Free Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) Hazards & Exposures Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Developing remedial actions as part of industrial hygiene entails minimizing or eliminating health risks by:

risks
hazards (Correct answer)
injuries
exposures

Correct answer: hazards

Developing remedial actions as part of industrial hygiene primarily entails minimizing or eliminating health *hazards*. Hazards are the source or condition with the potential for harm, and by controlling or removing them, the risk of disease or injury to employees is effectively reduced. The focus is on addressing the root causes of potential harm.

Question 2: All of the following may be used as exposure control strategies in industrial hygiene, with the exception of:

rule enforcement (Correct answer)
ventilation
substitution of toxics
changing work procedures

Correct answer: rule enforcement

Exposure control strategies in industrial hygiene are direct methods to prevent or reduce worker contact with hazards. These include engineering controls like ventilation and substitution of toxics, as well as administrative controls such as changing work procedures. Rule enforcement, while crucial for ensuring compliance and the effectiveness of controls, is a management tool rather than a direct control strategy itself.

Question 3: An efficient program for industrial hygiene includes:

hazard control
sound claims management (Correct answer)
anticipation of health hazards
evaluation and measurement

Correct answer: sound claims management

An efficient industrial hygiene program, while primarily focused on preventing occupational illnesses and injuries, also contributes to and can be informed by sound claims management. Data from workers' compensation claims can highlight areas where preventative measures may be insufficient or where specific hazards are causing harm, thus feeding back into the hazard recognition and control aspects of the industrial hygiene program, making the overall system more efficient and responsive.

Question 4: These dangers result from elevated levels of mists, vapors, gases, or solids in the form of mists or dusts in the air:

physical hazards
ergonomic hazards
biological hazards
chemical hazards (Correct answer)

Correct answer: chemical hazards

Chemical hazards are characterized by the presence of harmful chemical substances in the workplace environment. These substances can exist in various forms, including mists, vapors, gases, or solids (like dusts), and can lead to adverse health effects upon exposure. Industrial hygienists identify and control these hazards to prevent chemical-related illnesses and injuries.

Question 5: These dangers include high amounts of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, as well as noise, vibration, and temperature and pressure extremes:

physical hazards (Correct answer)
ergonomic hazards
biological hazards
chemical hazards

Correct answer: physical hazards

Physical hazards encompass environmental factors that can cause harm through physical mechanisms, rather than chemical or biological interactions. This category includes high amounts of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, excessive noise, vibration, and extremes of temperature and pressure. Industrial hygienists evaluate and control these factors to prevent adverse health effects like hearing loss, radiation sickness, or heat stress.

Question 6: Any living thing or its characteristics that could lead to a negative reaction in people are considered hazards:

physical hazards
chemical hazards
biological hazards (Correct answer)
ergonomic hazards

Correct answer: biological hazards

Biological hazards refer to any living organism or its characteristics that could lead to a negative reaction in people, such as infection, allergic reactions, or toxic effects. This category includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and their toxins. Industrial hygienists identify and control these hazards to protect workers from biohazardous exposures.

Question 7: Inadequately designed tools, workstations, or work processes are some of these risks.

physical hazards
chemical hazards
biological hazards
ergonomic hazards (Correct answer)

Correct answer: ergonomic hazards

Ergonomic hazards arise from inadequately designed tools, workstations, or work processes that force workers into awkward postures, repetitive motions, or require excessive force. These stressors can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and other injuries over time. Industrial hygienists and ergonomists work to identify and mitigate these hazards through design improvements and administrative controls to optimize the fit between the worker and their job.

Question 8: All of the following impacts of noise on people, with the exception of:

physical effects (Correct answer)
psychological effects
interference with communications
physiological effects

Correct answer: physical effects

Noise impacts are typically categorized into physiological effects (like hearing loss, increased heart rate), psychological effects (stress, annoyance), and interference with communication. 'Physical effects' is a broad term that encompasses physiological effects, making it redundant or less specific as a distinct category when physiological effects are already listed. Therefore, it is the exception among the distinct impacts of noise.

