PO Safety & Hazard Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) in process operations?
- To assign blame after accidents
- To identify and control hazards before a task begins (Correct answer)
- To document employee performance
- To schedule maintenance windows
Correct answer: To identify and control hazards before a task begins
A JHA systematically identifies potential hazards associated with each step of a job so that controls can be put in place before work begins.
Question 2: Which type of fire extinguisher is appropriate for a Class B fire involving flammable liquids?
- Class A water extinguisher
- Class C CO2 extinguisher only
- Class B or BC dry chemical extinguisher (Correct answer)
- Class D extinguisher
Correct answer: Class B or BC dry chemical extinguisher
Class B fires involve flammable liquids and are best suppressed using dry chemical or CO2 extinguishers rated for Class B.
Question 3: When must a process operator don a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)?
- Only during scheduled drills
- When entering an atmosphere that is or may be IDLH (Correct answer)
- When working outdoors on hot days
- During routine sampling only
Correct answer: When entering an atmosphere that is or may be IDLH
SCBA must be used when the atmosphere is Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) or when oxygen deficiency is possible.
Question 4: What does the term 'hierarchy of controls' mean in industrial safety?
- The chain of command for reporting safety incidents
- A ranked framework for controlling hazards from most to least effective (Correct answer)
- OSHA's inspection priority list
- The order in which PPE should be donned
Correct answer: A ranked framework for controlling hazards from most to least effective
The hierarchy of controls ranks hazard control methods from elimination (most effective) down to PPE (least effective) to guide safety decisions.
Question 5: A process operator notices a strong odor of H2S in the unit. What is the correct FIRST action?
- Continue working and report at shift end
- Don appropriate respiratory protection and activate the alarm (Correct answer)
- Open all vent valves immediately
- Wait for confirmation from a supervisor
Correct answer: Don appropriate respiratory protection and activate the alarm
H2S is immediately dangerous; the operator must don respiratory protection and activate alarms before taking any other action.
Question 6: Which safety device automatically shuts down a pump when the discharge pressure exceeds its set point?
- Pressure relief valve
- High-pressure shutdown switch (PSH) (Correct answer)
- Check valve
- Control valve
Correct answer: High-pressure shutdown switch (PSH)
A high-pressure shutdown switch (PSH) triggers an automatic pump or unit shutdown when pressure exceeds the defined safe limit.
PO Safety & Hazard Management 1
What is the primary purpose of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) in process operations?