sanitarian exam questions
Why shouldn't sludge from a septic tank be disposed of in the drain field? - CORRECT
ANSWER-creates disease carrying insects
Which one of the following pesticides can be legally used in the US by the public? -
CORRECT ANSWER-diazinon or sivin
X-rays and Gamma rays can do what? - CORRECT ANSWER-penetrate deep tissue
A biohazard is? - CORRECT ANSWER-A material of biological composition, especially
if infective, that constitutes a threat to people or their environment.
The ideal pH range for a pool is - CORRECT ANSWER-7.2-7.6
The most important design for the infirmary in a correction center? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Carpets shampooed weekly, air circulated twice as much as general
population, doctor on call 24 hrs/day
What are the most important factors when an inspector finds an insect infestation? -
CORRECT ANSWER-location of infestation, number of insects, type of insects
What does Phenol Red have to do with sanitizing and disinfecting? - CORRECT
ANSWER-nothing
What is the MOST common cause of bacterial meningitis in children under five years of
age? - CORRECT ANSWER-Haemophilus influenzae type B
How is giardiasis USUALLY transmitted to others? - CORRECT ANSWER-Person-to-
person transfer of cysts from the feces of the infected individual, dirty water
Which of the following duties of state and local health agencies is intended to ensure
that the public's health and welfare are protected? - CORRECT ANSWER-regulatory
responsibilities
What causes EPA to say substance is toxic? - CORRECT ANSWER-When material is
composed of clear toxic material and/or it is listed as a hazardous material and/or it is
listed as a hazardous chemical
What is sarin? - CORRECT ANSWER-A toxic chemical. Colorless, odorless liquid used
as a gas chemical weapon
,What chemical is added to decrease chlorine in water? - CORRECT ANSWER-Sodium
Thiosulfate
What is the process in order for water filtering? - CORRECT ANSWER-Coagulation,
flocculation, sedimentation, filtration
Goal of HACCP? - CORRECT ANSWER-prevent contamination
How long do tags need to be kept for shell fish? - CORRECT ANSWER-90 days
How can you tell a chilled fish is fresh/not fresh? - CORRECT ANSWER-fresh: Red
gills, no foul odor, bright eyes, no slime, elastic flesh
Not fresh: sunken eyes, foul odor, slime, non-elastic flesh
Why would you test water for bacteria? - CORRECT ANSWER-to see if it is potable
Best test for water quality? - CORRECT ANSWER-5 day BOD
What is the most important thing when taking a sample of milk back to a lab for testing?
- CORRECT ANSWER-Have sanitary equipment and/or utensils
How do you prevent trichinosis? - CORRECT ANSWER-thoroughly cook pork
Why is it necessary to keep PHF's at 40 degrees or lower? - CORRECT ANSWER-
slows bacteria growth
What is the difference between OSHA and NIOSH? - CORRECT ANSWER-OSHA-
responsible for reducing worker injury, illness and death caused by workplace hazards
(enforcement)
NIOSH-conducts research to address problems in occupational safety and health; trains
workforce, makes recommendations to OSHA
Best item to remove vapors? - CORRECT ANSWER-activated charcoal
What is the order of steps to take when arriving at an emergency situation? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Identify the problem, protect self, secure scene, call for help
Most common reason for Food Borne Illness? - CORRECT ANSWER-improper
temperatures during holding
What can municipal sewage treatment plants use treated water for? What is preferred?
