Question 1

How many sections are required on a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) under the GHS-aligned Hazard Communication Standard?

Accepted Answer

Under the GHS-aligned HazCom 2012 standard, Safety Data Sheets must contain 16 specific sections in a standardized format.

Question 2

What replaced Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) under the revised Hazard Communication Standard?

Accepted Answer

The GHS-aligned Hazard Communication Standard replaced the term MSDS with Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and established a standardized 16-section format.

Question 3

Under the Hazard Communication Standard, employers must maintain a written:

Accepted Answer

Employers must develop, implement, and maintain a written hazard communication program that includes labels, SDS, and employee training.

Question 4

GHS-compliant labels must include all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

GHS-compliant labels must include a product identifier, signal word, hazard statement(s), pictogram(s), precautionary statement(s), and the name and contact information of the manufacturer or distributor.

Question 5

What are the two signal words used on GHS-compliant labels?

Accepted Answer

The two signal words are 'Danger' (used for more severe hazards) and 'Warning' (used for less severe hazards). Only one signal word appears on a label.

Question 6

How many GHS pictograms are used in the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard?

Accepted Answer

There are 9 GHS pictograms used in the OSHA HazCom Standard: health hazard, flame, exclamation mark, gas cylinder, corrosion, exploding bomb, flame over circle, skull and crossbones, and environment.

Question 7

The GHS pictogram showing a skull and crossbones indicates:

Accepted Answer

The skull and crossbones pictogram indicates acute toxicity, meaning the chemical can be fatal or toxic through oral, dermal, or inhalation exposure.

Question 8

Section 1 of the Safety Data Sheet contains:

Accepted Answer

Section 1 of the SDS is Identification and contains the product identifier, manufacturer/supplier information, recommended use, and emergency phone number.

Question 9

Employees have the right to access Safety Data Sheets for chemicals they work with. This is known as:

Accepted Answer

The Hazard Communication Standard is based on the 'right to know' principle - employees have the right to know about the chemical hazards in their workplace.

Question 10

Containers of hazardous chemicals that are transferred from the original container to a secondary container must be:

Accepted Answer

Secondary containers must be labeled with the product identity and appropriate hazard warnings, unless the chemical will be used immediately and entirely by the employee who transferred it.

Question 11

The GHS pictogram showing a flame indicates:

Accepted Answer

The flame pictogram indicates flammables, pyrophorics, self-heating substances, self-reactive chemicals, and substances that emit flammable gas.

Question 12

Section 2 of the SDS contains:

Accepted Answer

Section 2 is Hazard(s) Identification and includes the GHS classification, label elements (pictograms, signal word, hazard statements), and other hazards not classified.

Question 13

How often must employees be trained on the Hazard Communication Standard?

Accepted Answer

Employees must be trained at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced into the work area.

Question 14

The 'health hazard' pictogram (person with a star/starburst on chest) indicates:

Accepted Answer

The health hazard pictogram indicates serious long-term health effects including carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory sensitization, target organ toxicity, and aspiration hazard.

Question 15

A written hazard communication program must include:

Accepted Answer

The written program must describe how the employer will meet the labeling, SDS, and employee training requirements. It must include a chemical inventory, methods of informing employees, and how SDS will be maintained.

Question 16

Section 8 of the SDS contains:

Accepted Answer

Section 8 is Exposure Controls/Personal Protection. It includes OSHA permissible exposure limits (PELs), threshold limit values (TLVs), and recommended PPE.

Question 17

The corrosion pictogram on a GHS label indicates:

Accepted Answer

The corrosion pictogram indicates substances that can cause skin corrosion, serious eye damage, or corrosion to metals.

Question 18

In multi-employer workplaces, the general contractor must ensure that:

Accepted Answer

In multi-employer workplaces, employers must ensure that their hazard communication program addresses how the employer will inform other employers about chemical hazards and SDS access.

Question 19

Which section of the SDS contains first-aid measures?

Accepted Answer

Section 4 of the SDS is First-Aid Measures and describes initial care for various routes of exposure (inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, and ingestion).

Question 20

Hazard Communication training must include all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

HazCom training must cover the requirements of the standard, operations where hazardous chemicals are present, the location of the written program and SDS, and methods to detect and protect against hazards.

Question 21

The exclamation mark pictogram on a GHS label indicates:

Accepted Answer

The exclamation mark pictogram indicates less severe hazards such as irritation (skin and eye), skin sensitization, acute toxicity (harmful), narcotic effects, and respiratory tract irritation.

Question 22

Where must Safety Data Sheets be kept?

Accepted Answer

Employers shall maintain copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical and ensure they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area.

Question 23

Section 11 of the SDS contains:

Accepted Answer

Section 11 is Toxicological Information and describes the various toxicological (health) effects, including symptoms of exposure, routes of exposure, and related health information.

