Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Chapter 1: Hazardous Materials: Overview

1. The U.S. Department of Transportations definition of hazardous materials specifies

three entities against which a hazardous material poses an unreasonable risk. Which is
one of these entities?
A. Newly arriving emergency personnel
B. Drivers and handlers of the material
C. Receivers and shippers
D. The environment
Ans: D
Page: 5
2. Approximately how many organic and inorganic substances are registered for
commercial use in the United States?
A. 200,000
B. 600,000
C. 13,000,000
D. 40,000,000
Ans: D
Page: 5
3. What information does the ERG provide to hazardous materials responders?
A. Detailed information on material properties
B. Initial actions to take at a hazardous materials incident
C. Mitigation and recovery procedures
D. Decontamination and environmental remediation procedures
Ans: B
Page: 4
4. Which NFPA standard addresses competencies for hazardous materials/WMD
responders?
A. 1500
B. 472
C. 1902
D. 1421
Ans: B
Page: 6
5. What is the first defense against danger for fire fighters when responding to a
hazardous materials incident?
A. Proper selection of PPE
B. Maintaining crew integrity
C. Recognition and awareness of the situation
D. Preparatory lessons learned in the classroom
Ans: C
Page: 4

2010 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC and National Fire Protection Association.

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Chapter 1: Hazardous Materials: Overview

6. Compliance with the standards of which agency is voluntary?

A. National Fire Protection Association
B. Department of Transportation
C. Environmental Protection Agency
D. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Ans: A
Page: 5
7. Which entity creates consensus-based standards?
A. Environmental Protection Agency
B. National Fire Protection Association
C. Congress
D. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Ans: B
Page: 5
8. What is the acronym for the OSHA federal document containing hazardous materials
response competencies?
A. HAZEL
B. HAZWOPER
C. HADDOCK
D. HAPPIER
Ans: B
Page: 6
9. Which agency establishes requirements for fire department hazardous materials
response?
A. OSHA
B. EPA
C. USFA
D. FSTC
Ans: A
Page: 6
10. What level of hazardous materials training enables fire fighters to recognize a
potential hazardous materials incident, isolate and deny entry to other responders and the
public, evacuate persons in danger, and take defensive action?
A. Awareness
B. Initial responder
C. Operations
D. Field
Ans: C
Page: 8

2010 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC and National Fire Protection Association.

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Chapter 1: Hazardous Materials: Overview

11. Which action is an awareness level hazardous materials responder qualified to take?
A. Implement protective actions.
B. Assist with decontamination of victims.
C. Conduct searches in a warm zone.
D. Perform reconnaissance from a warm zone.
Ans: A
Page: 8
12. Which action is within the awareness level scope of responsibility?
A. Prepare for emergency decontamination of civilians.
B. Perform passive mitigation.
C. Determine appropriate actions based on the ERG.
D. Perform defensive tactics.
Ans: C
Page: 8
13. According to NFPA standards, which item is a core competency for operations level
hazardous materials responders?
A. Preserve evidence
B. Control leaking product
C. Perform victim recovery
D. Perform atmospheric monitoring
Ans: A
Page: 8
14. According to NFPA standards, which item is a mission-specific competency for
operations level hazardous materials responders?
A. Scene survey and analysis
B. Collection of data from reference sources
C. Selection of the appropriate level of PPE
D. Response to illicit laboratory incidents
Ans: D
Page: 9
15. Which entity determines if a need exists to provide mission-specific competency
training for local operations level hazardous materials responders?
A. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
B. The State Fire Marshal
C. The authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)
D. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Ans: C
Page: 9

2010 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC and National Fire Protection Association.

