CEH Health and Safety Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, what must housekeeping staff receive before working with hazardous cleaning chemicals?
- Verbal instructions from a supervisor
- Training and access to Safety Data Sheets (Correct answer)
- A written test on chemical names
- A doctor's clearance form
Correct answer: Training and access to Safety Data Sheets
OSHA's HazCom Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires employers to provide training and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous chemicals employees may encounter.
Question 2: Which federal agency sets and enforces workplace safety standards for housekeeping employees in the United States?
- EPA
- CDC
- OSHA (Correct answer)
- NIOSH
Correct answer: OSHA
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is responsible for setting and enforcing workplace safety and health standards.
Question 3: A housekeeper reports tingling hands after using a new floor stripper daily. The executive housekeeper's FIRST action should be to:
- Tell the employee to wear thicker gloves
- Review the SDS and remove the product pending evaluation (Correct answer)
- File a workers' compensation claim
- Switch to a different brand with similar ingredients
Correct answer: Review the SDS and remove the product pending evaluation
Reviewing the SDS for the implicated chemical and removing it from use pending a full hazard evaluation is the appropriate first step to protect employee health.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) in a housekeeping department?
- To evaluate employee performance ratings
- To identify and control hazards associated with specific job tasks (Correct answer)
- To schedule preventive maintenance on equipment
- To track inventory usage by task
Correct answer: To identify and control hazards associated with specific job tasks
A JHA breaks down a job into steps, identifies potential hazards at each step, and recommends controls to eliminate or reduce those hazards.
Question 5: Which type of PPE is required when housekeeping staff must clean up blood or body fluid spills?
- Steel-toed boots and hard hat
- Disposable gloves and eye protection (Correct answer)
- Chemical-resistant apron only
- Respirator and ear protection
Correct answer: Disposable gloves and eye protection
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard requires disposable gloves and eye protection (when splashing is possible) when handling blood or OPIM.
Question 6: What does 'LOTO' stand for in a housekeeping safety context?
- Limit Output, Test Often
- Lockout/Tagout (Correct answer)
- Low Oxygen, Toxic Output
- Label, Operate, Tag, Observe
Correct answer: Lockout/Tagout
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is an OSHA-required procedure to isolate energy sources on equipment before maintenance or cleaning to prevent accidental startup.
Question 7: A new cleaning product is introduced to the department. According to OSHA HazCom, employees must be trained:
- Within 30 days of first use
- Before they work with the new chemical (Correct answer)
- At the annual safety review
- Only if the chemical is classified as highly toxic
Correct answer: Before they work with the new chemical
OSHA requires employees to be trained before working with any new hazardous chemical, not after first exposure has occurred.
CEH Health and Safety Regulations 2
Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, what must housekeeping staff receive before working with hazardous cleaning chemicals?