BOWEN EHS BOOK

OF
CSP EXAM PRACTICE PROBLEMS

50 QUESTIONS

Volume II

(Second Edition)

A Compilation of Study Questions Published from March 15, 2005 through May 4, 2006

Copyright © 2012 Bowen EHS, Inc.

All rights reserved
Copyright © 2012 Bowen EHS, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
electronic means, including information or storage and retrieval systems, without
permission in writing from the publisher.

Disclaimer:
This book contains problems and solutions for occupational safety and health
professionals. The information is considered to be correct and compatible with
standards generally acceptable at the time of publication. However, the author and
publisher disclaim any liability, loss, injury, or damage incurred as a consequence,
directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this volume.

Please direct all questions and comments regarding this workbook to:

Bowen EHS, Inc.

1289 N Fordham Blvd
Suite 411
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
866-264-5852
Manager@BowenEHS.com
www.BowenEHS.com

ISBN-13: 978-1-937224-029-5

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Introduction

This workbook is designed for health and safety professionals preparing to

take the certification exams offered by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals
(BCSP). The best way to prepare for the exams is to practice, practice, and
more practice. One problem many people face is finding practice problems.
This workbook is intended to give people some of the much needed
practice at a reasonable cost. It is composed of practice questions originally
published as part of the free study questions via email offered by Bowen EHS,
Inc. There were a few mistakes made in the original questions, and the
corrections have been made for this publication.
There is no intended pattern of subject matter. An attempt has been
made to create questions in each of the subjects that may be tested on the
exam. Solutions to the questions are found at the back of the workbook.
You will probably find it useful to use the exam reference sheet available
from the BCSP at www.bcsp.org. A calculator will be useful in solving many of
the problems. Be sure to practice using a calculator that is approved by the
board for taking the exam. A list of approved calculators is available on their
website.
Bowen EHS, Inc. also offers an 8 week review course for the exam over
the internet. The review course consists of two 2-hour lectures each week of the
course. Students participate via their computer. We also send free study
questions via email. More information is available at www.BowenEHS.com.
Please contact us if you have any questions or comments regarding this
workbook.

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1. Training

Which of the following selections describes important aspects of all safety

training programs?

A. Needs Assessment, Lesson Plans, Record Keeping

B. Needs Assessment, PowerPoint Presentations, Record Keeping
C. Lesson Plans, Record Keeping, Appropriate Videotape
D. Needs Assessment, Appropriate Videotape, Lesson Plans

2. Ventilation

Ammonia is evaporating from a tank at a rate of 1 pint/hr. The PEL for ammonia
is 50 ppm, and the molecular weight is 17.03. The specific gravity is 0.824.

The room dimensions are 40 ft x 50 ft x 20 ft, and the mixing in the room is
excellent. What airflow is required to maintain an ammonia concentration at or
below the PEL using dilution ventilation?

A. 3900 cfm
B. 6630 cfm
C. 66,300 cfm
D. 390,000 cfm

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3. Noise

There are four machines making noise at an operator's station. The sound
pressure level from each machine at the station is given below. Determine the
total sound pressure level for an operator at the station.

82 dB 94 dB 96 dB 96 dB

A. 92 dB
B. 99 dB
C. 100 dB
D. 368 dB

4. Safety Management

Many companies use a mentoring program as a part of employee development.

Which solution provides the best completion to the statement "A mentor ...

A. is the employee's supervisor providing direct performance feedback.

B. is a person outside the employee's line of supervision providing guidance
for employee development and problem resolution.
C. is the human resource manager ensuring an employee receives proper
training.
D. is the operations manager working with an employee helping them grow in
a positive manner.

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5. System Safety

An engineering team is evaluating the probability of a catastrophic explosion from

a chemical process. They are starting their analysis by looking at the final result
(explosion) and working backwards in the process to determine all the possible
scenarios that could lead to the explosion.
What is this type of analysis?

A. Management oversight and risk tree

B. Simultaneous timed events analysis
C. Failure modes and effect analysis
D. Fault tree analysis

6. Radiation

Estimate the dose of a 25 mCi source emitting photons with an energy level of
1.33 MeV.

A. 25 mrem/hr
B. 50 mrem/hr
C. 100 mrem/hr
D. 200 mrem/hr

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7. Physics

An accident between two industrial trucks occurred in a warehouse. An

employee driving truck A hit truck B on the side. Driver A claims that driver B did
not check the intersection before entering the intersection.

Driver A slammed on his brakes as soon as he saw driver B. The skid marks
from truck A were 30 feet long. Truck A weighs 2000 lbs, and the coefficient of
friction between the tire and concrete floor is 0.65.

Estimate the minimum speed of Truck A at the time of the accident.

A. 24 mph
B. 28 mph
C. 35 mph
D. 40 mph

8. Probability

The probability that an American will be seriously injured at home in one year is
estimated to be 1 in 81*. The probability that an American will be in an
automobile accident in one year is estimated to be 8%*. If we assume that the
two probabilities are independent, what is the probability that the average
American will be seriously injured at home and be in an automobile accident in
one year?

