CRA Emergency Preparedness & Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450), who is primarily responsible for developing a Chemical Hygiene Plan?
- The principal investigator
- The Chemical Hygiene Officer (Correct answer)
- The institution's legal counsel
- The sponsored programs office
Correct answer: The Chemical Hygiene Officer
The Chemical Hygiene Officer is designated by the employer to develop and implement the Chemical Hygiene Plan under OSHA's Laboratory Standard.
Question 2: A researcher spills a moderate amount of a flammable solvent in the lab. What is the FIRST action they should take?
- Notify the PI immediately
- Evacuate the area and alert others (Correct answer)
- Attempt to contain the spill with absorbent material
- Call the campus fire department
Correct answer: Evacuate the area and alert others
Evacuating the area and alerting others is the first priority to prevent ignition and protect personnel from fumes.
Question 3: Which federal agency publishes the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) guidelines?
- OSHA
- EPA
- CDC and NIH jointly (Correct answer)
- FEMA
Correct answer: CDC and NIH jointly
The BMBL is a joint publication of the CDC and NIH and serves as the primary reference for biosafety practices in the US.
Question 4: A research institution's emergency operations plan (EOP) should be reviewed and updated at minimum how often?
- Every 5 years
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every 3 years
- Only after an actual emergency
Correct answer: Annually
Best practice and many federal guidelines recommend annual review of EOPs to incorporate lessons learned and regulatory changes.
Question 5: What does the acronym 'ICS' stand for in emergency management?
- Institutional Compliance System
- Incident Command System (Correct answer)
- Internal Crisis Schedule
- Integrated Containment Strategy
Correct answer: Incident Command System
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized on-scene emergency management framework used by FEMA and adopted widely by institutions.
Question 6: Which type of biosafety cabinet provides personnel, environmental, AND product protection?
- Class I
- Class II (Correct answer)
- Class III
- Laminar flow hood
Correct answer: Class II
Class II biosafety cabinets provide simultaneous protection for personnel, the environment, and the product being handled.
Question 7: A grant-funded research project involves Select Agents. Which federal program must the institution register with?
- NIH Office of Science Policy
- CDC/USDA Federal Select Agent Program (Correct answer)
- EPA Chemical Safety Office
- OSHA Biological Hazards Division
Correct answer: CDC/USDA Federal Select Agent Program
The CDC/USDA Federal Select Agent Program oversees the possession, use, and transfer of biological select agents and toxins.
CRA Emergency Preparedness & Safety 2
Under OSHA's Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450), who is primarily responsible for developing a Chemical Hygiene Plan?