COHN Emergency Preparedness and Response 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document serves as the foundation for workplace emergency preparedness planning under OSHA standards?
- Emergency Action Plan (EAP) (Correct answer)
- Hazard Communication Standard
- Job Safety Analysis
- Safety Data Sheet
Correct answer: Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 requires employers to develop an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) that outlines procedures for employee safety during emergencies.
Question 2: During a mass casualty incident at a worksite, the occupational health nurse's FIRST priority is to:
- Notify the nearest hospital of incoming patients
- Establish a triage area and begin START triage (Correct answer)
- Contact the employee's next of kin
- Document all injuries for workers' compensation
Correct answer: Establish a triage area and begin START triage
Establishing a triage area and using START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) triage allows the nurse to quickly categorize victims by severity to optimize resource allocation.
Question 3: An occupational health nurse is developing a disaster response plan. Which component ensures continuity of medical operations during an emergency?
- An updated employee roster
- A business continuity plan with backup medical supplies and alternate care sites (Correct answer)
- An annual safety training schedule
- A list of local hospitals and their phone numbers
Correct answer: A business continuity plan with backup medical supplies and alternate care sites
A business continuity plan that includes backup medical supplies and alternate care sites ensures uninterrupted occupational health services during a disaster.
Question 4: In the Incident Command System (ICS), what role does the occupational health nurse most commonly fulfill during a workplace emergency?
- Incident Commander
- Medical Unit Leader (Correct answer)
- Finance/Administration Section Chief
- Logistics Section Chief
Correct answer: Medical Unit Leader
The occupational health nurse's clinical expertise makes them best suited for the Medical Unit Leader role, overseeing medical care for responders and victims.
Question 5: Which type of drill tests the emergency response plan without moving personnel or deploying resources?
- Full-scale exercise
- Functional exercise
- Tabletop exercise (Correct answer)
- Operational drill
Correct answer: Tabletop exercise
A tabletop exercise involves key personnel discussing their roles and responses to simulated emergency scenarios in an informal, low-cost setting without physical deployment.
Question 6: A chemical spill occurs in a manufacturing facility. The occupational health nurse's MOST immediate action should be to:
- Identify the chemical using the Safety Data Sheet
- Evacuate affected workers and establish a safe perimeter (Correct answer)
- Begin treatment for all potentially exposed employees
- Call the local poison control center
Correct answer: Evacuate affected workers and establish a safe perimeter
Immediately evacuating affected workers and establishing a safe perimeter prevents further exposure and protects both victims and responders.
Question 7: Which federal agency provides the National Response Framework (NRF) that guides emergency management coordination?
- OSHA
- CDC
- FEMA (Correct answer)
- NIOSH
Correct answer: FEMA
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) publishes the National Response Framework, which establishes a comprehensive approach to national incident response.
COHN Emergency Preparedness and Response 1
Which document serves as the foundation for workplace emergency preparedness planning under OSHA standards?