CARO Emergency Response and Safety 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which OSHA standard governs Process Safety Management (PSM) for facilities with more than 10,000 lb of ammonia?
- 29 CFR 1910.147
- 29 CFR 1910.119 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.134
- 29 CFR 1910.1200
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.119
29 CFR 1910.119 is the PSM standard covering highly hazardous chemicals, including ammonia above 10,000 lb.
Question 2: Which OSHA standard covers training and response requirements for hazardous waste operations and emergency response (HAZWOPER)?
- 29 CFR 1910.120 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.146
- 29 CFR 1910.95
- 29 CFR 1910.38
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.120
HAZWOPER requirements, including emergency responder training levels, are found in 29 CFR 1910.120.
Question 3: Under the EPA's CERCLA/EPCRA rules, what is the reportable quantity for an ammonia release within 24 hours?
- 10 lb
- 100 lb (Correct answer)
- 500 lb
- 1,000 lb
Correct answer: 100 lb
Releases of 100 lb or more of ammonia in 24 hours must be reported to the National Response Center and local authorities.
Question 4: Why should water hose streams NOT be sprayed directly into a pool of liquid ammonia?
- Water freezes and plugs the drains
- Adding water causes rapid boiling and increases vapor release (Correct answer)
- Water makes ammonia flammable at any concentration
- Water reacts to form toxic chlorine gas
Correct answer: Adding water causes rapid boiling and increases vapor release
Water adds heat to the cold liquid pool, accelerating vaporization and increasing the vapor cloud.
Question 5: What is the main purpose of applying a water fog or spray to an ammonia vapor cloud?
- To ignite and burn off the vapor
- To absorb and knock down vapor, since ammonia is highly water-soluble (Correct answer)
- To cool the compressors
- To dilute the oil in the system
Correct answer: To absorb and knock down vapor, since ammonia is highly water-soluble
Ammonia readily dissolves in water, so a fog pattern helps absorb vapor and control its spread.
Question 6: Under the HAZWOPER standard, which training level is intended for personnel who take offensive action to stop a release?
- First Responder Awareness
- First Responder Operations
- Hazardous Materials Technician (Correct answer)
- Incident Observer
Correct answer: Hazardous Materials Technician
Hazardous Materials Technicians are trained to approach the release point and plug, patch, or stop the leak.
Question 7: Which EPA regulation requires facilities with more than 10,000 lb of ammonia to prepare a Risk Management Plan?
- 40 CFR Part 68 (Correct answer)
- 40 CFR Part 82
- 29 CFR 1910.119
- 49 CFR Part 172
Correct answer: 40 CFR Part 68
EPA's Risk Management Program rule is found in 40 CFR Part 68.