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Chapter 1: Hazardous Materials: Overview

16. When performing a mission-specific competency, operations level hazardous

materials responders must:
A. be secured to a mechanical means of retrieval.
B. work in pairs.
C. work under the direct supervision of technician level personnel.
D. wear Level A protective clothing.
Ans: C
Page: 9
17. Which responder level is trained to enter heavily contaminated areas for the purpose
of stopping a hazardous materials release?
A. Operations
B. Advanced
C. Awareness
D. Technician
Ans: D
Page: 10
18. What level receives more advanced hazardous materials training than the Technician
level?
A. Specialist
B. Interventionist
C. Technologist
D. Expert
Ans: A
Page: 10
19. The minimum level of hazardous materials training for a hazardous materials incident
commander is:
A. operations.
B. awareness.
C. specialist.
D. technician.
Ans: A
Page: 11
20. Which is a detailed profile of a chemical or chemical mixture provided by the
manufacturer?
A. Local Emergency Response Plan (LERP)
B. Emergency Response Guide (ERG)
C. The material safety data sheet (MSDS)
D. NFPA 49 (Hazardous Chemicals Data)
Ans: C
Page: 11

2010 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC and National Fire Protection Association.

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Chapter 1: Hazardous Materials: Overview

21. What law requires businesses that handle chemicals to report type, quantity, and
storage methods to the local fire department?
A. INSTEP
B. HAMSTER
C. ASTHMA
D. EPCRA
Ans: D
Page: 11
22. What is the acronym for the detailed profile of a single chemical or mixture that is
provided by the manufacturer and/or supplier of a chemical and is collected by the LEPC
in a jurisdiction?
A. INSECT
B. MSDS
C. UNLOCK
D. ANDS
Ans: B
Page: 11, 15
23. What does the S stand for in SERC?
A. Special
B. System
C. State
D. Start
Ans: C
Page: 11
24. In general, which type of incident requires the most time, planning, and forethought?
A. Structure fire
B. Hazardous materials incident with rescue
C. Structure fire with rescue
D. Hazardous materials incident with no life hazard
Ans: C
Page: 12
25. Which statement best describes the correct perspective to take at a hazardous
materials/WMD incident?
A. Take aggressive action to minimize the threat.
B. Slow down and think before you act.
C. Contain and confine, but provide for safety first.
D. Risk a lot to save a lot.
Ans: B
Page: 12
26. When does the response to a hazardous materials incident begin?

2010 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC and National Fire Protection Association.

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Chapter 1: Hazardous Materials: Overview

A. Not until everyone is assembled onsite and the planning and evaluation process has
been completed
B. Not until the first person trained in hazardous materials arrives on the scene
C. When the first call is received by the communications center or other agency of
notification
D. With learning about the regulations, agencies involved, and potential hazards in the
jurisdiction
Ans: D
Page: 12
27. Incident planning should focus on both the real threats that exist in the departments
community and:
A. the real threats that exist in adjacent communities the department might assist.
B. threats that are not real today, but that may become real as technology changes.
C. model threats, which exercise all the available resources in a standard set of
circumstances.
D. random threats; always expect the unexpected, especially with the terrorism concerns
of the new millennium.
Ans: A
Page: 13
28. Core competencies of operations level hazardous materials/WMD responders are:
A. offensive.
B. indirect.
C. passive
D. defensive.
Ans: D
Page: 8, 13

29. NFPA standards identify optional mission-specific competencies for __________

level hazardous materials/WMD responders.
A. operations
B. technician
C. awareness
D. specialist
Ans: A
Page: 8

2010 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC and National Fire Protection Association.

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Chapter 1: Hazardous Materials: Overview

30. The DOT defines a hazardous materials as one that poses an unreasonable risk when:
A. it is being transported.
B. it is not properly contained or stored.
C. it is used in a reasonable, controlled manner.
D. it is exposed to common environmental conditions.
Ans: B
Page: 5

31. The bulk of the new chemicals introduced each year fall into one of three categories,
two of which are industrial chemicals and household cleaners. What is the third?
A. Medicines
B. Military products
C. Fire suppression agents
D. Lawn care products
Ans: D
Page: 5

32. Which statement best describes how hazardous materials regulations are created?
A. They are created in each fire department separately by that department.
B. They are issued by government bodies such as OSHA.
C. They are formed by participation from industry manufacturers.
D. They are laws, passed by the several states legislatures.
Ans: B
Page: 5

33. What sub-organization within the NFPA produces the hazardous materials/WMD
standards?
A. Technical Committee on Hazardous Materials Response Personnel
B. Special Task Force on Hazardous Materials Substances, Responses, and Disposal
C. Scientific and Technical Committee for Field Applications
D. Study Group on the Integration of Applicable Hazardous Materials Regulations
Ans: A
Page: 6

2010 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC and National Fire Protection Association.

