WHMIS - Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Safe Handling and Exposure Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When implementing safety measures for a hazardous product, which of the following represents the most effective type of control according to the hierarchy of controls?
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves and goggles.
- Administrative controls, such as safe work procedures and signage.
- Eliminating the hazardous product or substituting it with a less hazardous one. (Correct answer)
- Engineering controls, such as installing a ventilation system.
Correct answer: Eliminating the hazardous product or substituting it with a less hazardous one.
The hierarchy of controls ranks hazard control methods from most to least effective. Eliminating the hazard entirely or substituting it with a safer alternative is the most effective and preferred approach because it removes the risk at the source.
Question 2: A worker is required to handle a chemical whose Safety Data Sheet (SDS) specifies the use of nitrile gloves. The only gloves available are standard leather work gloves. What is the appropriate course of action?
- Inform their supervisor that the specified PPE is unavailable and do not proceed with the task. (Correct answer)
- Wear two pairs of the leather gloves to provide extra protection.
- Proceed with the task but try to work quickly to minimize contact.
- Apply a barrier cream to their hands before putting on the leather gloves.
Correct answer: Inform their supervisor that the specified PPE is unavailable and do not proceed with the task.
The specific type of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) listed in the SDS (Section 8) is mandatory for safe handling. If the required PPE is not available, the task must not be performed. The worker has a responsibility to inform their supervisor to obtain the correct equipment before starting the work.
Question 3: An employee accidentally splashes a hazardous liquid, which they know is corrosive, onto their arm. What is the most critical and immediate action they should take?
- Immediately locate the product's SDS to read the first-aid section.
- Report the incident to their supervisor before doing anything else.
- Cover the affected area with a dry, sterile bandage.
- Proceed to an emergency shower or flushing station and rinse the affected area with large amounts of water. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Proceed to an emergency shower or flushing station and rinse the affected area with large amounts of water.
For corrosive chemical exposures to the skin or eyes, the immediate priority is to flush the area with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes to dilute and remove the chemical. All other steps, such as notifying a supervisor and consulting the SDS, should happen after this critical first-aid measure has begun.
Question 4: Which of the following is the best example of an engineering control used to minimize exposure to airborne contaminants from a hazardous product?
- Requiring workers to wear approved respirators.
- A local exhaust ventilation system, such as a fume hood. (Correct answer)
- Scheduling shorter work shifts in the area where the product is used.
- Placing warning signs in the area to indicate an inhalation hazard.
Correct answer: A local exhaust ventilation system, such as a fume hood.
An engineering control is a physical modification to the workplace that isolates workers from the hazard. A local exhaust ventilation system physically captures and removes the contaminant from the air before it can be inhaled. Respirators are PPE, while shorter shifts and warning signs are types of administrative controls.
Question 5: A worker must store a container of a flammable liquid and a container of a strong oxidizing agent. According to general safe handling principles under WHMIS, what should the worker do?
- Store them side-by-side on the same shelf for easy inventory management.
- Store them in separate, designated areas or in a cabinet that provides segregation for incompatible materials. (Correct answer)
- Place the flammable liquid on a lower shelf than the oxidizer in the same cabinet.
- Ensure both containers are tightly sealed and store them together in a general-purpose cabinet.
Correct answer: Store them in separate, designated areas or in a cabinet that provides segregation for incompatible materials.
Oxidizers can cause or contribute to the combustion of other materials, especially flammables, creating a significant fire or explosion risk. It is a critical safe storage practice to segregate incompatible chemicals according to the instructions found on their respective SDSs (Section 7).
Question 6: Which of the following is a primary example of an administrative control for managing exposure to hazardous products?
- Installing a splash guard on a piece of equipment.
- Providing workers with chemical-resistant aprons.
- Developing and enforcing written safe work procedures. (Correct answer)
- Replacing a toxic solvent with a water-based cleaner.
Correct answer: Developing and enforcing written safe work procedures.
Administrative controls are changes to work practices, policies, or procedures that reduce exposure. Developing and enforcing safe work procedures is a core administrative control that dictates how people must work around a hazard. A splash guard is an engineering control, an apron is PPE, and replacing the solvent is substitution.
WHMIS - Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Safe Handling and Exposure Questions and Answers 1
When implementing safety measures for a hazardous product, which of the following represents the most effective type of control according to the hierarchy of controls?