FEMA HAZMAT EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CERTIFIED ANSWERS
While spraying pesticides, a farmer wears long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and gloves.
The farmer is trying to prevent contaminants from entering the body by: - Answer-
Absorption
2. Midnight dumpers have been leaving toxic waste in an illegal dumpsite in the woods.
The soil beneath the waste is highly porous. A nearby house has a well, which taps into
this porous soil. Based on this limited information, through what medium is the well most
likely to become contaminated? - Answer-Groundwater
You spill a toxic substance; you cough, and your eyes immediately begin to water. You
are experiencing what type of exposure? - Answer-Acute
You have just learned that a chemical you work with is a teratogen. What effect does
this chemical have? - Answer-Increases the risk of physical defects in a developing
embryo
When you are about to have a serious operation, the anesthetist is likely to use a
substance which is: - Answer-A CNS (central nervous system) depressant
6. Which of these groups would be likely to have the most extreme reaction to most
types of toxic exposure? - Answer-Children
7. Groundwater is least likely to be contaminated under what circumstances? - Answer-
The groundwater is protected by a relatively impermeable protective layer, such as clay
1. Would good planning have prevented some of the problems that occurred in the
above incident? If so, how? - Answer-Yes, good planning would have prevented many
of the problems that occurred in the incident. A good emergency plan would have
outlined who had the authority to order an evacuation, and who was to be in charge at
the incident scene. Also, the plan should have identified the hazards associated with the
hardware store's stocking of pesticides and fireworks.
2. Should emergency planning include and be coordinated with other communities and
jurisdictions? If so, why? - Answer-Yes, good emergency planning must be coordinated
with other communities and jurisdictions. Incidents can occur on political boundaries
and involve more than one jurisdiction. Coordination between the two jurisdictions must
be undertaken to provide protection to the residents in each community. Also, mutual
aid (the sharing of services and equipment between communities) can be of great value
in times of major emergencies.
3. Should planning be limited to governmental agencies? If not, what other people,
groups, or agencies mentioned in the above incidents should be part of the planning
, process? - Answer-Emergency planning should not be limited to governmental
agencies. Other potential participants, such as private disaster relief organizations,
schools, and churches, can be key players in a total community emergency plan. In the
incident mentioned above, the Red Cross and Salvation Army, as well as the owner of
the hardware store, should have been involved with the community planning process.
1. What is the minimum number of persons needed to manage a hazardous materials
incident safely? - Answer-8
2. The most critical element in avoiding confusion and conflict among responders at a
hazardous materials incident is: - Answer-A good plan which all responders know and
use
3. The person in charge of managing responding forces at a hazardous materials
incident is: - Answer-The Incident Commander (usually from the local fire service)
4. Which of the following should you do if you are in your car and learn that there is an
accident involving a volatile toxic substance ahead of you on the road? - Answer-Follow
instructions and remain clear of the release plume
5. A person whose skin has been in contact with a toxic substance should be: - Answer-
Decontaminated
6. Which of the following is not typically represented on a Local Emergency Planning
Committee? - Answer-The Governor
7. To find out more about your local plan for accidents at chemical plants and other
fixed sites, your first contact should be: - Answer-The LEPC
8. The success of any site operation and readiness of employees to respond to
emergencies is based on: - Answer-Initial and annual refresher training
Who do you think should be invited to this initial meeting? - Answer-Company
representatives of the meat packaging plant, local government officials including safety
and hazardous waste specialist and locals who have stories and notes to compare
about what might be happening.
What information could you gather before the meeting that may be helpful? - Answer-
Prior to the meeting, you would want to request information on plant emissions from
your State Emergency Response Commission and Local Emergency Planning
Committee, and request other general information on plant conditions from the local fire
department and the plant safety officer. In addition, you might want to research
applicable standards for ammonia emissions. (The Title III "hotline" could be of some
assistance.
What laws could the plant potentially be violating? - Answer-Laws that could be violated
include the Clean Air Act, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA),
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and State environmental
statutes.
