CPA Safety Standards & Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119 (Process Safety Management), what is the minimum threshold quantity of flammable liquids with a boiling point below 68°F that triggers PSM requirements?
- 500 pounds
- 2,500 pounds
- 10,000 pounds (Correct answer)
- 25,000 pounds
Correct answer: 10,000 pounds
OSHA PSM requires facilities holding 10,000 pounds or more of flammable liquids with a boiling point below 68°F to comply with the Process Safety Management standard.
Question 2: Which document outlines emergency response requirements for oil spills under federal law in the US?
- RCRA Subtitle C
- Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990 (Correct answer)
- CERCLA Section 103
- CAA Title V
Correct answer: Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 established federal liability and cleanup requirements for oil spills into US waters and set mandatory spill response planning requirements.
Question 3: A petroleum apprentice notices a coworker skipping lockout/tagout procedures before servicing a pump. The correct immediate action is to:
- Complete the task quickly to minimize exposure time
- Inform the coworker and stop work until LOTO is applied (Correct answer)
- Report to OSHA directly without telling the coworker
- Document the observation for the next safety meeting
Correct answer: Inform the coworker and stop work until LOTO is applied
Stopping work and informing the coworker to apply proper LOTO before continuing is the correct immediate safety response to prevent injury.
Question 4: What does the term 'Lower Explosive Limit' (LEL) refer to in petroleum safety?
- The maximum concentration of vapor that can ignite in air
- The minimum concentration of vapor that can ignite in air (Correct answer)
- The pressure at which a tank ruptures
- The flash point temperature of a liquid
Correct answer: The minimum concentration of vapor that can ignite in air
The Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) is the minimum concentration of flammable vapor in air below which the mixture is too lean to ignite.
Question 5: According to NFPA 30, flammable liquids (Class I) have a flash point below:
- 73°F (23°C) (Correct answer)
- 100°F (38°C)
- 140°F (60°C)
- 200°F (93°C)
Correct answer: 73°F (23°C)
NFPA 30 defines Class I flammable liquids as those with a flash point below 73°F (23°C), distinguishing them from combustible liquids.
Question 6: Which agency enforces the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule for aboveground oil storage?
- OSHA
- EPA (Correct answer)
- DOT
- PHMSA
Correct answer: EPA
The EPA administers and enforces the SPCC rule under the Clean Water Act to prevent oil from reaching navigable US waters.
Question 7: In petroleum facilities, secondary containment must be capable of holding at least what volume in relation to the largest tank it surrounds?
- 25% of the largest tank capacity
- 50% of the largest tank capacity
- 100% of the largest tank capacity
- 110% of the largest tank capacity (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 110% of the largest tank capacity
SPCC regulations require secondary containment structures to hold at least 110% of the capacity of the largest single tank to account for precipitation and overfill.
CPA Safety Standards & Regulations 2
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119 (Process Safety Management), what is the minimum threshold quantity of flammable liquids with a boiling point below 68°F that triggers PSM requirements?