Question 9: Which of the following is not a factor that can affect how noise exposure affects people?

total duration of exposure
variation in receptivity (Correct answer)
total energy of the sound
frequency distribution of the sound

Correct answer: variation in receptivity

The impact of noise exposure on people is determined by objective characteristics of the noise and the exposure scenario, such as the total duration of exposure, the total energy (intensity) of the sound, and its frequency distribution. 'Variation in receptivity' refers to individual, subjective differences in how people perceive or react to noise, which is not a direct physical factor influencing the *effect* of the noise exposure itself. It's a subjective response rather than an objective characteristic of the exposure.

Question 10: Which of the following is not a non-technical test to see if there are too many noises in the workplace?

Do employees complain that speech or music is muffled?
Is it necessary to speak loudly or shout into the ear?
Have employees complained of ringing in their ears after work?
Are employees volunteering to wear earplugs or muffs? (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Are employees volunteering to wear earplugs or muffs?

Non-technical tests for excessive workplace noise are observational signs indicating potential problems. Complaints about muffled speech, needing to shout, or ringing in ears are direct symptoms or indicators of high noise levels. Employees *volunteering* to wear PPE is a response to perceived noise, but it doesn't directly *test* or confirm the presence of 'too many noises' in the same way the other options describe direct communication difficulties or physiological effects.

Question 11: Which of the following is a precursor to an oxygen shortage?

dizziness
decreased focus
increased heart beat
increased breathing rate (Correct answer)

Correct answer: increased breathing rate

When the body experiences an oxygen shortage (hypoxia), its immediate physiological response is to increase the rate and depth of breathing to try and take in more oxygen. This increased breathing rate is a primary and early compensatory mechanism, making it a direct precursor or warning sign of an impending or existing oxygen deficit. Other symptoms like dizziness or decreased focus often follow as the shortage progresses.

Question 12: What must the employer do initially if the permitted noise exposure levels are exceeded?

limit work near the source of exposure
initiate a hearing conservation program
use engineering and administrative controls (Correct answer)
ensure personal protective equipment is used

Correct answer: use engineering and administrative controls

According to the hierarchy of controls, engineering and administrative controls are the most effective and preferred methods for hazard control. If noise exposure levels exceed permissible limits, the employer must first implement these controls to reduce noise at the source or through work practices. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is considered a last resort when higher-level controls are not feasible or sufficient.

Question 13: What is a liquid that has been finely separated and is suspended in the air?

aerosol
gas
smoke
mist (Correct answer)

Correct answer: mist

A mist is specifically defined as a suspension of finely divided liquid droplets in the air. This definition distinguishes it from a gas (a substance in its gaseous state), smoke (solid particles from combustion), or aerosol (a broader term for solid or liquid particles suspended in a gas).

Question 14: What is the eight-hour TWA noise exposure limit?

95 dBA
80 dBA
85 dBA
90 dBA (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 90 dBA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for noise at 90 dBA for an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA). This is a legally enforceable standard designed to protect workers from the harmful effects of noise exposure over a typical workday.

Question 15: What is the noise exposure 4-hour TWA limit?

95 dBA (Correct answer)
90 dBA
85 dBA
80 dBA

Correct answer: 95 dBA

OSHA's noise exposure limits utilize a 5 dBA exchange rate, meaning that for every 5 dBA increase in noise level, the permissible exposure time is halved. Starting from 90 dBA for 8 hours, a 5 dBA increase to 95 dBA reduces the permissible exposure time to 4 hours. Therefore, the 4-hour TWA limit is 95 dBA.

Question 16: What apparatus is employed to gauge electric fields at frequencies higher than 100 kHz:

radio frequency detector (Correct answer)
multi-meter
magnets resonance meter
dipole antenna

Correct answer: radio frequency detector

Radio frequency (RF) detectors are specialized instruments designed to measure electromagnetic fields within the radio frequency spectrum, which typically includes frequencies above 100 kHz. Other options like multi-meters measure basic electrical parameters, and magnetic resonance meters are for magnetic fields, not specifically high-frequency electric fields.

Free Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) Hazards & Exposures Questions and Answers

Developing remedial actions as part of industrial hygiene entails minimizing or eliminating health risks by: