CSC Emergency Response & Preparedness 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which framework is widely used by U.S. organizations to structure incident command during environmental emergencies?
- ISO 14001
- Incident Command System (ICS) (Correct answer)
- OSHA 1910.38
- FEMA BRIC Program
Correct answer: Incident Command System (ICS)
The Incident Command System (ICS) is the standardized on-scene emergency management system used across U.S. agencies and organizations.
Question 2: A sustainability consultant reviewing a corporate emergency plan notices it lacks a defined 'continuity of operations' section. Why is this critical for sustainability?
- It satisfies LEED certification requirements
- It ensures essential functions continue during disruptions, reducing long-term environmental and economic impact (Correct answer)
- It is required by ISO 9001 audits
- It eliminates the need for business interruption insurance
Correct answer: It ensures essential functions continue during disruptions, reducing long-term environmental and economic impact
Continuity of operations planning (COOP) ensures critical functions persist through disasters, minimizing cascading environmental and economic harm.
Question 3: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120, which type of facility must have a written emergency response plan for hazardous substance releases?
- Any facility with more than 50 employees
- Facilities where hazardous substances may be released intentionally or accidentally (Correct answer)
- Only petrochemical refineries
- Facilities operating under a Title V air permit
Correct answer: Facilities where hazardous substances may be released intentionally or accidentally
OSHA 1910.120 (HAZWOPER) requires a written emergency response plan for any facility where hazardous substance releases may occur.
Question 4: When a chemical plant experiences an accidental release of a listed hazardous substance above the reportable quantity, which federal agency must be notified first under CERCLA?
- EPA Regional Office
- National Response Center (NRC) (Correct answer)
- State Environmental Agency
- FEMA Operations Center
Correct answer: National Response Center (NRC)
CERCLA Section 103 requires immediate notification to the National Response Center (NRC) when a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance is released.
Question 5: Which concept describes the ability of a community or organization to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and adapt to incremental change and sudden disruptions?
- Disaster mitigation
- Resilience (Correct answer)
- Redundancy planning
- Adaptive capacity
Correct answer: Resilience
Resilience encompasses the full cycle of anticipating, preparing, responding, and adapting to both gradual changes and acute disruptions.
Question 6: A sustainability professional is developing a climate-related emergency plan. Which tool helps identify which natural hazards pose the greatest risk to a specific location?
- GHG protocol scope analysis
- FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) (Correct answer)
- EPA Toxic Release Inventory
- ANSI Z10 framework
Correct answer: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI)
FEMA's National Risk Index maps community-level risk for 18 natural hazards, helping planners prioritize emergency preparedness efforts.
Question 7: In the context of emergency preparedness, what does a 'vulnerability assessment' primarily evaluate?
- Financial exposure to liability from incidents
- The susceptibility of people, systems, or assets to harm from hazards (Correct answer)
- Gaps in employee safety training completion rates
- Compliance status with environmental permits
Correct answer: The susceptibility of people, systems, or assets to harm from hazards
A vulnerability assessment identifies how susceptible an organization's people, systems, and assets are to damage from identified hazards.
CSC Emergency Response & Preparedness 2
Which framework is widely used by U.S. organizations to structure incident command during environmental emergencies?