- CORRECT ANSWER-Surface Irrigation; preferred: sanitary sewer, injection well,
spray irrigation
What causes cognitive problems/learning disabilities in kids after ingesting? -
CORRECT ANSWER-lead
,What can cause babies to turn blue? - CORRECT ANSWER-nitrates in drinking water
What is the best way to keep flies from a community? - CORRECT ANSWER-Proper
environmental sanitation policies and procedures
Proper way to calibrate a stem thermometer? - CORRECT ANSWER-ice and water
bath for 3 minutes
Most effective way to remove mosquitoes from an area? - CORRECT ANSWER-
remove breeding ground
Best way to keep radon out of a house? - CORRECT ANSWER-seal cracks in floors
and provide ventilation
In plumbing, what is a trap or a catch used for? - CORRECT ANSWER-catch solid
materials from entering wastewater system
What is true about alpha particles? - CORRECT ANSWER-not dangerous to life unless
ingested or inhaled
If you are denied inspection, what do you do? - CORRECT ANSWER-Contact an
immediate supervisor and the police
Act that regulates food inspections? - CORRECT ANSWER-Food, Drug and Cosmetic
Act
Best soil for subsurface drain field? - CORRECT ANSWER-yellow, red or brown
What does g/ml measure? - CORRECT ANSWER-density
What vector is responsible for the spread of the plague? - CORRECT ANSWER-fleas
Agents of yellow fever? - CORRECT ANSWER-Aedes (mosquitos)
Employees in a lab using salmonella which is not aerobic must do all but what? -
CORRECT ANSWER-have clothing disinfected before washing
Agency an employer would check with to see if they are in compliance with employee
handling of hazardous materials? - CORRECT ANSWER-OSHA
#1 component of sewage? - CORRECT ANSWER-water
, What gives inspectors the right to inspect, detain and even destroy food? - CORRECT
ANSWER-police power
What is the Hazardous Communication Standards? - CORRECT ANSWER-To ensure
that employees are aware of potential hazards in the workplace
How long do you let the water run before collecting a sample? - CORRECT ANSWER-
2-3 minutes
A person without symptoms, but is still shedding the disease is called a? - CORRECT
ANSWER-carrier
Boiling an item for 30 min may not remove what? - CORRECT ANSWER-clostridium
What is the best option for a small community installing a sewage system? - CORRECT
ANSWER-slow sand filter
A community is located above a bathing beach and a potential sewage spill has
occurred. What is the FIRST thing an inspector should do? - CORRECT ANSWER-
notify public of potential hazard
Modified Oxygen Packaging (MOP) and Sous Vide are examples of what? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Reduced air packaging which is where they remove or replace oxygen
Dried fruit is shelf stable because? - CORRECT ANSWER-low water activity
At what point is water activity too low for bacterial growth? - CORRECT ANSWER-0.85
Most common reasons for Nosocomial diseases (diseases occurring in healthcare
facilities) is? - CORRECT ANSWER-Population that is highly susceptible, easy modes
of transmission
When potable water is combined with sewage water, this is called? - CORRECT
ANSWER-cross-connection
What are the characteristics of hazardous waste? - CORRECT ANSWER-Flammable,
corrosive, reactive, toxic
A group of people are complaining of a FBI (food-borne illness) occurring 4 hours after
eating. What should you suspect? - CORRECT ANSWER-staph
The presence of what indicates fecal contamination in drinking water? - CORRECT
ANSWER-e. coli
A liquid that is caused by rain going through a landfill and picking up bacteria is called? -
CORRECT ANSWER-leachate
Why shouldn't sludge from a septic tank be disposed of in the drain field? - CORRECT
ANSWER-creates disease carrying insects
Which one of the following pesticides can be legally used in the US by the public? -
CORRECT ANSWER-diazinon or sivin
X-rays and Gamma rays can do what? - CORRECT ANSWER-penetrate deep tissue
A biohazard is? - CORRECT ANSWER-A material of biological composition, especially
if infective, that constitutes a threat to people or their environment.
The ideal pH range for a pool is - CORRECT ANSWER-7.2-7.6
The most important design for the infirmary in a correction center? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Carpets shampooed weekly, air circulated twice as much as general
population, doctor on call 24 hrs/day
What are the most important factors when an inspector finds an insect infestation? -
CORRECT ANSWER-location of infestation, number of insects, type of insects
What does Phenol Red have to do with sanitizing and disinfecting? - CORRECT
ANSWER-nothing
What is the MOST common cause of bacterial meningitis in children under five years of
age? - CORRECT ANSWER-Haemophilus influenzae type B
How is giardiasis USUALLY transmitted to others? - CORRECT ANSWER-Person-to-
person transfer of cysts from the feces of the infected individual, dirty water
Which of the following duties of state and local health agencies is intended to ensure
that the public's health and welfare are protected? - CORRECT ANSWER-regulatory
responsibilities
What causes EPA to say substance is toxic? - CORRECT ANSWER-When material is
composed of clear toxic material and/or it is listed as a hazardous material and/or it is
listed as a hazardous chemical
What is sarin? - CORRECT ANSWER-A toxic chemical. Colorless, odorless liquid used
as a gas chemical weapon
,What chemical is added to decrease chlorine in water? - CORRECT ANSWER-Sodium
Thiosulfate
What is the process in order for water filtering? - CORRECT ANSWER-Coagulation,
flocculation, sedimentation, filtration
Goal of HACCP? - CORRECT ANSWER-prevent contamination
How long do tags need to be kept for shell fish? - CORRECT ANSWER-90 days
How can you tell a chilled fish is fresh/not fresh? - CORRECT ANSWER-fresh: Red
gills, no foul odor, bright eyes, no slime, elastic flesh
Not fresh: sunken eyes, foul odor, slime, non-elastic flesh
Why would you test water for bacteria? - CORRECT ANSWER-to see if it is potable
Best test for water quality? - CORRECT ANSWER-5 day BOD
What is the most important thing when taking a sample of milk back to a lab for testing?
