IHSA Emergency Response & Incident Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a mass casualty incident at a construction site, the START triage system categorizes victims with no breathing after repositioning the airway as which tag color?
- Red
- Yellow
- Black (Correct answer)
- Green
Correct answer: Black
In START triage, victims who do not breathe even after airway repositioning are tagged black (deceased/expectant) because they are beyond immediate salvage.
Question 2: An IHSA-certified coach observes a worker collapse in a confined space with suspected toxic atmosphere. What is the FIRST priority before any rescue attempt?
- Call 911 immediately
- Confirm the atmosphere is safe or use supplied-air respirators before entry (Correct answer)
- Pull the victim out by any means available
- Administer CPR from outside the space
Correct answer: Confirm the atmosphere is safe or use supplied-air respirators before entry
Entering an IDLH confined space without proper respiratory protection is the leading cause of multiple fatalities; atmosphere verification or supplied-air equipment must come first.
Question 3: Which document legally obligates US employers to report a workplace fatality to OSHA?
- OSHA Form 300 Log
- OSHA Form 301 Incident Report
- Verbal or written report within 8 hours of learning of the fatality (Correct answer)
- Annual Summary Form 300A
Correct answer: Verbal or written report within 8 hours of learning of the fatality
29 CFR 1904.39 requires employers to notify OSHA within 8 hours of a work-related fatality.
Question 4: A site emergency action plan (EAP) must include which of the following elements per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38?
- A detailed floor plan of all buildings on site
- Procedures for reporting fires and other emergencies (Correct answer)
- Individual employee medical histories
- Annual budget for emergency equipment
Correct answer: Procedures for reporting fires and other emergencies
OSHA 1910.38 mandates that EAPs include procedures for reporting fires and other emergencies as a minimum element.
Question 5: When using the Incident Command System (ICS), who holds overall responsibility for all incident activities?
- Safety Officer
- Operations Section Chief
- Incident Commander (Correct answer)
- Liaison Officer
Correct answer: Incident Commander
The Incident Commander holds overall responsibility for all strategic and tactical decisions during an ICS-managed incident.
Question 6: A worker suffers a severe arterial bleed on the forearm. After applying direct pressure for 10 minutes without controlling bleeding, what is the next appropriate step?
- Apply a tourniquet 2–3 inches above the wound (Correct answer)
- Elevate the limb and continue pressure only
- Remove the soaked bandage and apply a fresh one
- Irrigate the wound with clean water
Correct answer: Apply a tourniquet 2–3 inches above the wound
When direct pressure fails to control life-threatening arterial bleeding, a tourniquet applied 2–3 inches proximal to the wound is the standard next intervention.
Question 7: After an incident is resolved, which step in the post-incident process identifies systemic failures rather than individual blame?
- Near-miss reporting
- Root cause analysis (Correct answer)
- Disciplinary review
- Insurance claim filing
Correct answer: Root cause analysis
Root cause analysis examines systemic, organizational, and procedural failures to prevent recurrence rather than attributing blame to individuals.
IHSA Emergency Response & Incident Management 2
During a mass casualty incident at a construction site, the START triage system categorizes victims with no breathing after repositioning the airway as which tag color?