A. 0.00099
B. 0.012
C. 0.068
D. 0.092

*Laudan, Larry. The Book of Risks: Fascinating Facts About the Chances We
Take Every Day. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY. 1994.

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9. Industrial Hygiene

An air sample of toluene (MW = 92.13) in Boulder, CO is 15.0 mg/m3. The

temperature and atmospheric concentration when the sample was taken were
65 oF and 30.85 in Hg. What is the concentration of toluene in ppm?

A. 42.0 ppm
B. 4.20 ppm
C. 3.98 ppm
D. 3.77 ppm

10. Fire Protection

A large tank that previously contained motor oil is to be cleaned. The tank will be
ventilated and the air tested prior to entry for cleaning. What is a safe level of the
LFL for entry?

A. 10%
B. 20%
C. 30%
D. 40%

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11. Electrical Safety

A crane is working near power lines carrying electricity at 500,000 volts. What is
the minimum distance the crane should maintain between the crane boom and
the power lines?

A. 10 feet
B. 20 feet
C. 25 feet
D. 30 feet

12. Engineering Economy

A safety engineer wants to spend $500,000 on safety improvements for his plant.
The plant controller says he can earn 6% interest on the money over the next 10
years. What is the expected value of the safety improvements 10 years in the
future?

A. $269,000
B. $500,000
C. $800,000
D. $895,000

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13. Ventilation

The air flow through a 12-inch duct is 1000 cfm. The duct transitions to a 9-inch
duct. What is the air flow in the 9-inch duct?

A. 563 cfm
B. 1000 cfm
C. 1778 cfm
D. There isn't enough information to answer this question.

14. General Science

A 1 cubic foot compressed gas cylinder contains Grade D breathing air at 2000
psig. If a person breathes about 6 liters of air each minute, how many minutes
can a person breathe from this cylinder at normal atmospheric pressure?

A. 4.8 minutes
B. 135 minutes
C. 637 minutes
D. 3824 minutes

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15. Physics

A crane is lifting a 200 pound object. The crane’s boom is 50 ft long. The boom
forms an 85 degree angle with the horizontal. What is the torque applied to the
crane’s boom?

A. 17.4 ft-lbs
B. 35.8 ft-lbs
C. 200 ft-lbs
D. 872 ft-lbs

16. Noise

Calculate the time-weighted average from the following personal sound level
measurements.

Time Sound Level

2 hrs 80 dBA
2 hrs 90 dBA
1 hr 95 dBA
3 hrs 90 dBA

A. 0.88 dBA
B. 89.0 dBA
C. 90.8 dBA
D. 91.0 dBA

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17. Non-ionizing radiation

What is the wavelength of a 62 GHz signal?

A. 0.48 cm
B. 21 cm
C. 4.8 m
D. 210 m

18. Personal Protective Equipment

A worker is using a full-body harness while working at an elevation of 200 feet

above grade. The worker slips and falls, but his lanyard and harness stop him
after falling about 6 feet. Unfortunately, the worker is unconscious. How long
can the worker safely hang in the harness without becoming a fatality?

A. Indefinitely
B. Several minutes
C. Up to 2 hours
D. Up to 6 hours

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19. Ladders/Physics

Increasing the angle of a portable extension against a wall will…

A. increase the frictional forces at the foot of the ladder.

B. decrease the frictional forces at the foot of the ladder.
C. not change the frictional forces at the foot of the ladder.
D. increase or decrease the frictional forces at the foot of the ladder
depending on the material at the foot.

20. Radiation

A radiation source of cobalt-60 has a dose rate of 0.2 mrad/hour at a distance of

10 feet. What is the dose received by an employee working at a distance of 50
feet from the source for 4 hours?

A. 0.008 mrad
B. 0.032 mrad
C. 5.000 mrad
D. 20.00 mrad

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21. Ergonomics

A worker can no longer move his index finger smoothly. It moves in snaps or
jerks. From which musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is this worker likely suffering?

A. Carpal tunnel syndrome

B. Ganglion
C. Trigger finger
D. DeQuervain’s disease

22. Probability

An industrial process is composed of unit A, unit B, unit C, and unit D. The

process needs either a functioning unit A or a functioning unit B to operate. Unit
C and unit D must also be functioning for the process to operate. The probability
that unit A will fail during a ten-year period is 0.01. The probability that unit B will
fail during a one-year period is 0.001. The probability that unit C will fail in a five-
year period is 0.00001. The probability of unit D failing during a ten-year period
is 10-7.

What is the probability the industrial process will fail during a ten-year period?

A. 10-7
B. 10-6
C. 10-5
D. 10-4

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23. Ventilation

A local exhaust ventilation system is designed to remove welding fumes from a

workstation. An inspection reveals that the capture velocity in front of the plain
circular hood is not strong enough to remove the fumes. Which solution below is
likely to produce the best results?

A. Decrease the duct size to the hood.

B. Increase the duct size to the hood.
C. Add a flange to the hood.
D. Change the hood to a slot hood.

24. Industrial Hygiene

A paint solvent is a mixture of 80% xylene (molecular weight = 106.17,

TLV = 100 ppm, specific gravity = 0.87) and 20% methylene chloride (molecular
weight = 84.93, TLV = 50 ppm, specific gravity = 1.318). The solvent is used in a
degreasing operation, and it is released into the atmosphere at a rate of 1.2
pints/minute. What airflow is needed to keep the air concentrations below the
TLV?

