SSP Occupational Health & Hazard Control 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a pre-placement medical examination in an occupational health program?
- To screen out workers with any prior health conditions
- To establish a baseline health status and assess fitness for the specific job demands (Correct answer)
- To satisfy OSHA recordkeeping requirements for new hires
- To determine eligibility for workers' compensation benefits
Correct answer: To establish a baseline health status and assess fitness for the specific job demands
Pre-placement exams establish baseline health data and ensure the worker can safely perform job-specific physical demands without undue risk.
Question 2: Which principle underlies the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) concept established by ACGIH?
- Zero-risk threshold for all chemical exposures
- Concentrations at or below which nearly all workers may be exposed without adverse effects (Correct answer)
- Legal enforcement benchmarks equivalent to OSHA PELs
- Instantaneous ceiling values that must never be exceeded
Correct answer: Concentrations at or below which nearly all workers may be exposed without adverse effects
TLVs represent concentrations to which nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed without adverse health effects, though individual susceptibility varies.
Question 3: Which confined space condition requires a permit before entry?
- Space with a single point of entry and exit
- Space with limited means for entry or exit and known or potential hazards (Correct answer)
- Space below grade level with natural lighting
- Space larger than 50 cubic feet with ventilation
Correct answer: Space with limited means for entry or exit and known or potential hazards
A permit-required confined space has limited entry/exit and contains or has the potential to contain serious hazards such as atmospheric, engulfment, or entrapment hazards.
Question 4: In industrial hygiene, what does the 'anticipation' phase of the industrial hygiene model involve?
- Implementing engineering controls before hazards are confirmed
- Recognizing potential hazards before workers are exposed through process review and walk-throughs (Correct answer)
- Administering medical surveillance to detect early disease
- Reviewing OSHA citations from previous inspections
Correct answer: Recognizing potential hazards before workers are exposed through process review and walk-throughs
Anticipation involves identifying potential hazards proactively by reviewing processes, materials, and work tasks before exposure occurs.
Question 5: A worker develops contact dermatitis after repeated exposure to a cutting fluid. This is an example of which type of occupational illness?
- Acute toxicity reaction
- Cumulative trauma disorder
- Occupational skin disease (Correct answer)
- Sensitizer-induced occupational asthma
Correct answer: Occupational skin disease
Skin disorders caused by workplace chemical contact, such as dermatitis from cutting fluids, are classified as occupational skin diseases.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of biological monitoring in occupational health?
- To measure airborne contaminant concentrations at breathing zone level
- To assess the total internal dose of a chemical absorbed by a worker from all routes of exposure (Correct answer)
- To determine if PPE is functioning within manufacturer specifications
- To comply with OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping requirements
Correct answer: To assess the total internal dose of a chemical absorbed by a worker from all routes of exposure
Biological monitoring measures chemical agents or their metabolites in biological specimens (blood, urine) to assess total absorbed dose from all exposure routes.
Question 7: Which type of fire extinguisher is appropriate for a Class C (energized electrical equipment) fire?
- Water-based extinguisher
- Foam extinguisher
- CO2 or dry chemical extinguisher (Correct answer)
- Wet chemical extinguisher
Correct answer: CO2 or dry chemical extinguisher
Class C fires involving energized electrical equipment require non-conductive agents such as CO2 or dry chemical extinguishers.
SSP Occupational Health & Hazard Control 4
What is the purpose of a pre-placement medical examination in an occupational health program?