CMDRT - Certified Medical Device Reprocessing Technician Occupational Health and Safety Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: While working in the decontamination area, a technician must add a concentrated enzymatic detergent to the sink. They notice the WHMIS 2015 pictogram shown (a person with a starburst on the chest) on the container. What type of hazard does this symbol primarily represent?
- Corrosion hazard, causing skin burns or eye damage
- Biohazardous infectious material
- Acute toxicity (fatal or toxic)
- A long-term or serious health hazard, such as carcinogenicity (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A long-term or serious health hazard, such as carcinogenicity
The WHMIS 2015 'Health Hazard' pictogram (person with a starburst) is used to indicate substances that may cause or are suspected of causing serious long-term health effects. These include carcinogenicity (cancer-causing), mutagenicity (causing genetic defects), reproductive toxicity, respiratory sensitization, target organ toxicity, and aspiration toxicity.
Question 2: To reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) from prolonged standing and repetitive tasks in the decontamination and prep-and-pack areas, which of the following is the MOST effective engineering control?
- Providing short, frequent stretch breaks
- Using height-adjustable workstations and anti-fatigue mats (Correct answer)
- Mandating the use of back support belts for all staff
- Training staff on proper body mechanics and lifting techniques
Correct answer: Using height-adjustable workstations and anti-fatigue mats
Engineering controls are designed to remove the hazard at the source and are the most effective type of control. Height-adjustable workstations allow technicians of different statures to work at an optimal height, reducing bending and reaching. Anti-fatigue mats reduce strain from standing on hard surfaces. While training, breaks, and PPE are important, they are less effective than engineering out the hazard itself.
Question 3: A technician is manually cleaning instruments in a sink and notices a strong chemical odor that is causing eye irritation. What is the most important FIRST action to take?
- Finish cleaning the current instrument before leaving the area
- Look for the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to read about the chemical
- Immediately and safely move away from the area to fresh air (Correct answer)
- Add more water to the sink to dilute the chemical
Correct answer: Immediately and safely move away from the area to fresh air
The immediate priority in any potential chemical exposure is personal safety. The first action should always be to remove oneself from the source of the exposure to prevent further harm. Once safe, the technician can then alert a supervisor and consult the SDS to determine the next steps, but the primary action is to stop the exposure.
Question 4: Which of the following practices is most effective at minimizing the creation of aerosols containing biohazardous material during the manual cleaning of lumened instruments?
- Using a high-pressure water spray to flush lumens
- Wearing a fluid-resistant face mask and eye protection
- Brushing and flushing the instrument below the surface of the water (Correct answer)
- Using a detergent with a strong, pleasant fragrance
Correct answer: Brushing and flushing the instrument below the surface of the water
Performing cleaning actions such as brushing and flushing below the waterline contains splashes and droplets, preventing them from becoming airborne aerosols. This is a critical work practice control to reduce the technician's risk of inhaling contaminated particles. While PPE is essential, it is a last line of defense; preventing aerosol creation is a more effective primary measure.
Question 5: An MDRD has several large pieces of equipment, such as a cart washer and ultrasonic cleaners, that generate significant noise. If noise levels are found to exceed the 85 dBA action level, what is the employer required to implement?
- A hearing conservation program (Correct answer)
- A mandatory rotation of staff every 30 minutes
- Sound-proof booths for all employees
- A policy requiring all communication to be done via text message
Correct answer: A hearing conservation program
Occupational health and safety regulations, such as those from OSHA, require employers to implement a hearing conservation program when the time-weighted average noise exposure equals or exceeds 85 decibels (dBA) over an 8-hour shift. This program includes noise monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protection, training, and record keeping.
Question 6: A technician discovers a small fire in a linen hamper in the sterile storage area. Following the RACE fire response protocol, what is the absolute FIRST action the technician must take?
- Activate the nearest fire alarm pull station
- Close the door to the sterile storage room
- Rescue anyone in immediate danger (Correct answer)
- Extinguish the fire with a portable extinguisher
Correct answer: Rescue anyone in immediate danger
The RACE acronym stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, and Extinguish/Evacuate. The first and most critical step is to ensure human safety by rescuing anyone who is in immediate danger from the fire before taking any other action.
CMDRT - Certified Medical Device Reprocessing Technician Occupational Health and Safety Questions and Answers
While working in the decontamination area, a technician must add a concentrated enzymatic detergent to the sink.
They notice the WHMIS 2015 pictogram shown (a person with a starburst on the chest) on the container.
What type of hazard does this symbol primarily represent?