ISC Hazardous Materials & Chemical Safety (HazCom/GHS) — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How many standardized sections does a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) contain under the GHS-aligned OSHA Hazard Communication Standard?
Correct answer: 16
The revised HazCom Standard (GHS-aligned) requires SDSs to have 16 standardized sections, in a fixed order, from Identification through Other Information.
Question 2: Which GHS label element must be shown on every hazardous chemical container to indicate the relative severity of the hazard?
- Hazard statement
- Signal word (Correct answer)
- Precautionary statement
- Supplier identifier
Correct answer: Signal word
The signal word is either "Danger" (more severe) or "Warning" (less severe). It tells readers how severe the hazard is at a glance.
Question 3: Which GHS pictogram is used for chemicals that are flammable, self-reactive, or pyrophoric?
- Skull and crossbones
- Exclamation mark
- Flame (Correct answer)
- Corrosion
Correct answer: Flame
The flame pictogram covers flammables, pyrophorics, self-heating, self-reactive substances, organic peroxides, and emits-flammable-gas chemicals.
Question 4: A worker transfers a hazardous chemical from its original container into an unlabeled portable container for immediate use during a single shift. Under HazCom, what is generally required?
- No labeling is required if the same worker uses it and it is used within the shift (Correct answer)
- A full GHS label with all six elements is always required
- The container must be sealed and sent to the supplier
- A written permit from OSHA is required
Correct answer: No labeling is required if the same worker uses it and it is used within the shift
Portable containers filled from labeled containers are exempt from labeling if the chemical is for the immediate use of the employee who performed the transfer. Workplace labeling is needed if the container is not used right away or others will use it.
Question 5: Which of the following should be stored separately from each other because of dangerous reactivity?
- Water and sodium chloride
- Oxidizers and flammable liquids (Correct answer)
- Paper and cardboard
- Lubricating oil and grease
Correct answer: Oxidizers and flammable liquids
Oxidizers supply oxygen and can greatly intensify a fire or cause an explosion if they contact flammable liquids. Incompatible chemicals must be segregated in storage.
Question 6: Which employer duty is required by the Hazard Communication Standard?
- Test all employees for chemical exposure monthly
- Maintain a written hazard communication program and train employees on chemical hazards (Correct answer)
- Replace all hazardous chemicals with non-hazardous substitutes
- Post SDSs only in the safety manager's office
Correct answer: Maintain a written hazard communication program and train employees on chemical hazards
Employers must keep a written HazCom program, an inventory of chemicals, labels, accessible SDSs, and give employees training on the hazards they are exposed to.
