CMI Health & Safety Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which regulatory body sets the Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for chemical exposure in U.S. workplaces?
- EPA
- CDC
- OSHA (Correct answer)
- NIOSH
Correct answer: OSHA
OSHA establishes legally enforceable Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for airborne concentrations of hazardous substances in U.S. workplaces.
Question 2: In a cleaning operation, a Globally Harmonized System (GHS) pictogram showing a flame over a circle indicates:
- Flammable material
- Oxidizer (Correct answer)
- Explosive material
- Compressed gas
Correct answer: Oxidizer
The GHS flame over a circle pictogram specifically denotes an oxidizer, a substance that can intensify fires by releasing oxygen.
Question 3: What is the minimum number of SDS sections required under the GHS-aligned HazCom 2012 standard?
- 8
- 12
- 16 (Correct answer)
- 20
Correct answer: 16
GHS-aligned Safety Data Sheets must contain exactly 16 standardized sections covering all aspects of chemical hazards, handling, and emergency response.
Question 4: An ergonomic hazard most commonly associated with commercial floor cleaning is:
- Chemical inhalation
- Repetitive motion injuries from mopping (Correct answer)
- Electrical shock from wet equipment
- Slips and falls on wet surfaces
Correct answer: Repetitive motion injuries from mopping
Repetitive mopping motions place sustained stress on the shoulders, back, and wrists, making repetitive strain injuries one of the most prevalent ergonomic hazards for cleaning workers.
Question 5: According to OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens standard, cleaning workers exposed to human blood must be offered which vaccine at no cost?
- Influenza
- Tetanus
- Hepatitis B (Correct answer)
- Tuberculosis
Correct answer: Hepatitis B
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) requires employers to offer Hepatitis B vaccination to all employees with occupational exposure risk at no charge.
Question 6: When storing incompatible chemicals in a cleaning supply room, the BEST practice is to:
- Store all chemicals on the same shelf for easy access
- Separate incompatible chemicals in different cabinets or areas (Correct answer)
- Keep chemicals in original containers on the floor
- Mix small amounts to reduce storage space
Correct answer: Separate incompatible chemicals in different cabinets or areas
Incompatible chemicals such as acids and bases, or oxidizers and flammables, must be physically separated to prevent dangerous reactions if containers leak or break.
Question 7: A wet floor sign is primarily used to address which type of hazard?
- Chemical hazard
- Biological hazard
- Physical/slip hazard (Correct answer)
- Ergonomic hazard
Correct answer: Physical/slip hazard
Wet floor signs are hazard communication tools that warn building occupants of a physical slip-and-fall risk created by wet or recently mopped surfaces.
CMI Health & Safety Standards 3
Which regulatory body sets the Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for chemical exposure in U.S. workplaces?