SANITARIAN ACTUAL EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Most effective way to remove mosquitoes from an area? - ANS remove breeding ground
Best way to keep radon out of a house? - ANS seal cracks in floors and provide ventilation
In plumbing, what is a trap or a catch used for? - ANS catch solid materials from entering
wastewater system
What is true about alpha particles? - ANS not dangerous to life unless ingested or inhaled
If you are denied inspection, what do you do? - ANS Contact an immediate supervisor and
the police
Act that regulates food inspections? - ANS Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
Best soil for subsurface drain field? - ANS yellow, red or brown
What does g/ml measure? - ANS density
What vector is responsible for the spread of the plague? - ANS fleas
Agents of yellow fever? - ANS Aedes (mosquitos)
1 Copyright ©BRIGHSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2025
,Employees in a lab using salmonella which is not aerobic must do all but what? - ANS have
clothing disinfected before washing
Agency an employer would check with to see if they are in compliance with employee handling
of hazardous materials? - ANS OSHA
#1 component of sewage? - ANS water
What causes EPA to say substance is toxic? - ANS 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? - ANS A toxic chemical. Colorless, odorless liquid used as a gas chemical
weapon
What chemical is added to decrease chlorine in water? - ANS Sodium Thiosulfate
What is the process in order for water filtering? - ANS Coagulation, flocculation,
sedimentation, filtration
Goal of HACCP? - ANS prevent contamination
How long do tags need to be kept for shell fish? - ANS 90 days
How can you tell a chilled fish is fresh/not fresh? - ANS 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? - ANS to see if it is potable
Best test for water quality? - ANS 5 day BOD
2 Copyright ©BRIGHSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2025
,What is the most important thing when taking a sample of milk back to a lab for testing? -
ANS Have sanitary equipment and/or utensils
How do you prevent trichinosis? - ANS thoroughly cook pork
Why is it necessary to keep PHF's at 40 degrees or lower? - ANS slows bacteria growth
What is the difference between OSHA and NIOSH? - ANS 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? - ANS activated charcoal
What is the order of steps to take when arriving at an emergency situation? - ANS Identify
the problem, protect self, secure scene, call for help
Most common reason for Food Borne Illness? - ANS improper temperatures during holding
What can municipal sewage treatment plants use treated water for? What is preferred? -
ANS Surface Irrigation; preferred: sanitary sewer, injection well, spray irrigation
What causes cognitive problems/learning disabilities in kids after ingesting? - ANS lead
What can cause babies to turn blue? - ANS nitrates in drinking water
What is the best way to keep flies from a community? - ANS Proper environmental sanitation
policies and procedures
3 Copyright ©BRIGHSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2025
, Proper way to calibrate a stem thermometer? - ANS ice and water bath for 3 minutes
What gives inspectors the right to inspect, detain and even destroy food? - ANS police power
What is the Hazardous Communication Standards? - ANS To ensure that employees are
aware of potential hazards in the workplace
How long do you let the water run before collecting a sample? - ANS 2-3 minutes
A person without symptoms, but is still shedding the disease is called a? - ANS carrier
Boiling an item for 30 min may not remove what? - ANS clostridium
What is the best option for a small community installing a sewage system? - ANS 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? - ANS notify public of potential hazard
Modified Oxygen Packaging (MOP) and Sous Vide are examples of what? - ANS Reduced air
packaging which is where they remove or replace oxygen
Dried fruit is shelf stable because? - ANS low water activity
At what point is water activity too low for bacterial growth? - ANS 0.85
Most common reasons for Nosocomial diseases (diseases occurring in healthcare facilities) is? -
ANS Population that is highly susceptible, easy modes of transmission
4 Copyright ©BRIGHSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Most effective way to remove mosquitoes from an area? - ANS remove breeding ground
Best way to keep radon out of a house? - ANS seal cracks in floors and provide ventilation
In plumbing, what is a trap or a catch used for? - ANS catch solid materials from entering
wastewater system
What is true about alpha particles? - ANS not dangerous to life unless ingested or inhaled
If you are denied inspection, what do you do? - ANS Contact an immediate supervisor and
the police
Act that regulates food inspections? - ANS Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
Best soil for subsurface drain field? - ANS yellow, red or brown
What does g/ml measure? - ANS density
What vector is responsible for the spread of the plague? - ANS fleas
Agents of yellow fever? - ANS Aedes (mosquitos)
1 Copyright ©BRIGHSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2025
,Employees in a lab using salmonella which is not aerobic must do all but what? - ANS have
clothing disinfected before washing
Agency an employer would check with to see if they are in compliance with employee handling
of hazardous materials? - ANS OSHA
#1 component of sewage? - ANS water
What causes EPA to say substance is toxic? - ANS 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? - ANS A toxic chemical. Colorless, odorless liquid used as a gas chemical
weapon
What chemical is added to decrease chlorine in water? - ANS Sodium Thiosulfate
What is the process in order for water filtering? - ANS Coagulation, flocculation,
sedimentation, filtration
Goal of HACCP? - ANS prevent contamination
How long do tags need to be kept for shell fish? - ANS 90 days
How can you tell a chilled fish is fresh/not fresh? - ANS 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? - ANS to see if it is potable
Best test for water quality? - ANS 5 day BOD
2 Copyright ©BRIGHSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2025
,What is the most important thing when taking a sample of milk back to a lab for testing? -
ANS Have sanitary equipment and/or utensils
How do you prevent trichinosis? - ANS thoroughly cook pork
Why is it necessary to keep PHF's at 40 degrees or lower? - ANS slows bacteria growth
What is the difference between OSHA and NIOSH? - ANS 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? - ANS activated charcoal
What is the order of steps to take when arriving at an emergency situation? - ANS Identify
the problem, protect self, secure scene, call for help
Most common reason for Food Borne Illness? - ANS improper temperatures during holding
What can municipal sewage treatment plants use treated water for? What is preferred? -
ANS Surface Irrigation; preferred: sanitary sewer, injection well, spray irrigation
What causes cognitive problems/learning disabilities in kids after ingesting? - ANS lead
What can cause babies to turn blue? - ANS nitrates in drinking water
What is the best way to keep flies from a community? - ANS Proper environmental sanitation
policies and procedures
3 Copyright ©BRIGHSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2025
, Proper way to calibrate a stem thermometer? - ANS ice and water bath for 3 minutes
What gives inspectors the right to inspect, detain and even destroy food? - ANS police power
What is the Hazardous Communication Standards? - ANS To ensure that employees are
aware of potential hazards in the workplace
How long do you let the water run before collecting a sample? - ANS 2-3 minutes
A person without symptoms, but is still shedding the disease is called a? - ANS carrier
Boiling an item for 30 min may not remove what? - ANS clostridium
What is the best option for a small community installing a sewage system? - ANS 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? - ANS notify public of potential hazard
Modified Oxygen Packaging (MOP) and Sous Vide are examples of what? - ANS Reduced air
packaging which is where they remove or replace oxygen
Dried fruit is shelf stable because? - ANS low water activity
At what point is water activity too low for bacterial growth? - ANS 0.85
Most common reasons for Nosocomial diseases (diseases occurring in healthcare facilities) is? -
ANS Population that is highly susceptible, easy modes of transmission
4 Copyright ©BRIGHSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2025
