CHSP Environmental Safety and Waste Management

Question 1

Under EPA regulations, a healthcare facility that generates between 100 kg and 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per calendar month is classified as a:

Accepted Answer

Small Quantity Generator (SQG)

Answer

Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG)

Answer

Large Quantity Generator (LQG)

Answer

Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG)

Question 2

Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) in a hospital must be tracked using a manifest system in most states primarily because:

Accepted Answer

State environmental agencies require documentation of RMW from point of generation to final disposal

Answer

OSHA requires manifests for all biohazardous materials leaving the facility

Answer

The CDC mandates manifests to prevent infectious disease outbreaks

Answer

The Joint Commission requires manifest documentation for accreditation

Question 3

A hospital pharmacy is disposing of unused chemotherapy drugs. These pharmaceutical wastes are BEST classified and managed as:

Accepted Answer

RCRA P- or U-listed hazardous pharmaceutical waste requiring proper manifesting and licensed disposal

Answer

Regulated Medical Waste disposed of in red biohazard bags

Answer

Solid waste that can be disposed of in regular trash if the containers are empty

Answer

Universal waste eligible for the streamlined universal waste management standards

Question 4

Which regulatory framework primarily governs the use, storage, and disposal of radioactive materials used in nuclear medicine departments?

Accepted Answer

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) 10 CFR Parts 19, 20, and 35

Answer

OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z (Toxic and Hazardous Substances)

Answer

EPA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Answer

Department of Transportation (DOT) 49 CFR Parts 171–178

Question 5

During an environmental rounds inspection, a healthcare safety professional notices sharps containers that are three-quarters full but have not been picked up for exchange. The MOST immediate concern is:

Accepted Answer

Increased risk of needlestick injury to staff forced to compress or overfill containers

Answer

Regulatory non-compliance with TJC storage time limits for regulated medical waste

Answer

Violation of EPA pharmaceutical waste storage requirements

Answer

Failure to meet NFPA 101 occupancy load requirements

Question 6

A healthcare facility's spill of a mercury-containing sphygmomanometer in a patient room requires response under which primary framework?

Accepted Answer

EPA mercury reduction guidelines and state environmental notification requirements if the spill exceeds threshold quantities

Answer

OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) — update the SDS file

Answer

NFPA 472 — treat as a flammable liquid spill requiring fire department notification

Answer

CDC guidelines for bloodborne pathogen exposure control