Safety Quiz

We recently saw an advertisement for HAZWOPER training. The banner at the top of the email read “HAZWOPER Training and Refreshers Are Mandatory.” That’s partially true. If your work requires you to take HAZardous Waste OPerations and Emergency Response training, then yes, it is mandatory. If you have had initial HAZWOPER training, annual refreshers are also mandatory. But what if you do not perform work that requires this level of training? Is it still mandatory? No, even though the ad implied that HAZWOPER training might be mandatory.

Some safety training requirements can be confusing. Let’s test ourselves on what we do or do not know. The answers will be at the end of the quiz, to help clear up any misconceptions.

1. Your work requires you to enter a permit-required confined space. These types of confined spaces are hazardous. How often should you receive training to be able to continue doing this work?

A. You must receive training annually to enter permit-required confined spaces.

B. You must receive training every two years to enter permit-required confined spaces.

C. You must receive training every three years to enter permit-required confined spaces.

D. You must receive training initially when conditions change, and/or when your responsibilities change regarding entering permit-required confined spaces.

2. You are also a rescue team member for the permit-required confined spaces that you enter. To be a rescue team member, you need to be certified in CPR. How often do you need to take CPR training to maintain your certification?

A. You must take CPR training annually to maintain certification.

B. You must take CPR training every two years to maintain certification.

C. You must take CPR training every three years to maintain certification.

D. You must take CPR training initially when conditions relating to permit-required confined spaces change, and/or when your responsibilities change regarding entering permit-required confined spaces.

3. Your company has some gas cylinders and a few chemicals. OSHA requires you to have some training, called Hazard Communication, to work around the gases and chemicals. How often should you receive this training?

A. Hazard Communication training should be given annually, and when new chemicals are brought into the workplace.

B. Hazard Communication training should be given every two years, and when new chemicals are brought into the workplace.

C. Hazard Communication training should be given every three years, and when new chemicals are brought into the workplace.

D. Hazard Communication training should be given initially when conditions change such as new chemicals being brought into the workplace, and/or when your responsibilities change regarding working around hazardous chemicals.

4. To work around the gases in question 3, it is required that you wear a respirator. You only must wear the respirator twice a year. Do you need to have training? If so, how often?

A. Yes, OSHA says you need to have training to wear a respirator, and you need to be trained annually.

B. Yes, OSHA says you need to have training to wear a respirator, and you need to be trained every two years.

C. No, OSHA does not say you need to be trained to wear a respirator if it is only worn twice a year.

D. No, OSHA suggests that you have training but does not require you to have training.

 

Weekly Safety Challenge

Who do you think has the responsibility to make sure you have training? Is it OSHA, your employer, or is it you? Please discuss this with your coworkers. And, we have the answer below.

Answers:

1. D. You must receive training initially, when conditions change, and/or when your responsibilities change regarding entering permit-required confined spaces.

2. B. You must take CPR training every two years to maintain certification, as required by the American Heart Association and the Red Cross.

3. D. Hazard Communication training should be given initially, when conditions change such as new chemicals being brought into the workplace, and/or when your responsibilities change regarding working around hazardous chemicals.

4. A. Yes, OSHA says you need to have training to wear a respirator, and you need to be trained annually.