WITH CERTIFIED ANSWERS
While spraying pesticides, a farmer wears long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and gloves.
The farmer is trying to prevent contaminants from entering the body by: - Answer-
Absorption
2. Midnight dumpers have been leaving toxic waste in an illegal dumpsite in the woods.
The soil beneath the waste is highly porous. A nearby house has a well, which taps into
this porous soil. Based on this limited information, through what medium is the well most
likely to become contaminated? - Answer-Groundwater
You spill a toxic substance; you cough, and your eyes immediately begin to water. You
are experiencing what type of exposure? - Answer-Acute
You have just learned that a chemical you work with is a teratogen. What effect does
this chemical have? - Answer-Increases the risk of physical defects in a developing
embryo
When you are about to have a serious operation, the anesthetist is likely to use a
substance which is: - Answer-A CNS (central nervous system) depressant
6. Which of these groups would be likely to have the most extreme reaction to most
types of toxic exposure? - Answer-Children
7. Groundwater is least likely to be contaminated under what circumstances? - Answer-
The groundwater is protected by a relatively impermeable protective layer, such as clay
1. Would good planning have prevented some of the problems that occurred in the
above incident? If so, how? - Answer-Yes, good planning would have prevented many
of the problems that occurred in the incident. A good emergency plan would have
outlined who had the authority to order an evacuation, and who was to be in charge at
the incident scene. Also, the plan should have identified the hazards associated with the
hardware store's stocking of pesticides and fireworks.
2. Should emergency planning include and be coordinated with other communities and
jurisdictions? If so, why? - Answer-Yes, good emergency planning must be coordinated
with other communities and jurisdictions. Incidents can occur on political boundaries
and involve more than one jurisdiction. Coordination between the two jurisdictions must
be undertaken to provide protection to the residents in each community. Also, mutual
aid (the sharing of services and equipment between communities) can be of great value
in times of major emergencies.
3. Should planning be limited to governmental agencies? If not, what other people,
groups, or agencies mentioned in the above incidents should be part of the planning
, process? - Answer-Emergency planning should not be limited to governmental
agencies. Other potential participants, such as private disaster relief organizations,
schools, and churches, can be key players in a total community emergency plan. In the
incident mentioned above, the Red Cross and Salvation Army, as well as the owner of
the hardware store, should have been involved with the community planning process.
1. What is the minimum number of persons needed to manage a hazardous materials
incident safely? - Answer-8
2. The most critical element in avoiding confusion and conflict among responders at a
hazardous materials incident is: - Answer-A good plan which all responders know and
use
3. The person in charge of managing responding forces at a hazardous materials
incident is: - Answer-The Incident Commander (usually from the local fire service)
4. Which of the following should you do if you are in your car and learn that there is an
accident involving a volatile toxic substance ahead of you on the road? - Answer-Follow
instructions and remain clear of the release plume
5. A person whose skin has been in contact with a toxic substance should be: - Answer-
Decontaminated
6. Which of the following is not typically represented on a Local Emergency Planning
Committee? - Answer-The Governor
7. To find out more about your local plan for accidents at chemical plants and other
fixed sites, your first contact should be: - Answer-The LEPC
8. The success of any site operation and readiness of employees to respond to
emergencies is based on: - Answer-Initial and annual refresher training
Who do you think should be invited to this initial meeting? - Answer-Company
representatives of the meat packaging plant, local government officials including safety
and hazardous waste specialist and locals who have stories and notes to compare
about what might be happening.
What information could you gather before the meeting that may be helpful? - Answer-
Prior to the meeting, you would want to request information on plant emissions from
your State Emergency Response Commission and Local Emergency Planning
Committee, and request other general information on plant conditions from the local fire
department and the plant safety officer. In addition, you might want to research
applicable standards for ammonia emissions. (The Title III "hotline" could be of some
assistance.
What laws could the plant potentially be violating? - Answer-Laws that could be violated
include the Clean Air Act, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA),
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and State environmental
statutes.
