CLT Safety & Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organization establishes the Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for hazardous chemicals in the workplace?
- CDC
- OSHA (Correct answer)
- NIOSH
- EPA
Correct answer: OSHA
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) sets and enforces Permissible Exposure Limits for chemical hazards in the workplace.
Question 2: A specimen container arrives in the laboratory leaking. What is the correct action?
- Open in a biological safety cabinet and transfer to a new container (Correct answer)
- Discard the specimen immediately
- Wipe the outside and process normally
- Return the specimen to the sender
Correct answer: Open in a biological safety cabinet and transfer to a new container
Leaking specimens should be handled in a biosafety cabinet; the contents transferred to a new container, and the area decontaminated to prevent exposure.
Question 3: Which personal protective equipment is specifically required when working with volatile chemicals that produce toxic vapors?
- Standard surgical mask
- N95 respirator
- Chemical fume hood with appropriate respirator (Correct answer)
- Face shield only
Correct answer: Chemical fume hood with appropriate respirator
Volatile toxic chemicals must be handled inside a chemical fume hood, and an appropriate respirator should be used when working with them outside the hood.
Question 4: What is the purpose of the eyewash station in a clinical laboratory?
- To decontaminate hands after chemical exposure
- To flush eyes for 15 minutes after a chemical or biohazardous splash (Correct answer)
- To rinse laboratory glassware
- To provide sterile water for reagent preparation
Correct answer: To flush eyes for 15 minutes after a chemical or biohazardous splash
Eyewash stations are designed to deliver a continuous flow of water for at least 15 minutes to flush chemical or biohazardous splashes from the eyes.
Question 5: Which of the following organisms is classified as a BSL-3 pathogen requiring enhanced respiratory precautions?
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Escherichia coli (non-pathogenic)
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Correct answer)
- Candida albicans
Correct answer: Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a BSL-3 pathogen because it is transmissible by aerosol and can cause potentially lethal pulmonary disease.
Question 6: In the laboratory, what does 'engineering control' refer to in the hierarchy of hazard controls?
- Writing safety policies and procedures
- Using PPE such as gloves and goggles
- Modifying the work environment to reduce exposure, such as using a biosafety cabinet (Correct answer)
- Training employees on safe work practices
Correct answer: Modifying the work environment to reduce exposure, such as using a biosafety cabinet
Engineering controls are physical changes to the workplace or equipment—like biosafety cabinets or fume hoods—that reduce or eliminate worker exposure to hazards.
Question 7: When autoclaving biohazardous waste, what minimum temperature and time are typically required to ensure sterilization?
- 100°C for 30 minutes
- 121°C for 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- 134°C for 5 minutes
- 150°C for 10 minutes
Correct answer: 121°C for 15 minutes
Standard autoclave sterilization requires 121°C (250°F) at 15 psi steam pressure for a minimum of 15 minutes to achieve sterilization.
CLT Safety & Infection Control 3
Which organization establishes the Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for hazardous chemicals in the workplace?