CSC Health & Safety Protocols 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom 2012), which section of a Safety Data Sheet lists first-aid measures?
- Section 4 (Correct answer)
- Section 6
- Section 8
- Section 11
Correct answer: Section 4
Section 4 of an SDS is designated for first-aid measures per the GHS-aligned HazCom 2012 standard.
Question 2: A sustainability consultant evaluating a manufacturing facility notices workers exposed to airborne particulates without respiratory protection. Which OSHA standard most directly governs this hazard?
- 29 CFR 1910.134 – Respiratory Protection (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.119 – Process Safety Management
- 29 CFR 1910.147 – Lockout/Tagout
- 29 CFR 1910.1200 – Hazard Communication
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.134 – Respiratory Protection
29 CFR 1910.134 requires employers to establish a respiratory protection program when airborne contaminants exceed permissible exposure limits.
Question 3: Which hierarchy of controls level is considered MOST effective at eliminating workplace hazards?
- Administrative controls
- Engineering controls
- Elimination (Correct answer)
- Personal protective equipment
Correct answer: Elimination
Elimination—removing the hazard entirely—is the most effective control because it prevents exposure rather than managing it.
Question 4: A CSC is auditing a green building project for indoor air quality. Which standard provides the primary benchmark for ventilation requirements in commercial buildings in the US?
- ASHRAE 62.1 (Correct answer)
- LEED BD+C v4
- EPA Method 18
- NIOSH REL guidelines
Correct answer: ASHRAE 62.1
ASHRAE Standard 62.1 sets minimum ventilation rates and IAQ requirements for commercial and institutional buildings.
Question 5: What does the term 'permissible exposure limit' (PEL) refer to in occupational health?
- Maximum concentration of a substance a worker may be exposed to over an 8-hour workday (Correct answer)
- Short-term ceiling value not to be exceeded at any time
- Recommended exposure threshold set by NIOSH for research purposes
- Annual average ambient air quality standard set by the EPA
Correct answer: Maximum concentration of a substance a worker may be exposed to over an 8-hour workday
OSHA's PEL is the legal maximum average airborne concentration of a hazardous substance during an 8-hour work shift.
Question 6: When a sustainability consultant identifies asbestos-containing materials in a building scheduled for renovation, the FIRST recommended action is to:
- Immediately remove all asbestos before work begins
- Conduct a risk assessment and notify the relevant regulatory agencies (Correct answer)
- Cover the materials with encapsulant and proceed with renovation
- Hire a licensed contractor to begin demolition
Correct answer: Conduct a risk assessment and notify the relevant regulatory agencies
A risk assessment followed by regulatory notification (NESHAP, EPA, and state requirements) is required before any disturbance of asbestos-containing materials.
Question 7: Which environmental health concept describes the principle that regulatory action should be taken to prevent potential harm even when scientific evidence is incomplete?
- Life cycle assessment
- Precautionary principle (Correct answer)
- Risk characterization
- Dose-response modeling
Correct answer: Precautionary principle
The precautionary principle holds that protective action should be taken before full scientific certainty of harm is established.
CSC Health & Safety Protocols 2
Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom 2012), which section of a Safety Data Sheet lists first-aid measures?