HSE Emergency Response and Preparedness 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) standard, which element is REQUIRED for all workplaces with more than 10 employees?
- Verbal communication only
- Written EAP kept in the workplace (Correct answer)
- Dedicated emergency response team on-site
- Monthly emergency drills
Correct answer: Written EAP kept in the workplace
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 requires employers with more than 10 employees to maintain a written Emergency Action Plan accessible to employees.
Question 2: During a chemical spill, the FIRST priority for first responders at the awareness level is to:
- Contain the spill using absorbent materials
- Identify the chemical using the SDS
- Isolate the area and deny entry (Correct answer)
- Notify the EPA immediately
Correct answer: Isolate the area and deny entry
Awareness-level responders are trained only to recognize hazardous materials and isolate the scene, not to take offensive action.
Question 3: The Incident Command System (ICS) principle of 'unity of command' means that:
- All agencies must use a single communications channel
- Each responder reports to only one supervisor (Correct answer)
- The incident commander has sole authority over all resources
- Command must never be transferred once established
Correct answer: Each responder reports to only one supervisor
Unity of command ensures each individual has only one designated supervisor to prevent conflicting instructions during an emergency.
Question 4: A 'hot zone' in hazmat emergency response is defined as the area:
- Where the incident command post is located
- Where decontamination operations are performed
- Immediately surrounding the release where contamination exists (Correct answer)
- Where media and public gather to observe
Correct answer: Immediately surrounding the release where contamination exists
The hot zone (exclusion zone) is the area of actual or potential contamination where only properly protected personnel may enter.
Question 5: In mass casualty triage, a patient tagged GREEN under the START system should be treated:
- Immediately — life-threatening injuries
- After red and yellow tag patients — minor injuries (Correct answer)
- Last or only if resources allow — expectant
- Before all others — walking wounded priority
Correct answer: After red and yellow tag patients — minor injuries
Green-tagged patients have minor injuries and can wait; red patients are treated first, followed by yellow, then green.
Question 6: Which document serves as the comprehensive, pre-incident plan for coordinating response to a major emergency at a fixed facility?
- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
- Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
- Emergency Response Plan (ERP) (Correct answer)
- Process Hazard Analysis (PHA)
Correct answer: Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
An Emergency Response Plan outlines pre-planned procedures for protecting personnel and property during an emergency at a specific facility.
Question 7: When conducting a post-incident analysis (PIA) after an emergency, the PRIMARY purpose is to:
- Assign blame and disciplinary actions to responsible parties
- Document injuries for workers' compensation claims
- Identify corrective actions to improve future emergency response (Correct answer)
- Satisfy regulatory reporting requirements
Correct answer: Identify corrective actions to improve future emergency response
Post-incident analysis is a learning tool to evaluate response effectiveness and implement improvements to prevent future incidents or improve outcomes.
HSE Emergency Response and Preparedness 2
Under OSHA's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) standard, which element is REQUIRED for all workplaces with more than 10 employees?