ASP, CSP and CHST question of the day
One practice question per exam, new every morning at 8 AM Pacific. Each answer quotes the regulation or standard it comes from.
ASP question for Friday, October 16
ASP Domain 2: Safety Programs and Concepts
A chemical plant certified its operating procedures for a covered process as current and accurate eight months ago. Last month the plant replaced a feed pump with a different design and began using a new process chemical. The supervisor proposes leaving the procedures as they are until the next annual certification in four months, since they were certified within the past year. What does the standard require?
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Answer: C. Review the procedures now and revise them to reflect the new equipment and chemical, because the review must keep pace with changes and is not tied to the annual certification date
OSHA's process safety management standard, 29 CFR 1910.119(f)(3), requires operating procedures to be reviewed as often as necessary to reflect current practice, including changes in process chemicals and equipment. The annual certification is a separate requirement, so a recent certification does not delay the update. Waiting for refresher training or updating only contractor-entry sections leaves the procedures outdated.
Answer C rests on
29 CFR 1910.119(f)(3)(opens ecfr.gov in a new tab)“The operating procedures shall be reviewed as often as necessary to assure that they reflect current operating practice, including changes that result from changes in process chemicals, technology, and equipment, and changes to facilities. The employer shall certify annually that these operating procedures are current and accurate.”
CSP question for Friday, October 16
CSP Domain 1: Advanced Application of Safety Principles
A crew is excavating a utility trench for a new water service. The excavation is expected to cross the area where a buried gas line may run. The competent person called the gas utility, but the utility says it cannot send a locator for 3 days, and no state or local law requires a longer response period. What may the employer do?
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Answer: B. Proceed with caution, provided detection equipment or other acceptable means are used to locate the utility installations
When the utility cannot respond within 24 hours (absent a longer period required by state or local law), the employer may proceed, but only with caution and with detection equipment or other acceptable means to locate the installations. Proceeding with normal methods and no detection ignores that condition, and the standard does not require a complete work stoppage.
Answer B rests on
29 CFR 1926.651(b)(2)(opens ecfr.gov in a new tab)“When utility companies or owners cannot respond to a request to locate underground utility installations within 24 hours (unless a longer period is required by state or local law), or cannot establish the exact location of these installations, the employer may proceed, provided the employer does so with caution, and provided detection equipment or other acceptable means to locate utility installations are used.”
CHST question for Friday, October 16
CHST Domain 1: Hazard and Risk Identification and Control
On a lead abatement job, a foreman sees fine lead-containing dust built up on the floor of the decontamination area. A HEPA-equipped vacuum is on site and in working order, but no one has tried it. A crew member suggests wet sweeping with a broom because it is quicker. What should the foreman require?
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Answer: C. Clean the floor with the HEPA-equipped vacuum, and allow sweeping only if vacuuming is tried and found not effective
Vacuuming or another method that minimizes airborne lead is the first choice, and a working HEPA vacuum is already on site. Wet sweeping is a fallback that is allowed only after vacuuming has been tried and found ineffective, so convenience or speed does not justify it. Respirators do not make dry sweeping acceptable, and blowing dust disperses lead into the air.
Answer C rests on
29 CFR 1926.62(h)(3)(opens ecfr.gov in a new tab)“Shoveling, dry or wet sweeping, and brushing may be used only where vacuuming or other equally effective methods have been tried and found not to be effective.”
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