CPT Safety & Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A technician is laminating a prosthetic socket using polyester resin. Which ventilation measure is MOST appropriate?
- Open one window in the lab
- Work in a certified fume hood or use local exhaust ventilation (Correct answer)
- Wear a surgical mask
- Use a fan to blow fumes away from the work area
Correct answer: Work in a certified fume hood or use local exhaust ventilation
Polyester resin releases styrene vapors that require local exhaust ventilation or a fume hood to keep airborne concentrations below OSHA permissible exposure limits.
Question 2: Which of the following is the correct order for donning PPE before entering a contaminated work area?
- Gloves → Gown → Mask → Eye protection
- Gown → Mask → Eye protection → Gloves (Correct answer)
- Mask → Gown → Eye protection → Gloves
- Eye protection → Gown → Gloves → Mask
Correct answer: Gown → Mask → Eye protection → Gloves
The CDC-recommended donning order is gown first, then mask/respirator, then eye protection, then gloves to ensure each layer is properly secured.
Question 3: What does the term 'sharps container fill line' indicate in a prosthetics lab context?
- The container must be weighed when this line is reached
- The container should be closed and replaced when waste reaches this line (Correct answer)
- The container can hold 25% more after this line
- The fill line is only relevant in medical settings, not prosthetics labs
Correct answer: The container should be closed and replaced when waste reaches this line
Sharps containers should be sealed and replaced when waste reaches the indicated fill line to prevent overfilling and needle-stick injuries.
Question 4: A SDS (Safety Data Sheet) Section 8 provides information about:
- Physical and chemical properties of the substance
- First aid measures following exposure
- Exposure controls and personal protective equipment (Correct answer)
- Handling, storage, and disposal requirements
Correct answer: Exposure controls and personal protective equipment
SDS Section 8 covers exposure controls and personal protective equipment, specifying permissible exposure limits (PELs) and recommended PPE.
Question 5: Which infection control tier applies when a patient's infection status is unknown?
- Transmission-based precautions only
- Standard precautions (Correct answer)
- Airborne precautions
- No precautions needed unless symptoms are visible
Correct answer: Standard precautions
Standard precautions are applied to ALL patients regardless of known infection status, treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious.
Question 6: In a prosthetics lab, acetone is used as a solvent. According to NFPA standards, acetone should be stored in:
- Any metal container with a tight lid
- A flammable materials storage cabinet (Correct answer)
- The standard supply cabinet near the work bench
- Refrigerator designated for chemical storage
Correct answer: A flammable materials storage cabinet
Flammable liquids like acetone must be stored in a listed and labeled flammable materials safety cabinet to prevent ignition and contain a potential fire.
Question 7: A fellow technician sustains a needle-stick injury while working with a patient's cast. The FIRST action after removing the needle should be:
- Apply a tourniquet above the injury site
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Immediately squeeze the wound to express blood
- Apply hydrogen peroxide and cover with a bandage
Correct answer: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
CDC guidelines recommend immediately washing needle-stick wounds with soap and water as the first response to reduce pathogen transmission risk.
CPT Safety & Infection Control 3
A technician is laminating a prosthetic socket using polyester resin.
Which ventilation measure is MOST appropriate?