CHSP Hazardous Materials Management 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom 2012), how many pictograms are defined in the GHS system adopted by the US?
- 6
- 8
- 9 (Correct answer)
- 11
Correct answer: 9
GHS as adopted by OSHA's HazCom 2012 defines 9 standardized pictograms to communicate physical, health, and environmental hazards.
Question 2: A healthcare facility receives a shipment of a chemical with a DOT placard showing a '6' inside a skull-and-crossbones diamond. What hazard class does this represent?
- Flammable liquids
- Corrosive materials
- Toxic/poisonous materials (Correct answer)
- Oxidizers
Correct answer: Toxic/poisonous materials
DOT hazard class 6 covers toxic and infectious substances, and the skull-and-crossbones symbol confirms the poison/toxic designation.
Question 3: Which section of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) contains information about recommended personal protective equipment (PPE)?
- Section 4 – First Aid Measures
- Section 7 – Handling and Storage
- Section 8 – Exposure Controls/Personal Protection (Correct answer)
- Section 11 – Toxicological Information
Correct answer: Section 8 – Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
Section 8 of the 16-section SDS format specifies exposure limits, engineering controls, and recommended PPE for safe handling.
Question 4: A hospital pharmacy stores a quantity of ethanol that exceeds the Maximum Allowable Quantity (MAQ) per control area. What is the FIRST required action?
- Install a sprinkler system immediately
- Reduce inventory below the MAQ threshold
- Move the excess to a separate fire-rated storage room or building (Correct answer)
- Obtain a variance from the local fire marshal
Correct answer: Move the excess to a separate fire-rated storage room or building
IFC and NFPA 30 require that quantities exceeding the MAQ per control area be relocated to a separate fire-rated area or building; simply exceeding MAQ triggers separation requirements before other options.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a chemical hygiene plan (CHP) in a healthcare laboratory?
- To document spill cleanup procedures only
- To outline procedures, equipment, and work practices that protect workers from hazardous chemicals (Correct answer)
- To satisfy EPA waste disposal requirements
- To serve as the facility's emergency response plan
Correct answer: To outline procedures, equipment, and work practices that protect workers from hazardous chemicals
OSHA's Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) requires a CHP that specifies safety procedures, controls, and training to protect laboratory workers from chemical exposures.
Question 6: When disposing of chemotherapy drug waste in the US, which regulatory framework primarily governs the handling of P-listed (acutely hazardous) chemotherapy agents?
- RCRA hazardous waste regulations (Correct answer)
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
- NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code
- DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations
Correct answer: RCRA hazardous waste regulations
EPA's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) governs P-listed acutely hazardous pharmaceutical wastes, requiring specific cradle-to-grave management.
Question 7: A worker is exposed to a chemical splash and consults the SDS. Section 4 recommends flushing eyes with water for 15–20 minutes. Which principle does this reflect?
- ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable)
- Dilution as a decontamination method (Correct answer)
- The hierarchy of controls – administrative controls
- Secondary containment protocol
Correct answer: Dilution as a decontamination method
Prolonged flushing with water dilutes and removes the chemical from ocular tissue, applying dilution as the primary decontamination approach for eye exposures.
CHSP Hazardous Materials Management 4
Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom 2012), how many pictograms are defined in the GHS system adopted by the US?