CPII Safety & Environmental Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal regulation establishes the Hazard Communication Standard requiring Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for hazardous chemicals on infrastructure worksites?
- 29 CFR 1926.59
- 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Correct answer)
- 40 CFR 261.33
- 49 CFR 172.101
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.1200
29 CFR 1910.1200 is OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), which mandates SDS availability and labeling for hazardous chemicals.
Question 2: A public infrastructure inspector observes turbid stormwater runoff leaving a construction site entering a nearby stream. Under the Clean Water Act, what permit is most likely being violated?
- NPDES Construction General Permit (Correct answer)
- Section 404 Individual Permit
- Underground Injection Control Permit
- RCRA Hazardous Waste Permit
Correct answer: NPDES Construction General Permit
The NPDES Construction General Permit (CGP) governs stormwater discharges from construction sites disturbing one or more acres.
Question 3: During a bridge inspection, a worker is required to work over water at a height where fall protection is mandatory. What is the minimum height threshold that triggers fall protection requirements under OSHA's construction standards?
- 4 feet
- 6 feet (Correct answer)
- 10 feet
- 15 feet
Correct answer: 6 feet
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502 requires fall protection for construction workers at heights of 6 feet or more.
Question 4: Which EPA program requires facilities that store petroleum products above threshold quantities to develop a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan?
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Clean Water Act Section 311 (Correct answer)
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
- Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
Correct answer: Clean Water Act Section 311
Clean Water Act Section 311 and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR Part 112 require SPCC Plans for facilities storing oil above threshold amounts.
Question 5: An inspector notices that excavation spoils are stockpiled within 2 feet of a trench edge. What immediate hazard does this create?
- Increased soil erosion
- Surcharge loading that can cause cave-in (Correct answer)
- Air quality degradation from dust
- Groundwater contamination
Correct answer: Surcharge loading that can cause cave-in
Spoil piled too close to a trench edge creates surcharge loading that adds stress to trench walls, significantly increasing cave-in risk.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) at a public infrastructure construction site?
- To manage worker health and safety during rain events
- To identify BMPs that prevent pollutants from entering waterways (Correct answer)
- To calculate stormwater runoff volumes for drainage design
- To comply with air quality permit conditions
Correct answer: To identify BMPs that prevent pollutants from entering waterways
A SWPPP identifies Best Management Practices (BMPs) to prevent or reduce pollutants in stormwater discharges from construction sites.
Question 7: When inspecting a utility corridor, you identify an unmarked container of liquid with no label. Under OSHA HazCom standards, what is the immediate required action?
- Dispose of the container as hazardous waste
- Remove it from the site immediately
- Identify the contents before allowing use or continued storage (Correct answer)
- Report it to the EPA within 24 hours
Correct answer: Identify the contents before allowing use or continued storage
OSHA's HazCom standard requires that all hazardous chemical containers be labeled; unlabeled containers must be identified before use or storage continues.
CPII Safety & Environmental Compliance 2
Which federal regulation establishes the Hazard Communication Standard requiring Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for hazardous chemicals on infrastructure worksites?