Deck 6: Biological and Chemical Agents

Question 1

Through what physiological system would poison ivy have an effect on gardeners and agricultural workers?

A)nervous system
B)immune system
C)respiratory system
D)metabolic system

Answer 1

immune system

Question 2

What is the difference between a fume and a vapour?

A)vapours are lighter in colour
B)fumes come from the evaporation of solids
C)vapours come from the evaporation of liquids
D)the material in a fume condenses with air contact

Answer 2

the material in a fume condenses with air contact

Question 3

What are the types of control measures that can be used to ensure the safe handling of both chemical and low-level biological agents?

A)people, processes, equipment, materials
B)hazard, administrative
C)engineering, administrative, and work practices/procedures
D)processes, engineering, equipment

Answer 3

engineering, administrative, and work practices/procedures

Question 4

The Globally Harmonized System is a system that would establish consistency around the world in terms of which of the following?

A)the purchase and control of biological agents
B)specifying the toxicity levels of chemical agents
C)dealing with epidemics due to biological agents
D)classification and labelling of chemical products

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT considered one of the basic levels of protection within the respiratory tract?

A)esophagus
B)nose
C)mucus
D)alveoli

Question 6

Sensitization is an example of which of the following?

A)chronic toxicity
B)local toxicity
C)acute toxicity
D)systemic toxicity

Question 7

Which of the following factors allows a solvent to spread evenly and quickly?

A)low boiling point
B)high volatility
C)high vapour pressure
D)low surface tension

Question 8

Which of the following factors would have the greatest impact on a solvent's effectiveness?

A)auto-ignition temperature
B)flammability
C)colour
D)low boiling point

Question 9

Ciera's is a 55-year-old registered nurse who works in a large hospital. Ciera recently contracted a bacterial infection from a patient. Her treatment was a course of antibiotics. Following her treatment Ciera noticed she had trouble hearing. She visited an audiologist who informed her that her recent hearing loss is likely the result of ototoxicity. Which of the following is most likely the cause of Ciera's hearing loss?

A)noise
B)bacteria
C)antibiotics
D)age

Question 10

Besides record keeping, what control measure ensures that baseline tests will be available when needed?

A)medical surveillance
B)engineering controls
C)work practices
D)good housekeeping

Question 11

Marco is a hair stylist for a large salon. On an average day Marco sees up to 12 clients, many of whom have their hair coloured. Consequently, Marco is frequently mixing chemical agents and using various toners and bleaching compounds. Marco is at risk for which of the following if he does not follow proper hand hygiene protocols?

A)arthritis
B)asthma
C)acute toxicity
D)dermatitis

Question 12

Evan is the OH&S manager for a research lab that has Biosafety Level 1 (BSL 1) organisms. What does he need to do to protect himself from this type of organisms?

A)wash his hands before he eats lunch at work
B)put in a separate lunchroom/restroom for lab workers
C)make sure his office is on a different ventilation system
D)make sure the lab has a negative pressure environment

Question 13

Vapours are mostly likely to enter the body via which of the following routes of entry?

A)skin absorption
B)ingestion
C)respiration
D)skin penetration

Question 14

What is the recommended remedy for occupational asthma (e.g. crab asthma experienced by the snow crab workers in Newfoundland)?

A)transferring to a different job in the same plant
B)changing to employment in another industry
C)taking asthma medication via a bronchial inhalator "puffer"
D)taking antihistamine medication (e.g.Benadryl, Claritin)

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT considered a biohazard?

A)bacteria
B)virus
C)prion
D)aerosol

Question 16

Which of the following is most likely to create a synergistic effect with airborne chemicals in a manufacturing plant?

A)the other chemicals used in the plant
B)inadequate safety training
C)inconsistent use of respirators
D)the plant being located in a valley

Question 17

The immediate pain and discoloration you experience after burning your hand on a hot surface is an example of which of the following?

A)acute toxicity
B)chronic toxicity
C)systemic toxicity
D)dose

Question 18

A smoker who works for an asbestos removal company is more likely to develop lung cancer than a nonsmoker due to which of the following?

A)toxicity
B)otoxicity
C)synergism
D)acute toxicity

Question 19

Employees with diabetes and other conditions often need to inject themselves at work to manage their condition. What is an administrative control that the human resource management department can implement to protect everyone from needlestick injuries?

A)install "sharps" disposal bins in restrooms
B)provide education and training to all employees
C)ask these employees to inject themselves in an off-site location
D)change work schedules, so they can inject at home before and after work

Question 20

What type of biological agents if inhaled can cause occupational diseases in farm workers?

A)bacterial
B)viruses
C)chlamydiae
D)fungal

Question 21

Sarah has poured a hazardous cleaning chemical into her personal smaller and easier-to-use spray bottle. Sarah has poured only enough to use for the task at hand. Sarah is required to put a workplace label on her spray bottle.

Question 22

The best method for mitigating the risks associated with chemical and biohazards is substitution.

Question 23

Supplier labels must include initial supplier information.

Question 24

Flashpoint is the highest temperature at which a liquid gas gives off enough vapour to form an ignitable mixture with air and produce a flame with a source of ignition.

