CRA Emergency Preparedness & Safety 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a federal award is disrupted by a declared disaster, which document type allows recipients to request modified terms from the awarding agency?
- Prior Approval Request (Correct answer)
- No-Cost Extension
- Carryover Request
- Disaster Relief Modification
Correct answer: Prior Approval Request
A Prior Approval Request is submitted to the awarding agency when recipients need to modify award terms due to emergency or disaster circumstances.
Question 2: Under the National Incident Management System (NIMS), what is the purpose of the 'Unified Command' structure?
- To place one agency in sole command during multi-agency responses
- To allow multiple agencies with different legal authorities to manage an incident jointly (Correct answer)
- To bypass normal chain of command during emergencies
- To establish a single federal coordinator for all state incidents
Correct answer: To allow multiple agencies with different legal authorities to manage an incident jointly
Unified Command allows multiple agencies with jurisdictional responsibility to work together without surrendering individual authority.
Question 3: A principal investigator is evacuated during a hurricane and cannot oversee lab shutdown. Who typically has authority to authorize emergency lab shutdown procedures?
- The research administrator
- The department chair or designated alternate (Correct answer)
- The IRB chair
- The federal program officer
Correct answer: The department chair or designated alternate
The department chair or a pre-designated alternate typically holds authority to authorize emergency procedures when the PI is unavailable.
Question 4: What is a 'continuity of operations plan' (COOP) designed to ensure?
- Funding continuity for multi-year grants
- Essential functions continue during and after a disruption (Correct answer)
- Compliance audits are completed on schedule
- Laboratory inventories are maintained accurately
Correct answer: Essential functions continue during and after a disruption
A COOP ensures that an organization's essential functions can continue during and after emergencies or disruptions.
Question 5: Which NFPA standard specifically addresses laboratory safety in health science and research facilities?
- NFPA 101
- NFPA 45 (Correct answer)
- NFPA 70
- NFPA 13
Correct answer: NFPA 45
NFPA 45 is the Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals and applies to research and health science facilities.
Question 6: An institution experiences a data breach during a cyberattack that disrupts access to grant management systems. This scenario most directly impacts which research administration function?
- Institutional Review Board approvals
- Financial reporting and award compliance deadlines (Correct answer)
- Animal protocol renewals
- Patent filing timelines
Correct answer: Financial reporting and award compliance deadlines
Loss of grant management system access directly jeopardizes financial reporting and the ability to meet award compliance deadlines.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of a 'shelter-in-place' order during a hazardous material release?
- To quarantine infected individuals from the general population
- To keep building occupants inside to reduce exposure to outdoor contaminants (Correct answer)
- To secure research animals in their housing areas
- To lock down computer systems against cyberattack
Correct answer: To keep building occupants inside to reduce exposure to outdoor contaminants
Shelter-in-place directives keep occupants indoors where building structure provides protection from hazardous outdoor atmospheric releases.
CRA Emergency Preparedness & Safety 3
When a federal award is disrupted by a declared disaster, which document type allows recipients to request modified terms from the awarding agency?