CHSP Hazardous Materials Management 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A healthcare safety officer discovers that a compressed gas cylinder of nitrogen is stored lying on its side without a cap. What is the MOST immediate safety concern?
- Nitrogen toxicity to nearby personnel
- The valve could shear off, turning the cylinder into a projectile (Correct answer)
- The cylinder may corrode faster due to floor contact
- Regulatory non-compliance only, with no immediate physical hazard
Correct answer: The valve could shear off, turning the cylinder into a projectile
If an unsecured cylinder falls or the valve is struck and shears, the escaping high-pressure gas can propel the cylinder with lethal force.
Question 2: Under EPA's Universal Waste Rule, which of the following items commonly found in healthcare facilities qualifies as universal waste?
- Spent chemotherapy agents
- Mercury-containing fluorescent lamps (Correct answer)
- Pathological waste
- Expired beta-blockers
Correct answer: Mercury-containing fluorescent lamps
Mercury-containing lamps (fluorescent bulbs) are explicitly listed as universal waste under 40 CFR Part 273, simplifying their collection and recycling requirements.
Question 3: Which NFPA standard specifically addresses the storage, handling, and use of flammable and combustible liquids in healthcare and other occupancies?
- NFPA 13
- NFPA 30 (Correct answer)
- NFPA 72
- NFPA 101
Correct answer: NFPA 30
NFPA 30, the Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, establishes requirements for safe storage, handling, and use of flammable and combustible liquids.
Question 4: A healthcare facility is required to report a hazardous chemical release to the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). Under which law is this notification requirement established?
- RCRA Subtitle C
- CERCLA Section 103
- EPCRA Section 304 (Correct answer)
- OSHA PSM Standard
Correct answer: EPCRA Section 304
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 304 requires facilities to notify their LEPC and State Emergency Response Commission of reportable releases of extremely hazardous substances.
Question 5: What is the significance of the Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) concentration value for a hazardous substance?
- It is the concentration that requires Tier II reporting under EPCRA
- It represents the maximum concentration from which a worker could escape within 30 minutes without irreversible health effects (Correct answer)
- It is the permissible exposure limit set by OSHA for an 8-hour workday
- It defines the threshold for P-list classification under RCRA
Correct answer: It represents the maximum concentration from which a worker could escape within 30 minutes without irreversible health effects
NIOSH defines IDLH as the airborne concentration that poses an immediate threat to life or health or could impair escape within 30 minutes.
Question 6: A healthcare facility uses glutaraldehyde for high-level disinfection of endoscopes. Which control measure BEST reduces inhalation exposure to glutaraldehyde vapor?
- Scheduling disinfection only during low-census hours
- Using local exhaust ventilation at the point of use (Correct answer)
- Providing employees with surgical masks during the process
- Storing glutaraldehyde in a refrigerator to reduce vapor pressure
Correct answer: Using local exhaust ventilation at the point of use
Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) captures glutaraldehyde vapors at the source before they can disperse into the worker's breathing zone, representing an engineering control.
Question 7: A biohazard spill of a bloodborne pathogen occurs in a patient care area. After donning PPE, what should be the NEXT step in managing the spill?
- Immediately apply a 1:10 bleach solution directly to the spill
- Absorb the bulk of the spill material before applying a disinfectant (Correct answer)
- Notify the EPA within one hour of the spill
- Place a wet floor sign and wait for environmental services
Correct answer: Absorb the bulk of the spill material before applying a disinfectant
Absorbing or containing the bulk liquid first prevents splash spread and improves disinfectant contact with residual material, which is recommended by CDC and OSHA guidelines.
CHSP Hazardous Materials Management 5
A healthcare safety officer discovers that a compressed gas cylinder of nitrogen is stored lying on its side without a cap.
What is the MOST immediate safety concern?