Free STSC Hazard Communication (HazCom) and Chemical Safety Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: As a construction supervisor, what is your primary responsibility regarding Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) on the job site?
- Authoring the SDS for every chemical used.
- Ensuring SDSs are readily accessible to all employees for every hazardous chemical on site. (Correct answer)
- Memorizing the first aid procedures from every SDS.
- Sending a copy of every SDS to the nearest hospital.
Correct answer: Ensuring SDSs are readily accessible to all employees for every hazardous chemical on site.
The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to maintain copies of SDSs for each hazardous chemical and ensure they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees. The supervisor is responsible for implementing this on site, ensuring workers can quickly find information in an emergency.
Question 2: A container of a chemical on your construction site displays a GHS pictogram showing a flame over a circle. What type of hazard does this indicate?
- Flammable
- Corrosive
- Oxidizer (Correct answer)
- Acute Toxicity (fatal or toxic)
Correct answer: Oxidizer
The 'flame over circle' pictogram specifically represents an oxidizing hazard. Oxidizers can cause or contribute to the combustion of other materials, usually by yielding oxygen, and pose a significant fire or explosion risk, separate from being merely flammable.
Question 3: Which of the following is a mandatory component of an employer's written Hazard Communication program?
- A list of approved chemical vendors.
- The personal phone numbers of all chemical manufacturers.
- A list of hazardous chemicals on site and the methods used to inform employees of hazards. (Correct answer)
- The purchase price of each chemical.
Correct answer: A list of hazardous chemicals on site and the methods used to inform employees of hazards.
A written HazCom program must include a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present, the methods the employer will use to inform employees of the hazards (e.g., labels, SDSs, training), and procedures for non-routine tasks. This inventory is a core requirement for managing chemical hazards effectively.
Question 4: An employee transfers a cleaning solvent from a large manufacturer's drum into a smaller, portable spray bottle for use during their shift. What must the supervisor ensure is done with the spray bottle?
- It must be labeled with the product identifier and words, pictures, or symbols that provide hazard information. (Correct answer)
- It does not need a label as long as it is for immediate use by the person who filled it.
- It only needs to be labeled with the employee's name.
- It must be labeled with a complete copy of the GHS shipping label.
Correct answer: It must be labeled with the product identifier and words, pictures, or symbols that provide hazard information.
OSHA requires that secondary containers, like the spray bottle, be labeled with either a copy of the original manufacturer's label or a workplace-specific label. This workplace label must include the product identifier and words, pictures, or symbols that provide general information about the chemical's hazards.
Question 5: According to the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, when must an employee receive initial training on hazardous chemicals?
- Within the first 90 days of employment.
- At the time of their initial assignment and before working with a new chemical hazard. (Correct answer)
- Annually, on the anniversary of their hire date.
- Only after a chemical-related incident has occurred.
Correct answer: At the time of their initial assignment and before working with a new chemical hazard.
HazCom training is required before an employee begins work with hazardous chemicals and whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced into their work area. The goal is to ensure workers have the information they need to protect themselves *before* exposure can occur.
Question 6: A worker on your site has been splashed with a chemical. In which section of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) would you find the most critical information on required first-aid measures?
- Section 2: Hazard Identification
- Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
- Section 4: First-Aid Measures (Correct answer)
- Section 11: Toxicological Information
Correct answer: Section 4: First-Aid Measures
Section 4 of the GHS-standardized SDS is specifically dedicated to First-Aid Measures. It provides detailed information on the necessary immediate care for exposure via different routes (inhalation, skin, eye, ingestion) and describes the most important symptoms and effects.
Free STSC Hazard Communication (HazCom) and Chemical Safety Questions and Answers 1
As a construction supervisor, what is your primary responsibility regarding Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) on the job site?