STSC Emergency Preparedness and Management 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct order of priorities in the Incident Command System (ICS) during a construction emergency?
- Property, environment, life safety
- Life safety, incident stabilization, property preservation (Correct answer)
- Documentation, notification, evacuation
- Evacuation, medical aid, investigation
Correct answer: Life safety, incident stabilization, property preservation
ICS prioritizes life safety first, then stabilizing the incident to prevent escalation, and finally protecting property.
Question 2: A natural gas line is accidentally struck during excavation. What is the FIRST action the supervisor should take?
- Call the utility company to report the damage
- Evacuate all workers from the area and eliminate ignition sources (Correct answer)
- Mark the damaged pipe and continue working
- Apply pipe repair clamps immediately
Correct answer: Evacuate all workers from the area and eliminate ignition sources
Immediately evacuating the area and eliminating ignition sources prevents fire or explosion from escaping natural gas.
Question 3: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.35, which type of construction sites require a written Emergency Action Plan?
- All construction sites regardless of size
- Sites with 11 or more employees (Correct answer)
- Only sites involving hazardous materials
- Sites with temporary structures only
Correct answer: Sites with 11 or more employees
OSHA requires a written Emergency Action Plan for construction sites with 11 or more employees; smaller sites may communicate the plan orally.
Question 4: During a mass casualty event on a construction site, the START triage system classifies a non-breathing victim after repositioning the airway as which tag color?
- Red (immediate)
- Yellow (delayed)
- Green (minor)
- Black (expectant/deceased) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Black (expectant/deceased)
In START triage, a victim who does not breathe after airway repositioning is classified as Black (expectant/deceased) because resources focus on salvageable patients.
Question 5: Which type of fire extinguisher is appropriate for use on electrical equipment fires at a construction site?
- Class A
- Class B
- Class C (Correct answer)
- Class D
Correct answer: Class C
Class C extinguishers use non-conductive agents safe for energized electrical equipment fires.
Question 6: When developing a construction site emergency plan, what information must be communicated to ALL workers BEFORE work begins?
- Insurance policy numbers and coverage limits
- Alarm signals, evacuation routes, and assembly points (Correct answer)
- Company financial data and project budget
- Subcontractor contact lists only
Correct answer: Alarm signals, evacuation routes, and assembly points
All workers must be informed of alarm signals, evacuation routes, and assembly points before starting work so they can respond correctly in an emergency.
Question 7: What is the role of the Safety Trained Supervisor Construction (STSC) in post-incident investigation?
- To assign disciplinary action to involved workers
- To secure the scene, document conditions, and identify root causes to prevent recurrence (Correct answer)
- To negotiate with OSHA on behalf of the company
- To process workers' compensation claims
Correct answer: To secure the scene, document conditions, and identify root causes to prevent recurrence
The STSC's role in post-incident investigation is to preserve the scene, gather facts, and conduct root cause analysis to prevent future incidents.
STSC Emergency Preparedness and Management 5
What is the correct order of priorities in the Incident Command System (ICS) during a construction emergency?