CPE Safety & Environmental Compliance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which OSHA standard specifically governs the lockout/tagout (LOTO) of energy sources during equipment servicing?
- 29 CFR 1910.132
- 29 CFR 1910.147 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.212
- 29 CFR 1910.303
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.147
29 CFR 1910.147, the Control of Hazardous Energy standard, mandates lockout/tagout procedures to protect workers during servicing and maintenance.
Question 2: A plant burns coal and must comply with EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Which pollutant is NOT classified as a criteria pollutant under the Clean Air Act?
- Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) (Correct answer)
- Lead (Pb)
Correct answer: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)
EPA's six criteria pollutants are SO₂, CO, NO₂, O₃, PM2.5/PM10, and Pb; hydrogen sulfide is not among them.
Question 3: Under SARA Title III (EPCRA), what is the purpose of Tier II reporting?
- Reporting air emissions to EPA's Toxics Release Inventory
- Providing local emergency planners with hazardous chemical inventory data (Correct answer)
- Submitting waste manifests for off-site disposal
- Notifying OSHA of chemical hazards in the workplace
Correct answer: Providing local emergency planners with hazardous chemical inventory data
EPCRA Section 312 Tier II reports give Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) annual inventory data on hazardous chemicals stored at facilities.
Question 4: Which type of fire extinguisher is appropriate for a Class D (combustible metal) fire in a plant environment?
- Dry chemical (ABC) extinguisher
- CO₂ extinguisher
- Water mist extinguisher
- Dry sand or specific metal-fire agent extinguisher (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Dry sand or specific metal-fire agent extinguisher
Class D fires involving metals like magnesium or titanium require dry sand or a dry powder agent specifically rated for combustible metals, as water or CO₂ can worsen the fire.
Question 5: What is the permissible exposure limit (PEL) concept established by OSHA, and how does it differ from ACGIH's TLV?
- PELs are voluntary guidelines; TLVs are legally enforceable limits
- PELs are legally enforceable 8-hour TWA limits; TLVs are advisory consensus values often more current (Correct answer)
- PELs apply to skin contact; TLVs apply to airborne concentrations
- They are identical in value and application
Correct answer: PELs are legally enforceable 8-hour TWA limits; TLVs are advisory consensus values often more current
OSHA PELs are legally binding standards set in 29 CFR 1910.1000, while ACGIH TLVs are consensus-based guidelines that are typically updated more frequently and are often more protective.
Question 6: A new chemical process is being designed. At which stage is it most cost-effective to apply inherently safer design (ISD) principles?
- During routine annual safety audits
- During initial conceptual and process design phase (Correct answer)
- After process startup and commissioning
- When a near-miss incident occurs
Correct answer: During initial conceptual and process design phase
Inherently safer design is most effective and least costly when applied during conceptual design, before equipment is specified or built.
Question 7: Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), a 'large quantity generator' must dispose of hazardous waste within how many days of accumulation?
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days (Correct answer)
- 180 days
Correct answer: 90 days
RCRA regulations allow large quantity generators a maximum of 90 days to accumulate hazardous waste on-site before it must be sent to a permitted treatment, storage, or disposal facility.
CPE Safety & Environmental Compliance 3
Which OSHA standard specifically governs the lockout/tagout (LOTO) of energy sources during equipment servicing?