CMT Health, Safety & Sanitation Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which OSHA standard specifically governs occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in mortuary settings?
- 29 CFR 1910.1030 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.134
- 29 CFR 1910.1200
- 29 CFR 1910.132
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.1030
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) requires exposure control plans, PPE use, and hepatitis B vaccination for workers exposed to blood and OPIM.
Question 2: What is the minimum recommended concentration of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution for disinfecting embalming surfaces contaminated with blood?
- 1:10 dilution (5,250 ppm) (Correct answer)
- 1:100 dilution (525 ppm)
- 1:50 dilution (1,050 ppm)
- 1:5 dilution (10,500 ppm)
Correct answer: 1:10 dilution (5,250 ppm)
A 1:10 bleach-to-water dilution achieving approximately 5,250 ppm available chlorine is the CDC-recommended concentration for disinfecting surfaces with visible blood contamination.
Question 3: When must a mortuary technician perform hand hygiene after removing gloves during embalming?
- Immediately after glove removal every time (Correct answer)
- Only if gloves were visibly torn
- Only before eating or drinking
- Only at the end of the work shift
Correct answer: Immediately after glove removal every time
Hand hygiene must be performed immediately after removing gloves every time because gloves can have undetected micro-tears and hand contamination can occur during removal.
Question 4: Which type of respirator is required when working with formaldehyde vapor concentrations that exceed the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL)?
- Supplied-air respirator or full-face air-purifying respirator with OV/P100 cartridge (Correct answer)
- Surgical mask only
- N95 filtering facepiece respirator
- Dust mask with activated charcoal
Correct answer: Supplied-air respirator or full-face air-purifying respirator with OV/P100 cartridge
When formaldehyde exceeds its PEL of 0.75 ppm TWA, OSHA requires at minimum a full-face air-purifying respirator with organic vapor/P100 cartridges, or supplied-air.
Question 5: Which hepatitis virus poses the greatest occupational blood-exposure risk to mortuary technicians due to its environmental stability?
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) (Correct answer)
- Hepatitis A virus (HAV)
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
- Hepatitis D virus (HDV)
Correct answer: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
HBV can survive on dry surfaces for up to 7 days and is up to 100 times more infectious than HIV via needlestick, making it the highest occupational blood-exposure risk.
Question 6: What action should be taken FIRST following a needlestick injury during arterial embalming?
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 seconds (Correct answer)
- Apply a tourniquet above the puncture site
- Immediately squeeze blood from the wound
- Cover with a bandage and continue working
Correct answer: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 seconds
OSHA and CDC both direct that the first action after a needlestick is immediate thorough washing with soap and water, followed by incident reporting and medical evaluation.
Question 7: Which ventilation requirement does OSHA mandate for preparation rooms using formaldehyde-based embalming fluids?
- A minimum of 12 air changes per hour with negative pressure relative to adjacent areas (Correct answer)
- At least 6 air changes per hour with positive pressure
- Only a ceiling exhaust fan is required
- No specific ventilation standard applies if windows are present
Correct answer: A minimum of 12 air changes per hour with negative pressure relative to adjacent areas
OSHA's Formaldehyde Standard (29 CFR 1910.1048) requires preparation rooms to maintain negative pressure with sufficient air exchanges to keep formaldehyde below the 0.75 ppm PEL.
CMT Health, Safety & Sanitation Standards 2
Which OSHA standard specifically governs occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in mortuary settings?