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Chapter 1: Hazardous Materials: Overview

34. Each U.S. state has the right to adopt and supersede safety and health regulations put
forth by federal OSHA. What are the states that choose that option called?
A. OSHA-exempt states
B. State-plan states
C. Sub 6 states
D. Compliant states
Ans: B
Page: 6

35. The NFPA has produced three standards on various aspects of hazardous materials
and emergency responses to them. What is one of these standards?
A. 1901
B. 1002
C. 473
D. 10
Ans: C
Page: 6

36. What level of hazardous materials training enables first responders to recognize a
potential hazardous materials emergency, protect themselves, isolate the area, and call for
assistance?
A. Awareness
B. Operations
C. Scout
D. Field
Ans: A
Page: 6, 8

37. After the initial training requirements, what is the OSHA requirement for refresher
training?
A. There is no requirement for refresher training.
B. Once every two years
C. Annually
D. Annually if no responses occurred during the year
Ans: C
Page: 11

2010 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC and National Fire Protection Association.

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Chapter 1: Hazardous Materials: Overview

38. What committees gather and disseminate information about hazardous materials to
the public?
A. IOSCO regional committees
B. USFA annual planning committees
C. Industry self-monitoring committees
D. Local emergency planning committees
Ans: D
Page: 11

39. The __________ serves as the liaison between local and state levels of authority.
A. local emergency planning committee
B. state emergency response commission
C. federal coordination and reporting hotline
D. regional hazardous materials team
Ans: B
Page: 11

40. Hazardous materials response agencies should focus incident-planning activities on

__________ hazards in the jurisdiction.
A. residential
B. potential
C. vulnerable
D. target
Ans: D
Page: 12, 13

41. In hazardous materials preincident planning, once the agency has identified the
threats in its jurisdiction, what should the agency do next?
A. Take no further action.
B. Determine how it will respond.
C. Run full-scale drill exercises.
D. Run table-top drill exercises.
Ans: B

2010 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC and National Fire Protection Association.

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Chapter 1: Hazardous Materials: Overview

Page: 13

42. What is the NFPA standard for competence of responders to hazardous

materials/weapons of mass destruction incidents?
A. 470
B. 471
C. 472
D. 473
Ans: C
Page: 5

43. How are standards for hazardous materials developed?

A. They are created in each fire department, separately, by that department.
B. They are formed by participation from industry manufacturers.
C. They are laws, passed by the several states legislatures.
D. They are issued by nongovernmental agencies such as NFPA.
Ans: D
Page: 6

44. What section of 29 CFR 1910.120 covers emergency response?

A. H
B. M
C. P
D. Q
Ans: D
Page: 6

45. Which tactical activity requires technician level training?

A. Basic hazard and risk assessment
B. Planning a response to a leak
C. Performing decontamination
D. Plugging or patching
Ans: D

2010 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC and National Fire Protection Association.

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Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Chapter 1: Hazardous Materials: Overview

Page: 10

46. What federal agency enforces and publicizes laws and regulations governing
transportation of goods?
A. OSA
B. OPA
C. DOT
D. DOHA
Ans: C
Page: 11

47. What federal agency regulates and governs issues related to hazardous materials in
the environment?
A. OSHA
B. DOA
C. DOE
D. EPA
Ans: D
Page: 11

48. What dictates the actions taken at a hazardous materials incident?

A. The chemical involved
B. The level of protection
C. The type of equipment
D. The type of decontamination
Ans: A
Page: 12

49. What NFPA standard addresses competencies for emergency medical personnel
working a hazardous materials/WMD incident?
A. 470
B. 471
C. 472
D. 473

2010 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC and National Fire Protection Association.

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Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations

Chapter 1: Hazardous Materials: Overview

Ans: D
Page: 6

50. The following is a list of actions that might be taken on a hazardous materials
incident. Which action is appropriate for operations level responders but not for
awareness level responders?
A. Avoid contact with the material.
B. Take steps to contain the release.
C. Eliminate ignition sources.
D. Use the ERG to identify the material.
Ans: B
Page: 6, 8

2010 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC and National Fire Protection Association.

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