- CORRECT ANSWER-Have sanitary equipment and/or utensils
How do you prevent trichinosis? - CORRECT ANSWER-thoroughly cook pork
Why is it necessary to keep PHF's at 40 degrees or lower? - CORRECT ANSWER-
slows bacteria growth
What is the difference between OSHA and NIOSH? - CORRECT ANSWER-OSHA-
responsible for reducing worker injury, illness and death caused by workplace hazards
(enforcement)
NIOSH-conducts research to address problems in occupational safety and health; trains
workforce, makes recommendations to OSHA
Best item to remove vapors? - CORRECT ANSWER-activated charcoal
What is the order of steps to take when arriving at an emergency situation? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Identify the problem, protect self, secure scene, call for help
Most common reason for Food Borne Illness? - CORRECT ANSWER-improper
temperatures during holding
What can municipal sewage treatment plants use treated water for? What is preferred?
- CORRECT ANSWER-Surface Irrigation; preferred: sanitary sewer, injection well,
spray irrigation
What causes cognitive problems/learning disabilities in kids after ingesting? -
CORRECT ANSWER-lead
,What can cause babies to turn blue? - CORRECT ANSWER-nitrates in drinking water
What is the best way to keep flies from a community? - CORRECT ANSWER-Proper
environmental sanitation policies and procedures
Proper way to calibrate a stem thermometer? - CORRECT ANSWER-ice and water
bath for 3 minutes
Most effective way to remove mosquitoes from an area? - CORRECT ANSWER-
remove breeding ground
Best way to keep radon out of a house? - CORRECT ANSWER-seal cracks in floors
and provide ventilation
In plumbing, what is a trap or a catch used for? - CORRECT ANSWER-catch solid
materials from entering wastewater system
What is true about alpha particles? - CORRECT ANSWER-not dangerous to life unless
ingested or inhaled
If you are denied inspection, what do you do? - CORRECT ANSWER-Contact an
immediate supervisor and the police
Act that regulates food inspections? - CORRECT ANSWER-Food, Drug and Cosmetic
Act
Best soil for subsurface drain field? - CORRECT ANSWER-yellow, red or brown
What does g/ml measure? - CORRECT ANSWER-density
What vector is responsible for the spread of the plague? - CORRECT ANSWER-fleas
Agents of yellow fever? - CORRECT ANSWER-Aedes (mosquitos)
Employees in a lab using salmonella which is not aerobic must do all but what? -
CORRECT ANSWER-have clothing disinfected before washing
Agency an employer would check with to see if they are in compliance with employee
handling of hazardous materials? - CORRECT ANSWER-OSHA
#1 component of sewage? - CORRECT ANSWER-water
, What gives inspectors the right to inspect, detain and even destroy food? - CORRECT
ANSWER-police power
What is the Hazardous Communication Standards? - CORRECT ANSWER-To ensure
that employees are aware of potential hazards in the workplace
How long do you let the water run before collecting a sample? - CORRECT ANSWER-
2-3 minutes
A person without symptoms, but is still shedding the disease is called a? - CORRECT
ANSWER-carrier
Boiling an item for 30 min may not remove what? - CORRECT ANSWER-clostridium
What is the best option for a small community installing a sewage system? - CORRECT
ANSWER-slow sand filter
A community is located above a bathing beach and a potential sewage spill has
occurred. What is the FIRST thing an inspector should do? - CORRECT ANSWER-
notify public of potential hazard
Modified Oxygen Packaging (MOP) and Sous Vide are examples of what? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Reduced air packaging which is where they remove or replace oxygen
Dried fruit is shelf stable because? - CORRECT ANSWER-low water activity
At what point is water activity too low for bacterial growth? - CORRECT ANSWER-0.85
Most common reasons for Nosocomial diseases (diseases occurring in healthcare
facilities) is? - CORRECT ANSWER-Population that is highly susceptible, easy modes
of transmission
When potable water is combined with sewage water, this is called? - CORRECT
ANSWER-cross-connection
What are the characteristics of hazardous waste? - CORRECT ANSWER-Flammable,
corrosive, reactive, toxic
A group of people are complaining of a FBI (food-borne illness) occurring 4 hours after
eating. What should you suspect? - CORRECT ANSWER-staph
The presence of what indicates fecal contamination in drinking water? - CORRECT
ANSWER-e. coli
A liquid that is caused by rain going through a landfill and picking up bacteria is called? -
CORRECT ANSWER-leachate
