CIH Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CIH facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which sampling approach should be used when a worker performs multiple tasks with different exposure levels throughout the day? → Task-based sampling with time-weighted averaging
2. According to the Fan Laws, if fan speed is doubled while density and size remain constant, fan airflow will: → Double
3. What is the primary route of occupational exposure to lead that contributes most to systemic toxicity in industrial settings? → Inhalation of lead fume and dust
4. Which of the following is not a non-technical test to see if there are too many noises in the workplace? → Are employees volunteering to wear earplugs or muffs?
5. What does the term 'coupling' refer to in the context of the NIOSH Lifting Equation? → Quality of the hand-to-object interface
6. All of the following may be used as exposure control strategies in industrial hygiene, with the exception of: → rule enforcement
7. Inadequately designed tools, workstations, or work processes are some of these risks. → ergonomic hazards
8. In the hierarchy of controls, what is the correct position of personal protective equipment (PPE)? → Last resort after elimination, substitution, engineering, and administrative controls
9. What does the geometric standard deviation (GSD) indicate in occupational exposure data analysis? → The spread or variability of a lognormal exposure dataset
10. When evaluating hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure, which health outcome is the occupational hygienist most concerned about? → Vibration-induced white finger (Raynaud's phenomenon)
11. Which physical hazard describes low-frequency whole-body vibration (1–80 Hz) that can cause spinal disorders in heavy equipment operators? → Whole-body vibration (WBV)
12. The skin's top layer is impermeable to this invisible low frequency radiation: → infrared
13. The ACGIH published this exposure guideline for airborne concentrations, known as the → Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
14. OSHA advises maintaining temperatures between ____ and ____ degrees Fahrenheit and maintaining humidity levels between ____ and . → 68-76 degrees; 20%-60%
15. A competent individual at an excavation site should be aware of, and be able to recognize and address hazards associated with, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING, EXCEPT: → biological hazards
16. Which two consequences can be arbitrarily separated from a substance's action? → acute and chronic
17. When calculating the combined exposure index for a mixture of chemicals with additive effects, which formula applies? → Sum each C/TLV ratio: ΣCn/TLVn
18. When evaluating noise exposures, OSHA uses which exchange rate (doubling rate) in its hearing conservation standard? → 5 dB
19. Which ventilation parameter is defined as the volume of air supplied to a space divided by the volume of that space per unit time? → Air changes per hour (ACH)
20. Which metal is MOST associated with causing 'metal fume fever,' a self-limiting flu-like illness occurring within hours of overexposure? → Zinc
21. Which statistical measure is most appropriate for describing a lognormally distributed occupational exposure dataset? → Geometric mean and geometric standard deviation
22. The signs of this illness include weakness, headaches, dizziness, weariness, and blurred vision. → heat exhaustion
23. What does the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Section 8 specifically address? → Exposure controls and personal protection
24. Under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2012), which GHS signal word indicates a LESS severe hazard category? → Warning
25. Which chemical form presents the greatest inhalation hazard for a substance with a very low vapor pressure at room temperature? → Aerosol/mist
26. Which of the following is the BEST example of an engineering control implemented to mitigate ergonomic risk factors for an assembly line worker? → Installing an articulating arm to hold a heavy power tool.
27. To Determine If A Chemical Is Hazardous, Consider Each Of The Following, EXCEPT For . → Selectivity
28. In whole-body vibration exposure assessment, which ISO standard is most commonly referenced? → ISO 2631
29. A worker reports numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Which nerve is most likely compressed? → Median nerve
30. Every toxicological evaluation is based on the: → dose-response relationship