Question 25

Custodial staff (also known as janitors or cleaners) are the unsung heroes of the workplace. Going about their work while many of us are in bed, they deal with a whole host of situations that bring them into contact with a wide range of chemical and biological agents. They are exposed to residues left in the air and on surfaces from manufacturing processes, from service operations, and from human excretions (sweat, body oils, from sneezing, and so on). While employees of the firms that they service receive training about specific chemical and biological hazards, the custodial staff are often unaware of some of the hazards that they may encounter.
Custodial staff may be at more risk of acquiring an illness/injury from acute, rather than ambient, exposure to a chemical or biological agent. How would the cleaning manager know if it was an acute exposure?

A)The cleaner had not worked at that location before.
B)The cleaner could not continue working that day.
C)The cleaner had to go to the hospital right away.
D)The cleaner could not return to work for a week.

Question 26

A chemical's ability to pass through the skin is closely associated with toxicity.

Question 27

Differentiate between chemical and biological agents. Identify a biological or chemical agent present in your workplace or in a workplace with which you are familiar (either by knowing someone who works there or by being a customer/patient). Explain the route of entry, type(s) of toxicity involved, and the health effects that this specific agent can have on the human body. Describe the controls that should be put in place to control this hazard.

Question 28

Hazards identified within WHMIS are organized by group and class.

Question 29

Custodial staff (also known as janitors or cleaners) are the unsung heroes of the workplace. Going about their work while many of us are in bed, they deal with a whole host of situations that bring them into contact with a wide range of chemical and biological agents. They are exposed to residues left in the air and on surfaces from manufacturing processes, from service operations, and from human excretions (sweat, body oils, from sneezing, and so on). While employees of the firms that they service receive training about specific chemical and biological hazards, the custodial staff are often unaware of some of the hazards that they may encounter.
Custodial staff are exposed to aerosols through the cleaning products they use and as a by-product of mechanical and human activity at each workplace where they clean. What is the part of the respiratory system that is spiral shaped and could be protected from aerosols by wearing a face mask?

A)cilia
B)alveoli
C)turbinates
D)macrophages

Question 30

A human is an example of a reservoir.

Question 31

An SDS must contain information about composition and ingredients.

Question 32

The ingestion of chemicals or biohazards is often the result of poor hygiene.

Question 33

Custodial staff (also known as janitors or cleaners) are the unsung heroes of the workplace. Going about their work while many of us are in bed, they deal with a whole host of situations that bring them into contact with a wide range of chemical and biological agents. They are exposed to residues left in the air and on surfaces from manufacturing processes, from service operations, and from human excretions (sweat, body oils, from sneezing, and so on). While employees of the firms that they service receive training about specific chemical and biological hazards, the custodial staff are often unaware of some of the hazards that they may encounter.
The owner of the cleaning company tries to protect his workers by getting as much information as he can about chemical hazards when meeting with new clients and renewing contracts with existing clients. In general, for what percentage of chemicals will he be provided with toxicity data?

A)10%
B)20%
C)40%
D)80%

Question 34

List the eight general characteristics and properties that make solvents effective. Pick two of the eight and explain how that characteristic/property would make a solvent hazardous.

Question 35

Custodial staff (also known as janitors or cleaners) are the unsung heroes of the workplace. Going about their work while many of us are in bed, they deal with a whole host of situations that bring them into contact with a wide range of chemical and biological agents. They are exposed to residues left in the air and on surfaces from manufacturing processes, from service operations, and from human excretions (sweat, body oils, from sneezing, and so on). While employees of the firms that they service receive training about specific chemical and biological hazards, the custodial staff are often unaware of some of the hazards that they may encounter.
What characteristic of chlorinated solvents could ultimately result in liver problems from cleaners?

A)acidity
B)alkalinity
C)fat-solubility
D)low surface tension

Question 36

Chris's restaurant in Halifax, Nova Scotia has just received a substandard evaluation from the Ministry of Agriculture's restaurant inspector. The report cited the following problems: dirty conditions in the kitchen, leaking refrigeration units, unclean restrooms, cross-contamination (e.g. cutting raw meat and vegetables without cleaning or replacing the cutting board/knife), and inadequate ventilation in the kitchen. There have been a number of cases of food poisoning in the past six months (staff and customers). The restaurant's negative rating has been posted on an online website available to current and potential customers, so Chris wants to get the problems fixed as soon as possible and have the notice removed. For each problem, identify the form and type of chemical and/or biological hazard involved. Discuss what controls Chris should put in place so that next time around the restaurant will receive a much more positive rating from the inspectors, making special note of new hazards that might arise while he is fixing the problems.

Question 37

Norma has been exposed to lead from the plumbing that supplies the drinking water in her workplace, consequently Norma is at risk of developing kidney disease.

Question 38

List the seven types of chemical contaminants found in workplaces. Describe an example of one chemical hazard that office workers may be exposed to and one example of a chemical hazard that manufacturing workers may be exposed to. Describe a workplace human resource practice or policy that could address each of these health and safety issues.

Question 39

Recalling the 12 toxic substances, what three would be the most likely to result in adverse health effects for firefighters?