Health, Safety, and Infection Control Flashcards
7 cards from real RCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Health, Safety, and Infection Control flashcards as text
When cleaning a bathroom used by someone with a confirmed infectious illness, which sequence of cleaning and disinfecting is correct?
Answer: Clean visible dirt first, then apply disinfectant
Surfaces must be cleaned of organic matter first because soil and debris can neutralize disinfectants before they can kill pathogens.
A client requests you use bleach and ammonia together to make a stronger disinfectant. What should you do?
Answer: Refuse, because mixing produces toxic chloramine gas
Bleach and ammonia react to produce chloramine vapors, which are highly toxic and can cause serious respiratory harm.
Which type of glove provides the best protection when handling strong chemical disinfectants like quaternary ammonium compounds?
Answer: Nitrile chemical-resistant gloves
Nitrile gloves offer superior chemical resistance compared to latex or vinyl, making them the safest choice for handling concentrated cleaning chemicals.
What does the term 'contact time' (dwell time) mean on a disinfectant label?
Answer: The minimum time the surface must remain wet to achieve disinfection
Contact time is the period the surface must stay visibly wet with disinfectant to ensure the pathogen kill claims on the label are achieved.
A cleaner accidentally splashes a chemical disinfectant into their eyes. What is the immediate first response?
Answer: Flush the eyes continuously with clean water for at least 15 minutes
Flushing with water for at least 15 minutes dilutes and removes the chemical and is the universally recommended first-aid response for eye chemical exposure.
Which surface in a residential home typically harbors the highest concentration of fecal bacteria?
Answer: Kitchen sponge
Kitchen sponges are consistently found in studies to harbor extremely high concentrations of bacteria, including fecal coliform, due to their moisture retention and repeated use.
Under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), what document must be accessible to cleaning staff that describes chemical hazards, safe handling, and emergency procedures?
Answer: Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
OSHA's HazCom Standard requires that Safety Data Sheets (formerly MSDS) be readily accessible to workers for every hazardous chemical they may encounter.