Question 24

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) was adopted to:

Accepted Answer

The GHS provides a consistent, worldwide approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information through labels and Safety Data Sheets, making it easier for workers to understand chemical hazards across different countries.

Question 25

Which of the following is a physical hazard under the GHS classification?

Accepted Answer

Physical hazards include flammable liquids, compressed gases, oxidizers, explosives, and other properties that can cause physical harm. Carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity are health hazards.

Question 26

Section 9 of the SDS contains:

Accepted Answer

Section 9 is Physical and Chemical Properties and includes information such as appearance, odor, flash point, boiling point, vapor pressure, and other physical/chemical characteristics.

Question 27

GHS pictograms on labels have what color and shape?

Accepted Answer

GHS pictograms are displayed as a red diamond (square set on point) border on a white background with a black hazard symbol inside.

Question 28

The gas cylinder pictogram indicates:

Accepted Answer

The gas cylinder pictogram specifically indicates gases under pressure, which includes compressed gases, liquefied gases, refrigerated liquefied gases, and dissolved gases.

Question 29

What is the OSHA standard number for Hazard Communication in construction?

Accepted Answer

29 CFR 1926.59 is the Hazard Communication standard for construction, which incorporates by reference the general industry standard at 29 CFR 1910.1200.

Question 30

An employer receives a shipment of chemicals without labels. The employer must:

Accepted Answer

If containers are received without labels, the employer should not use the chemicals until proper labels are obtained from the supplier. The employer may also label the containers themselves using information from the SDS.

Question 31

How many GHS pictograms are used in the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard?

Accepted Answer

There are 9 GHS pictograms used in the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard: flame, flame over circle, exploding bomb, skull and crossbones, corrosion, gas cylinder, health hazard (person with starburst), exclamation mark, and environment (dead tree and fish, though this last one is not mandatory under OSHA but may appear on labels from international sources). OSHA mandates 8 of the 9 pictograms.

Question 32

What are the two signal words used on GHS-compliant chemical labels?

Accepted Answer

The two signal words under GHS are 'Danger' and 'Warning.' 'Danger' is used for more severe hazard categories (indicating greater severity), while 'Warning' is used for less severe hazard categories. A chemical label will only have one signal word. If a chemical warrants both based on different hazard categories, only 'Danger' appears on the label because it represents the higher severity level.

Question 33

Section 1 of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) contains:

Accepted Answer

Section 1 of the SDS contains the identification of the chemical (product identifier), the manufacturer's or distributor's name, address, phone number, emergency phone number, recommended use, and restrictions on use. The 16-section format is standardized under the GHS-aligned Hazard Communication Standard to ensure consistent information organization worldwide.

Question 34

The GHS pictogram showing a skull and crossbones indicates:

Accepted Answer

The skull and crossbones pictogram indicates acute toxicity, meaning the chemical can cause severe health effects or death from a single or short-term exposure via oral, dermal, or inhalation routes. This pictogram is assigned to chemicals in the more severe acute toxicity categories (Categories 1-3). Less severe acute toxicants may use the exclamation mark pictogram instead.

Question 35

A written Hazard Communication program must include all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A written hazard communication program must include: a list of hazardous chemicals known to be present using an identity that is referenced on the appropriate SDS, methods the employer will use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks, and the methods used to inform employees about hazards. It must also describe how labels, SDS, and employee training requirements will be met. Personal addresses of employees are not required.

Question 36

Under the Hazard Communication Standard, when a chemical is transferred from its original container to a secondary container, the secondary container must be labeled with:

Accepted Answer

When hazardous chemicals are transferred from the original labeled container to a secondary (portable) container, the secondary container must be labeled with the identity of the hazardous chemical and appropriate hazard warnings. An exception exists for immediate use: if the container is intended for the immediate use of the employee who performs the transfer, and the chemical remains in that employee's control during the work shift, it does not require a label.

Question 37

The GHS flame pictogram on a chemical label indicates that the chemical is:

Accepted Answer

The flame pictogram indicates that the chemical is flammable. It applies to flammable gases, flammable aerosols, flammable liquids, flammable solids, pyrophoric chemicals (spontaneously ignite in air), self-heating substances, substances that emit flammable gases when in contact with water, and organic peroxides. Proper storage, handling, and fire prevention measures are essential for chemicals bearing this pictogram.

Question 38

Under the GHS classification system, a hazard category number of 1 compared to a category number of 4 indicates:

Accepted Answer

In the GHS classification system, lower category numbers indicate more severe hazards. Category 1 is the most severe, and higher numbers (such as 4 or 5) represent less severe hazards within that hazard class. For example, a flammable liquid in Category 1 has a flash point below 73.4 degrees F and a boiling point below 95 degrees F, while Category 4 has a flash point between 140 and 199.4 degrees F.

