STSC Hazard Communication (HazCom) and Chemical Safety 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's HazCom standard, who is responsible for ensuring that Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are accessible to employees during their shifts?
- The chemical manufacturer
- The employer (Correct answer)
- The employee themselves
- OSHA inspectors
Correct answer: The employer
Employers must ensure SDSs are readily accessible to employees during each work shift in their work areas.
Question 2: A construction worker finds an unlabeled container of liquid in a storage area. What is the correct first action?
- Smell the liquid to identify it
- Use the liquid if it appears similar to a known chemical
- Do not use it and report it to the supervisor (Correct answer)
- Dispose of it in the nearest trash bin
Correct answer: Do not use it and report it to the supervisor
Unlabeled containers must never be used; the supervisor should be notified so the contents can be identified or properly disposed of.
Question 3: Which GHS pictogram specifically indicates a substance that is acutely toxic and may cause death or serious injury even in small amounts?
- Flame pictogram
- Skull and crossbones pictogram (Correct answer)
- Exclamation mark pictogram
- Health hazard pictogram
Correct answer: Skull and crossbones pictogram
The skull and crossbones GHS pictogram signals acute toxicity categories 1–3, representing severe or fatal hazards.
Question 4: What does Section 8 of a Safety Data Sheet address?
- Physical and chemical properties
- Exposure controls and personal protective equipment (Correct answer)
- First-aid measures
- Ecological information
Correct answer: Exposure controls and personal protective equipment
SDS Section 8 covers exposure limits, engineering controls, and required PPE to minimize worker exposure.
Question 5: A supervisor notices that a chemical's container label has become unreadable due to weather exposure. What must be done before the chemical is used again?
- Use the chemical since workers already know what it is
- Re-label the container with the required label elements (Correct answer)
- Transfer the chemical to any available container
- Remove the damaged label and proceed
Correct answer: Re-label the container with the required label elements
Containers with damaged or missing labels must be re-labeled with the required GHS label elements before use.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT a required element on a GHS-compliant chemical label?
- Signal word
- Hazard statements
- The chemical's purchase price (Correct answer)
- Supplier identification
Correct answer: The chemical's purchase price
GHS labels require the product identifier, signal word, hazard/precautionary statements, pictograms, and supplier info — not pricing.
Question 7: When two chemicals stored near each other can react violently if they come into contact, they are described as what?
- Flammable
- Incompatible (Correct answer)
- Corrosive
- Oxidizing
Correct answer: Incompatible
Incompatible chemicals must be segregated in storage because mixing them can cause fires, explosions, or toxic gas release.
STSC Hazard Communication (HazCom) and Chemical Safety 4
Under OSHA's HazCom standard, who is responsible for ensuring that Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are accessible to employees during their shifts?