CHFM Maintenance and Operations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which maintenance strategy involves replacing components at fixed time intervals regardless of their condition?
- Predictive maintenance
- Corrective maintenance
- Preventive maintenance (Correct answer)
- Condition-based maintenance
Correct answer: Preventive maintenance
Preventive maintenance schedules repairs or replacements at predetermined intervals to prevent failure before it occurs.
Question 2: A healthcare facility's chiller plant is experiencing reduced cooling capacity. What is the FIRST step in the diagnostic process?
- Replace the compressor
- Review trend data from the BAS for anomalies (Correct answer)
- Add refrigerant immediately
- Shut down the system for full inspection
Correct answer: Review trend data from the BAS for anomalies
Reviewing Building Automation System trend data first helps identify patterns and root causes before performing any physical interventions.
Question 3: Under NFPA 101, healthcare occupancies are required to conduct fire drills at minimum how often?
- Annually
- Semi-annually
- Quarterly (Correct answer)
- Monthly
Correct answer: Quarterly
NFPA 101 requires healthcare occupancies to conduct fire drills at least quarterly on each shift.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in patient care areas?
- To prevent power outages
- To reduce electrical costs
- To protect patients from microshock hazards (Correct answer)
- To increase circuit capacity
Correct answer: To protect patients from microshock hazards
GFCIs in patient care areas protect against microshock, which can be lethal to patients connected to medical devices with internal pathways to the heart.
Question 5: A boiler safety valve is found to be leaking during a routine inspection. What is the correct immediate action?
- Continue operating and schedule repair at next outage
- Tag the valve and continue operating at reduced pressure
- Take the boiler offline and lock out the system before repair (Correct answer)
- Adjust the valve set point to stop the leak
Correct answer: Take the boiler offline and lock out the system before repair
A leaking safety valve indicates a potential hazard requiring the boiler to be taken offline and locked out before any repairs are made.
Question 6: Which document defines the acceptable interruption times for utility systems in healthcare facilities under The Joint Commission standards?
- Infection Control Risk Assessment
- Environment of Care Management Plan
- Statement of Conditions
- Utility Systems Management Plan (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Utility Systems Management Plan
The Utility Systems Management Plan defines acceptable performance, interruption times, and response procedures for all utility systems.
Question 7: In a hospital OR suite, positive pressure relationships are maintained relative to adjacent corridors primarily to:
- Reduce HVAC energy consumption
- Prevent surgical smoke from escaping
- Minimize airborne contamination entering the sterile field (Correct answer)
- Meet occupancy comfort requirements
Correct answer: Minimize airborne contamination entering the sterile field
Positive pressure in ORs ensures air flows outward, preventing potentially contaminated corridor air from entering the sterile surgical environment.
CHFM Maintenance and Operations 2
Which maintenance strategy involves replacing components at fixed time intervals regardless of their condition?