COSS Emergency Action Plans and Fire Safety 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, which of the following employers is required to have a written Emergency Action Plan (EAP)?
- Employers with 5 or fewer employees who are orally informed
- All employers with more than 10 employees (Correct answer)
- Only employers in high-hazard industries
- Only employers subject to state OSHA plans
Correct answer: All employers with more than 10 employees
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38(b) requires a written EAP for employers with more than 10 employees; employers with 10 or fewer may communicate it orally.
Question 2: What is the minimum content required in an OSHA-compliant Emergency Action Plan?
- Evacuation procedures, emergency escape routes, and procedures for employees who remain to operate critical operations (Correct answer)
- Only evacuation routes and assembly points
- First aid procedures and fire extinguisher locations
- Contact list for emergency services only
Correct answer: Evacuation procedures, emergency escape routes, and procedures for employees who remain to operate critical operations
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38(c) requires the EAP to include emergency escape procedures, escape route assignments, procedures for critical-operation employees, headcount procedures, rescue/medical duties, and alarm systems.
Question 3: The OSHA Fire Prevention Plan standard (29 CFR 1910.39) requires employers to identify which of the following?
- Only fire extinguisher locations
- Major fire hazards, proper handling and storage of flammable materials, and responsible employees (Correct answer)
- Only the names of fire wardens
- Monthly fire drill schedules
Correct answer: Major fire hazards, proper handling and storage of flammable materials, and responsible employees
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.39 requires the fire prevention plan to identify major fire hazards, proper storage and handling of flammable materials, potential ignition sources, and the employees responsible for controlling hazards.
Question 4: What does the acronym PASS stand for when operating a portable fire extinguisher?
- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep (Correct answer)
- Point, Activate, Spray, Stop
- Prepare, Aim, Suppress, Secure
- Pull, Activate, Spray, Scan
Correct answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
PASS stands for Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side — the four steps for operating a portable fire extinguisher.
Question 5: A Class K fire extinguisher is specifically designed for which type of fire?
- Electrical equipment fires
- Flammable metal fires
- Cooking oils and fats in commercial kitchens (Correct answer)
- Ordinary combustibles like wood and paper
Correct answer: Cooking oils and fats in commercial kitchens
Class K extinguishers use wet chemical agents to suppress fires involving cooking oils and fats, which are common in commercial kitchens.
Question 6: Under NFPA 10, portable fire extinguishers in most occupancies must receive an annual maintenance check performed by whom?
- Any trained employee
- A qualified/certified fire extinguisher service technician (Correct answer)
- The local fire department only
- The building owner personally
Correct answer: A qualified/certified fire extinguisher service technician
NFPA 10 requires annual maintenance of fire extinguishers to be performed by a trained person with proper equipment, knowledge, and materials — typically a certified fire extinguisher service technician.
COSS Emergency Action Plans and Fire Safety 1
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, which of the following employers is required to have a written Emergency Action Plan (EAP)?