exposed to hazardous chemicals
OSHA's HazCom Standard applies to all employers in general industry, including healthcare, where workers may be exposed to hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
Question 7: A healthcare facility that stores more than 10,000 pounds of a regulated extremely hazardous substance above the threshold planning quantity must notify:
- The local fire marshal only
- The State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) (Correct answer)
- The EPA Regional Administrator only
- Both OSHA and CMS
Correct answer: The State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
Under EPCRA Section 302, facilities storing extremely hazardous substances above threshold planning quantities must notify the SERC and LEPC to support community emergency planning.
CHFM Hazardous Materials Management 2
Which category of medical waste requires incineration or autoclaving prior to disposal in a licensed facility?