SAF Safety Standards & Regulatory Compliance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS/GHS), Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must contain exactly how many sections?
- 8
- 10
- 16 (Correct answer)
- 24
Correct answer: 16
OSHA's HCS aligned with the GHS requires all SDS documents to follow a standardized 16-section format.
Question 2: A 'variance' in the OSHA regulatory context refers to:
- A statistical measure of injury rate deviation from the industry average
- An employer's written documentation of a near-miss incident
- Official permission from OSHA to use an alternative method that provides equivalent protection (Correct answer)
- A temporary exemption granted when a standard is under legal challenge
Correct answer: Official permission from OSHA to use an alternative method that provides equivalent protection
An OSHA variance allows employers to use alternative means of compliance that provide employee protection at least equal to what the standard requires.
Question 3: Which EPA regulation governs the storage, handling, and emergency planning requirements for extremely hazardous substances at fixed facilities?
- RCRA Title II
- CERCLA Section 103
- EPCRA Section 302 (Correct answer)
- TSCA Section 8(e)
Correct answer: EPCRA Section 302
EPCRA Section 302 requires facilities storing extremely hazardous substances (EHS) above threshold planning quantities to notify Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs).
Question 4: In the hierarchy of hazard controls, administrative controls rank:
- First, as the most effective control measure
- Second, immediately after engineering controls
- Fourth, above PPE but below substitution and elimination (Correct answer)
- Last, only used when all other options are infeasible
Correct answer: Fourth, above PPE but below substitution and elimination
The hierarchy from most to least effective is: Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Controls, Administrative Controls, PPE.
Question 5: The OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) standard (29 CFR 1910.119) is triggered when a facility holds a listed highly hazardous chemical at or above its:
- Permissible exposure limit (PEL)
- Threshold planning quantity (TPQ)
- Threshold quantity (TQ) (Correct answer)
- Action level (AL)
Correct answer: Threshold quantity (TQ)
PSM coverage is triggered when a process contains a listed highly hazardous chemical at or above the threshold quantity (TQ) specified in Appendix A of 29 CFR 1910.119.
Question 6: Which recordkeeping form must OSHA-covered employers post in the workplace from February 1 through April 30 each year?
- OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses)
- OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) (Correct answer)
- OSHA Form 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report)
- OSHA Form 302 (Annual Illness Summary)
Correct answer: OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses)
The Form 300A summary, certified by a company executive, must be posted in a visible location from February 1 through April 30 each year.
Question 7: A 'consensus standard' developed by organizations like ANSI or NFPA differs from a federal regulation primarily because it:
- Applies only to federal government contractors
- Is legally enforceable only in states with approved state plans
- Is voluntary unless adopted by reference into a mandatory regulation (Correct answer)
- Requires annual reauthorization by Congress to remain valid
Correct answer: Is voluntary unless adopted by reference into a mandatory regulation
Consensus standards are voluntary guidance documents that become legally enforceable only when a regulatory body (such as OSHA) formally incorporates them by reference into a rule.
SAF Safety Standards & Regulatory Compliance 3
Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS/GHS), Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must contain exactly how many sections?