MRS Personal Protective Equipment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which NIOSH-approved respirator class provides the highest level of respiratory protection during mold remediation in severely contaminated areas?
- N95 filtering facepiece
- P100 half-face respirator
- Full-face air-purifying respirator with P100 filters
- Supplied-air respirator (SAR) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Supplied-air respirator (SAR)
A supplied-air respirator (SAR) provides the highest level of respiratory protection because it delivers clean air from an uncontaminated source rather than filtering ambient air.
Question 2: When performing mold remediation, what is the correct order for donning PPE?
- Respirator, gloves, coveralls, eye protection
- Coveralls, respirator, eye protection, gloves (Correct answer)
- Coveralls, eye protection, respirator, gloves
- Gloves, coveralls, eye protection, respirator
Correct answer: Coveralls, respirator, eye protection, gloves
The correct donning sequence is coveralls first, then respirator, then eye protection, then gloves, ensuring that outer garments do not contaminate inner PPE.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a Tyvek coverall during mold remediation?
- Prevent heat exhaustion in workers
- Protect skin and clothing from mold spore contact (Correct answer)
- Provide chemical splash protection
- Reduce static electricity buildup
Correct answer: Protect skin and clothing from mold spore contact
Tyvek coveralls protect the worker's skin and personal clothing from direct contact with mold spores, preventing cross-contamination outside the work area.
Question 4: A worker with a beard wants to wear a half-face respirator for mold remediation. What should the supervisor advise?
- Allow it if the worker has worn the respirator before
- Require a full-face powered air-purifying respirator instead
- Require a fit test performed with the beard in place
- Advise shaving or using a supplied-air hood/helmet respirator (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Advise shaving or using a supplied-air hood/helmet respirator
Facial hair prevents a proper seal on tight-fitting respirators, so workers with beards must shave or use a loose-fitting supplied-air hood or helmet that does not require a face seal.
Question 5: During remediation, a worker's N95 respirator becomes visibly dirty and breathing resistance increases significantly. What is the correct action?
- Continue working and replace at end of shift
- Tap the respirator to dislodge particles and continue
- Replace the respirator immediately (Correct answer)
- Switch to a cloth face mask temporarily
Correct answer: Replace the respirator immediately
An N95 respirator that is visibly dirty or shows significantly increased breathing resistance has reached end of service life and must be replaced immediately to maintain protection.
Question 6: Which type of glove material is recommended when mold remediation also involves handling bleach-based cleaning solutions?
- Latex gloves
- Nitrile gloves (Correct answer)
- Cotton work gloves
- Vinyl gloves
Correct answer: Nitrile gloves
Nitrile gloves provide excellent resistance to bleach and other disinfectant chemicals while also protecting against mold spore contact, making them the preferred choice.
Question 7: What eye protection is required when using biocidal sprays during mold remediation?
- Standard safety glasses only
- Vented goggles
- Unvented chemical splash goggles or face shield (Correct answer)
- No eye protection is needed for spray application
Correct answer: Unvented chemical splash goggles or face shield
Unvented chemical splash goggles or a face shield are required when using biocidal sprays to prevent chemical splashes from reaching the eyes through side or vent openings.
MRS Personal Protective Equipment 2
Which NIOSH-approved respirator class provides the highest level of respiratory protection during mold remediation in severely contaminated areas?