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
A residential cleaner is asked to clean the home of a client undergoing chemotherapy. Which additional precaution is most important in this scenario?
Answer: Avoid fragranced products and ensure thorough ventilation to protect the immunocompromised client
Immunocompromised individuals are highly sensitive to chemical fumes and fragrances, and proper ventilation reduces their exposure while still allowing thorough sanitation.
What is the correct way to remove contaminated gloves to avoid self-contamination after cleaning a biohazard spill?
Answer: Pinch the outside of one glove near the wrist to peel it off, then slide fingers under the cuff of the second glove to remove it
The standard glove-removal technique (pinch the outside, peel off; tuck fingers under the cuff) ensures the contaminated exterior never contacts bare skin.
Indoor air quality (IAQ) in a home can be worsened by cleaning professionals who use products with high VOC content. What does VOC stand for?
Answer: Volatile Organic Compound
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are carbon-containing chemicals that evaporate at room temperature and can irritate respiratory systems and degrade indoor air quality.
How should a cleaning professional respond if they encounter animal feces suspected to contain Toxoplasma gondii (cat feces) while cleaning a litter box?
Answer: Wear gloves and a mask, and wash hands thoroughly afterward; pregnant clients should be advised not to handle litter themselves
Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in cat feces pose serious risk to pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals; gloves and handwashing are essential and clients in these groups should be warned.
A cleaning product label states it is effective against MRSA. What does MRSA stand for and why is this claim relevant to residential cleaning?
Answer: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus — relevant because it is an antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogen found in homes
MRSA is an antibiotic-resistant bacterium increasingly found in community settings including homes, and disinfectants claiming efficacy against it offer protection against this difficult-to-treat pathogen.
Which of the following best describes the hierarchy of controls for protecting cleaning workers from chemical hazards, from most to least preferred?
Answer: Elimination → Substitution → Engineering controls → Administrative controls → PPE
OSHA's Hierarchy of Controls prioritizes eliminating the hazard at its source, then substituting safer alternatives, before relying on PPE as a last line of defense.
If a cleaning professional accidentally ingests a chemical cleaning product, what is the FIRST action to take?
Answer: Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) or emergency services and follow their instructions
Poison Control should be contacted immediately because some chemicals cause more damage if vomiting is induced, and trained specialists provide the correct response for each specific product.