CHST - Construction Health and Safety Technician Emergency and Fire Preparedness Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to OSHA standard 29 CFR 1926.150(c)(1)(i), what is the minimum fire extinguisher rating that must be provided for each 3,000 square feet of a protected building area on a construction site?
- A 10B rated extinguisher
- A 5A:10B:C rated extinguisher
- A 2A rated extinguisher (Correct answer)
- A 55-gallon drum of water without fire pails
Correct answer: A 2A rated extinguisher
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.150(c)(1)(i) explicitly states, 'A fire extinguisher, rated not less than 2A, shall be provided for each 3,000 square feet of the protected building area, or major fraction thereof.' While other types of extinguishers are required for specific hazards (like flammable liquids), the 2A rating is the minimum general requirement for building areas.
Question 2: A construction site has 15 employees. An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is required. Which of the following elements is a mandatory component of this plan according to 29 CFR 1926.35?
- The home phone number of the company owner.
- Procedures for employees who remain to operate critical equipment before they evacuate. (Correct answer)
- A list of all combustible materials stored on site.
- The plan must only be communicated orally to all employees.
Correct answer: Procedures for employees who remain to operate critical equipment before they evacuate.
According to 29 CFR 1926.35(b), an EAP must include several elements, one of which is 'Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate.' Because the site has more than 10 employees, the plan must be in writing and kept at the workplace.
Question 3: During a site walkthrough, a safety technician observes a pallet of materials partially blocking a designated emergency exit route from a building. This condition is a violation primarily because it:
- creates a minor trip hazard for daily work.
- impedes free and unobstructed egress during an emergency. (Correct answer)
- could cause damage to the stored materials.
- violates the site's general housekeeping program.
Correct answer: impedes free and unobstructed egress during an emergency.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.34(a) requires that exits be arranged and maintained to provide 'free and unobstructed egress from all parts of the building or structure at all times when it is occupied.' While it is also a housekeeping issue and a trip hazard, the most critical violation is the obstruction of a required means of egress for an emergency.
Question 4: In the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace, what does OSHA 29 CFR 1926.50 require for a construction site?
- A complete inventory of each employee's medical history.
- An on-call physician available for phone consultation.
- A vehicle dedicated solely to emergency transport.
- A person with a valid certificate in first-aid training must be available at the worksite. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A person with a valid certificate in first-aid training must be available at the worksite.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.50(c) states that when a medical facility is not reasonably accessible, 'a person who has a valid certificate in first-aid training...shall be available at the worksite to render first aid.'
Question 5: Which of the following is a key element that MUST be included in a company's written Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) according to the standard referenced by OSHA for construction (29 CFR 1910.39)?
- Emergency escape procedures and route assignments.
- A list of major fire hazards and procedures for their control. (Correct answer)
- Procedures to account for all employees after an evacuation.
- Rescue and medical duties for assigned employees.
Correct answer: A list of major fire hazards and procedures for their control.
A Fire Prevention Plan's purpose is to prevent fires from starting. According to 29 CFR 1910.39(c), the plan must include 'A list of all major fire hazards, proper handling and storage procedures for hazardous materials, [and] potential ignition sources and their control'. The other options are required elements of an Emergency Action Plan (EAP), not a Fire Prevention Plan.
Question 6: A supervisor needs to store 20 gallons of gasoline indoors on a construction site, but not in a designated inside storage room. According to 29 CFR 1926.152, which method is NOT compliant?
- Storing it in four approved 5-gallon safety cans outside of a cabinet.
- Storing it in a single 20-gallon drum that is not a DOT-approved container or safety can. (Correct answer)
- Placing approved safety cans inside an approved flammable liquid storage cabinet.
- Keeping the storage area free of ignition sources.
Correct answer: Storing it in a single 20-gallon drum that is not a DOT-approved container or safety can.
OSHA standard 29 CFR 1926.152(b)(1) states that 'No more than 25 gallons of flammable liquids shall be stored in a room outside of an approved storage cabinet.' Furthermore, 1926.152(a)(1) requires that only approved containers and portable tanks shall be used. Storing the gasoline in a single, non-approved 20-gallon drum violates the container requirement.
CHST - Construction Health and Safety Technician Emergency and Fire Preparedness Questions and Answers 1
According to OSHA standard 29 CFR 1926.150(c)(1)(i), what is the minimum fire extinguisher rating that must be provided for each 3,000 square feet of a protected building area on a construction site?