CPC Laboratory Safety & Compliance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which class of fire extinguisher is rated for use on energized electrical equipment fires?
- Class A
- Class B
- Class C (Correct answer)
- Class D
Correct answer: Class C
Class C extinguishers use non-conductive agents such as CO₂ or dry chemical and are rated for energized electrical equipment fires.
Question 2: Under 29 CFR 1910.1450 (OSHA Laboratory Standard), which document must be maintained and accessible to all laboratory personnel?
- Chemical inventory spreadsheet
- Chemical Hygiene Plan (Correct answer)
- Emergency Response Plan
- Waste Minimization Policy
Correct answer: Chemical Hygiene Plan
29 CFR 1910.1450 requires laboratories to develop and implement a written Chemical Hygiene Plan that is accessible to all employees.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) before performing a new laboratory procedure?
- To determine the cost of required PPE
- To systematically identify hazards and controls for each procedural step (Correct answer)
- To satisfy annual OSHA reporting requirements
- To train new employees on general safety protocols
Correct answer: To systematically identify hazards and controls for each procedural step
A JHA breaks a task into steps and identifies hazards and appropriate controls at each step before the work begins.
Question 4: When working with liquid nitrogen, the MOST critical PPE item beyond safety glasses is:
- Steel-toed boots
- Cryogenic gloves rated for cryogenic temperatures (Correct answer)
- Chemical-resistant apron
- Half-face respirator with organic vapor cartridges
Correct answer: Cryogenic gloves rated for cryogenic temperatures
Cryogenic gloves specifically rated for extreme cold are essential because standard latex or nitrile gloves become brittle and fail on contact with liquid nitrogen.
Question 5: An eyewash station in a chemistry laboratory must deliver tepid flushing fluid for a minimum of:
- 5 minutes
- 10 minutes
- 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- 30 minutes
Correct answer: 15 minutes
ANSI Z358.1 requires eyewash stations to provide continuous tepid flushing fluid for at least 15 minutes.
Question 6: Which regulatory agency oversees the transportation of hazardous materials in the United States, including laboratory chemicals shipped via common carrier?
- EPA
- OSHA
- DOT/PHMSA (Correct answer)
- CDC
Correct answer: DOT/PHMSA
The Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regulates the packaging, labeling, and transport of hazardous materials.
Question 7: A secondary container used to store a flammable liquid transferred from its original container must be labeled with at minimum:
- The full SDS information
- The identity of the chemical and appropriate hazard warnings (Correct answer)
- Only the chemical formula
- The date of transfer
Correct answer: The identity of the chemical and appropriate hazard warnings
GHS and OSHA HazCom require secondary containers to bear the product identifier and hazard warnings at minimum so users are informed of risks.
CPC Laboratory Safety & Compliance 3
Which class of fire extinguisher is rated for use on energized electrical equipment fires?