MHIC Safety and Regulations 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A homeowner asks their MHIC-licensed contractor to skip the required electrical inspection to save time. The contractor should:
- Comply if the homeowner signs a waiver
- Refuse, as inspections cannot be waived by homeowner request (Correct answer)
- Proceed and self-certify the electrical work
- Complete the work and schedule an inspection only if the homeowner requests it later
Correct answer: Refuse, as inspections cannot be waived by homeowner request
Required inspections are mandated by code and cannot be waived by homeowner consent; the contractor remains legally responsible for obtaining all required inspections.
Question 2: Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), what must contractors maintain on-site for all hazardous chemicals used?
- Purchase receipts and supplier invoices
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) accessible to all workers (Correct answer)
- A written chemical inventory filed with the state
- Annual chemical disposal logs
Correct answer: Safety Data Sheets (SDS) accessible to all workers
OSHA's HazCom Standard requires Safety Data Sheets for every hazardous chemical on site, accessible to workers at all times during each work shift.
Question 3: Which Maryland agency is primarily responsible for licensing and regulating home improvement contractors?
- Maryland Department of Labor (MDL)
- Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)
- Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) (Correct answer)
- Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
Correct answer: Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC)
The Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) is the licensing and regulatory body for home improvement contractors under Maryland law.
Question 4: What is the maximum OSHA-allowed angle for positioning an extension ladder against a wall?
- 1:3 ratio (one out for every three up)
- 1:4 ratio (one out for every four up) (Correct answer)
- 1:5 ratio (one out for every five up)
- Any angle is acceptable if secured at the top
Correct answer: 1:4 ratio (one out for every four up)
OSHA requires extension ladders to be set at a 75-degree angle, which corresponds to a 1:4 ratio (one foot out for every four feet of height).
Question 5: A contractor in Maryland is cited for a 'serious' OSHA violation. What distinguishes a serious violation from an 'other-than-serious' violation?
- A serious violation involves a fatality
- A serious violation involves a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm (Correct answer)
- A serious violation requires immediate work stoppage
- A serious violation means the employer knowingly violated the rule
Correct answer: A serious violation involves a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm
OSHA defines a serious violation as one where there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, regardless of whether the employer knew about it.
Question 6: Under Maryland's contractor regulations, how long must a contractor retain records related to a home improvement contract after project completion?
- 1 year
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
- 7 years
Correct answer: 3 years
Maryland MHIC regulations require contractors to retain all contract-related records for at least 3 years following project completion.
Question 7: When working with pressure-treated lumber containing arsenic compounds (older CCA-treated wood) during renovation, workers should:
- Wear standard cotton gloves and a dust mask
- Use N95 respirators, eye protection, and wash hands before eating or drinking (Correct answer)
- Treat it the same as untreated lumber if cutting is minimal
- Only take precautions if burning or welding the wood
Correct answer: Use N95 respirators, eye protection, and wash hands before eating or drinking
CCA (chromated copper arsenate) treated wood dust contains arsenic and chromium; workers must use respiratory protection and practice hygiene to prevent exposure.
MHIC Safety and Regulations 5
A homeowner asks their MHIC-licensed contractor to skip the required electrical inspection to save time.
The contractor should: