CSS Emergency Response & Incident Investigation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the Incident Command System (ICS), which position is responsible for safety at the incident scene?
- Operations Section Chief
- Safety Officer (Correct answer)
- Logistics Section Chief
- Finance/Administration Section Chief
Correct answer: Safety Officer
The Safety Officer monitors scene conditions and has authority to stop or prevent unsafe acts during incident operations.
Question 2: Which investigation technique maps the sequence of events leading to an incident using boxes and arrows to show cause-and-effect relationships?
- Fault Tree Analysis
- 5-Why Method
- Events and Causal Factor (ECF) charting (Correct answer)
- Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram
Correct answer: Events and Causal Factor (ECF) charting
Events and Causal Factor charting sequences events chronologically and connects causal factors using a timeline-based diagram.
Question 3: A chemical spill occurs and the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is unavailable. What is the BEST immediate action?
- Attempt to identify the chemical by smell
- Call 1-800-424-8802 (CHEMTREC) or the manufacturer's emergency number for guidance (Correct answer)
- Wait until the SDS is located before taking any action
- Dilute the spill with water regardless of chemical type
Correct answer: Call 1-800-424-8802 (CHEMTREC) or the manufacturer's emergency number for guidance
CHEMTREC provides 24/7 emergency chemical guidance when SDS information is unavailable during an incident.
Question 4: Under OSHA's Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) authority, how quickly can OSHA implement an ETS without normal rulemaking?
- It takes at least 6 months regardless of the emergency
- Immediately, effective upon publication in the Federal Register (Correct answer)
- Only after a 30-day public comment period
- Only with Congressional approval
Correct answer: Immediately, effective upon publication in the Federal Register
OSHA can issue an ETS effective immediately upon Federal Register publication when workers face grave danger from a new hazard.
Question 5: Which best describes the 'near miss' reporting concept in safety management?
- A minor injury that required only first aid treatment
- An unplanned event that did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so (Correct answer)
- An incident where the employee was almost disciplined
- A regulatory inspection where no citations were issued
Correct answer: An unplanned event that did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so
A near miss is an unplanned event with injury/damage potential that can reveal hazards before they cause actual harm.
Question 6: During mass casualty triage using the START system, a victim who is breathing at a rate above 30 breaths per minute with a radial pulse present is tagged:
- Green (minor)
- Yellow (delayed)
- Red (immediate) (Correct answer)
- Black (deceased/expectant)
Correct answer: Red (immediate)
In START triage, a respiratory rate over 30 breaths/min indicates a critical airway/breathing problem warranting immediate (red) tag.
Question 7: Which NFPA standard covers the minimum requirements for emergency response organizations?
- NFPA 10
- NFPA 70E
- NFPA 1600 (Correct answer)
- NFPA 704
Correct answer: NFPA 1600
NFPA 1600 is the standard on Continuity, Emergency, and Crisis Management covering emergency response program requirements.
CSS Emergency Response & Incident Investigation 3
In the Incident Command System (ICS), which position is responsible for safety at the incident scene?