Question 1

Which of the following is the BEST description of risk?

Risk is the potential for exposure and is primarily related toxicity.
Risk involves the quantitative assessment of exposure.
Risk is the probability and magnitude of harm resulting from exposure to hazards.
Risk almost always involves a high degree of uncertainty.

Question 2

Risk perception is affected by many factors. Which of the following is associated with a higher perception of risk?

Controllable, little or no benefit, untrusted source
Uncontrollable, man-made, children
Voluntary, little or no benefit, familiar
Adults, familiar, clear benefits

Question 3

Which of the following is the BEST description of how exposure assessment results are used?

Allows the definition of a safe or unsafe workplace activity
Allows the practicing industrial hygienist to determine the need for medical surveillance
Allows the determination of acceptability using both statistical techniques and experience/knowledge
Allows assessment of past, present, and future exposure scenarios

Question 4

Which of the following is TRUE about the risk decision-making process?

Professional judgment is usually not a factor.
Data is usually not available for a full quantitative risk assessment.
Control banding is a qualitative, matrix-based approach.
Risk matrices are generally of little value.

Question 5

Which of the following is an accurate definition of the field of industrial hygiene?

The anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of factors that may impact the well-being of workers
The application of environmental factors applied to atmospheric hazards
The use of mathematical models applied to ergonomics
The use of personal protective equipment to reduce inhalation hazards

Question 6

In your own words, define risk. What are the four functions of risk? How can these four functions be used to make risk decisions? List the factors that affect risk perception in the workplace. How can an industrial hygienist determine how much risk is acceptable?

Question 7

What are the elements of the risk-assessment paradigm? How can these elements be applied in a workplace setting in which an emergency responder is addressing a large spill of trichloroethylene? Describe how risk assessment can be used in industrial hygiene practice.

Question 8

Define exposure assessment, and describe the seven steps involved in an exposure-assessment strategy. Apply each step to a scenario where you, as an industrial hygienist, are asked to describe a worker's exposure to cadmium during a brazing operation.

Question 9

Define instantaneous monitoring, integrated monitoring, personal monitoring, and area monitoring, and explain the differences among each one. Provide a scenario in which in each method would be used.

Question 10

Select a material that has a specific OSHA health standard. Discuss the standard with your class being sure to explain the elements of the standard, exposure limits, training requirements, respiratory protection requirements, medical surveillance, etc. Find a MSDS on the material and compare what you learn from the standard to the MSDS as well - let us know what company prepared the MSDS. What are the other regulatory limits (if any) from ACGIH and NIOSH or any others listed on the MSDS. What changes to the standard would you suggest?