Health Hazards and Hygiene Flashcards
7 cards from real STSC 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 Hazards and Hygiene flashcards as text
A construction worker develops flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, and high fever after working near a cooling tower. Which occupational disease is most likely?
Answer: Legionnaires' disease
Legionnaires' disease is caused by Legionella bacteria that thrive in water systems like cooling towers and can be inhaled as aerosols.
What is the primary route of entry for lead dust on a construction site into the human body?
Answer: Ingestion via contaminated hands
Lead dust on construction sites is most commonly ingested when workers eat, drink, or smoke without washing contaminated hands first.
Which type of respirator provides the highest level of respiratory protection for IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health) atmospheres?
Answer: Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
SCBA provides the highest level of protection by supplying clean breathing air independent of the surrounding atmosphere.
What is the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for silica dust (respirable crystalline silica) as an 8-hour TWA?
Answer: 0.05 mg/m³
OSHA's PEL for respirable crystalline silica is 50 micrograms per cubic meter (0.05 mg/m³) as an 8-hour TWA.
A supervisor notices workers developing dermatitis after handling wet cement. What is the primary cause?
Answer: Hexavalent chromium and alkaline pH of cement
Wet cement causes skin damage due to its high alkalinity and the presence of hexavalent chromium, a known skin sensitizer and carcinogen.
Which engineering control is most effective at reducing worker exposure to wood dust during cutting operations?
Answer: Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) at the source
Local exhaust ventilation captures dust at the point of generation before it becomes airborne and spreads, making it more effective than dilution ventilation.
What medical condition can result from repeated hand-arm vibration exposure from tools like jackhammers over several years?
Answer: Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), including vibration white finger
HAVS is a chronic occupational disease affecting blood vessels, nerves, and muscles of hands caused by prolonged use of vibrating tools.