CMT Health, Safety & Sanitation Standards 2

Question 1

Which OSHA standard specifically governs occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in mortuary settings?

Accepted Answer

29 CFR 1910.1030

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

1:10 dilution (5,250 ppm)

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Immediately after glove removal every time

Answer

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)?

Accepted Answer

Supplied-air respirator or full-face air-purifying respirator with OV/P100 cartridge

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Answer

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.

(CMT) Certified Mortuary Technician Practice Test

(CMT) Certified Mortuary Technician Practice Test

CMT Health, Safety & Sanitation Standards 2