Question 39

Section 8 of a Safety Data Sheet provides information about:

Accepted Answer

Section 8 of the SDS covers exposure controls and personal protection. It includes OSHA permissible exposure limits (PELs), ACGIH threshold limit values (TLVs), and any other recommended exposure limits. It also specifies the appropriate engineering controls (ventilation, enclosure) and recommended personal protective equipment (respiratory protection, hand protection, eye/face protection, skin protection) for safe handling of the chemical.

Question 40

An employer must provide HazCom training to employees at which of the following times?

Accepted Answer

Employees must be provided with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced into their work area. The training must include the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard, the location and availability of the written program and SDS, and the physical and health hazards of the chemicals present.

Question 41

Under the Hazard Communication Standard, a manufacturer may withhold the specific chemical identity of a hazardous substance as a trade secret, but must still:

Accepted Answer

While a manufacturer may claim a trade secret to withhold the specific chemical identity, they must still disclose all health and safety information on the SDS (properties, hazards, protective measures, emergency procedures). In a medical emergency, the manufacturer must immediately disclose the specific identity to the treating physician or nurse. For non-emergency health needs, a written confidentiality agreement may be required.

Question 42

The 'health hazard' pictogram (silhouette of a person with a starburst on the chest) indicates which type of hazards?

Accepted Answer

The health hazard pictogram indicates serious, often long-term or chronic health effects including: carcinogenicity, respiratory sensitization, reproductive toxicity, target organ toxicity (single or repeated exposure), mutagenicity, and aspiration hazard. This pictogram is distinct from the skull and crossbones (acute toxicity) and the exclamation mark (less serious health effects like skin or eye irritation).

Question 43

A chemical inventory under the Hazard Communication Standard must include:

Accepted Answer

The chemical inventory must include a complete list of all hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace. Each chemical must be identified using a name that is cross-referenced to its Safety Data Sheet. The inventory should be kept current and updated as new chemicals are introduced or old ones are removed. There is no minimum quantity threshold; even small amounts of hazardous chemicals must be listed.

Question 44

OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for a chemical represents:

Accepted Answer

The Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is the maximum concentration of an airborne contaminant to which an employee may be exposed over a specified time period, typically an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). PELs are legally enforceable limits established by OSHA. Some chemicals also have short-term exposure limits (STELs) or ceiling limits. PELs can be found in Section 8 of the SDS and in 29 CFR 1926.55.

Question 45

The three primary routes of entry for hazardous chemicals into the body are:

Accepted Answer

The three primary routes of entry for hazardous chemicals into the human body are: inhalation (breathing in airborne contaminants such as vapors, dusts, fumes, mists, or gases), absorption (through skin or eye contact with liquids, vapors, or dusts), and ingestion (swallowing contaminated food, drinks, or by hand-to-mouth contact). Injection through puncture wounds is sometimes considered a fourth route. Inhalation is the most common route in the workplace.

Question 46

Section 4 of a Safety Data Sheet contains information about:

Accepted Answer

Section 4 of the SDS provides first-aid measures. It includes: a description of necessary first-aid measures by route of exposure (inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, and ingestion), the most important symptoms and effects (both acute and delayed), and an indication of any immediate medical attention or special treatment needed. This information is critical for emergency responders and workplace first-aid providers.

Question 47

The employer's responsibilities under the Hazard Communication Standard include all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Employers are not required to manufacture chemicals; that is the role of chemical manufacturers. Employer responsibilities under HazCom include: developing and maintaining a written hazard communication program, maintaining a chemical inventory, ensuring proper labeling of all containers, maintaining accessible SDSs for all hazardous chemicals, and providing effective information and training to employees exposed to hazardous chemicals.

Question 48

A GHS-compliant label on a shipped container must include all of the following elements EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A GHS-compliant shipped container label must include six elements: the product identifier, signal word (Danger or Warning), hazard statement(s), precautionary statement(s), pictogram(s), and supplier identification (name, address, and telephone number). The retail price is a commercial matter and is not a required element of a hazard communication label.

Question 49

What is the difference between the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and the ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV)?

Accepted Answer

PELs are legally enforceable occupational exposure limits established by OSHA under 29 CFR 1926.55 (construction) and 29 CFR 1910.1000 (general industry). TLVs are recommended exposure guidelines published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and are not legally enforceable, but they are often more current and may be more protective because they are updated more frequently based on the latest scientific evidence. Many SDSs list both values.

Question 50

An SDS lists a chemical with a PEL of 50 ppm (TWA) and a ceiling limit of 100 ppm. What does the ceiling limit mean?

Accepted Answer

A ceiling limit is an airborne concentration of a chemical that must not be exceeded at any time during the work shift, not even instantaneously. This is different from the 8-hour TWA PEL, which is an average over an entire shift and allows for brief periods above the PEL as long as the average remains below it. Ceiling limits are established for chemicals that cause immediate and serious health effects at higher concentrations, even during brief exposures.

Hazard Communication Practice Questions

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