A. 30,000 fpm
B. 31,700 fpm
C. 61,700 fpm
D. It is not possible to answer this question without knowing the volume of
the room.

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25. Fire Protection

Harry’s haunted house is a popular attraction at Halloween. Customers walk

through an old mansion through scenes of horrible crimes with ghosts and
witches and goblins and other monsters. Harry is concerned about the safety of
his customers and employees. He spent over $50,000 to install fire sprinklers in
the mansion in case of fire. Harry’s haunted house has one dead-end corridor
that is 70 feet long.

Has Harry violated sound fire safety practice? Why?

A. No. Harry does not need to worry about fire exits because he installed a
fire sprinkler system.
B. No. Fire codes do not generally apply to temporary or seasonal
businesses.
C. Yes. Sprinklers are not allowed as fire extinguishers.
D. Yes. Harry exceeded the fire codes on the maximum length of a dead-
end corridor protected with a sprinkler.

26. Heat Stress

Aunt Sally and Uncle Tom are preparing Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving
Day. The kitchen is very hot. The wet bulb globe temperature in the kitchen is
85 F. The equation for wet bulb globe temperature is

WBGT = 0.7WB + 0.3GT (indoors)

and
WBGT = 0.7WB + 0.2GT + 0.1DB (outdoors).

What is the GT measuring?

A. The GT is a measure of the entropy in the kitchen.

B. The GT is a measure of the convection heat coming from the oven.
C. The GT is a measure of the radiant heat coming from the oven.
D. The GT is a measure of the metabolic heat generated by Aunt Sally and
Uncle Tom.

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27. Product Liability

A woman was severely injured (3rd degree burns) several years ago when she
spilled coffee on her lap she had just purchased from a restaurant. She sued the
restaurant to recover the costs of her medical bills. The company was held liable
for the woman’s damages by the court.

What theory of liability did the company violate?

A. Warranty
B. Negligence
C. Strict liability
D. None of the above is correct. The company was not actually liable

28. Noise

A homeowner was doing some remodeling work on his home. He was cutting
wood with a small electric saw. The saw was about 2 feet from the ear of the
homeowner, and the sound intensity was 93 dB. The homeowner’s child was
watching from 10 feet away. What is the estimated sound intensity for the child?

A. 79 dB
B. 87 dB
C. 96 dB
D. 106 dB

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29. Safety Management

A plant manager wants to improve the safety performance at his facility. He

decides to implement a safety incentive program for employees. Each employee
will receive a bonus each year they do not have an injury. Which management
theory describes this method of managing safety?

A. Theory X
B. Theory Y
C. Theory Z
D. Theory of self actualization

30. Personal Protective Equipment

What is the appropriate clearance between the headband suspension and the
top of a hardhat?

A. 0.75 inches
B. 1.25 inches
C. 1.75 inches
D. 2.25 inches

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31. Hydraulics

A tank filled with benzene (sg = 0.87) developed a small leak. The 20-foot tall
tank has a 100,000 gallon capacity and the leak is 2 feet above the
ground. What is the pressure of the liquid as it leaves the tank?

A. 0.8 psi
B. 6.8 psi
C. 7.8 psi
D. 977 psi

32. Heat Transfer

A steel tank has 2 inch thick walls. The tank is 15 feet high, and the diameter is
8 feet. The liquid inside the tank is kept at 140 F, and the air temperature outside
the tank is 70 F. Steel has a thermal conductivity of 25 BTU/h-ft-F. What is the
heat transfer through the tank?

A. 0.42 million BTU/HR

B. 1.59 million BTU/HR
C. 5.00 million BTU/HR
D. 10.00 million BTU/HR

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33. Electricity

Calculate the current going through the circuit of a construction site office (trailer)
that has 3 space heaters plugged into it. The space heaters are each rated at
1500 watts, and the voltage on the circuit is 110 V.

A. 0.16 A
B. 6.4 A
C. 41 A
D. 500 A

34. System Safety

What is one of the limitations of fault tree analysis?

A. Fault tree analysis is unlikely to produce the same results when applied by
different people.
B. Fault tree analysis is too complicated for most systems.
C. Fault tree analysis may not identify all events leading to the top event.
D. Fault tree analysis cannot be used on electrical systems.

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35. Radiation

Which type of ionizing radiation has the greatest mass?

A. alpha particle
B. beta particle
C. photon
D. neutron

36. Reliability

Two components of a system are wired in parallel. Component B serves as a

backup to component A. Both components have a reliability of 0.9. What is the
total reliability of both components combined?

A. 0.90
B. 0.81
C. 0.99
D. 1.09

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37. Ventilation

The ozone concentration in a small office is 5 ppb at 8:00 am. The office worker
turns on an ionic “air freshener” at 8:00 am, and 2 hours later the ozone
concentration is 3 ppm. The office measures 10 feet by 15 feet and it has 8 foot
high ceilings. The effective airflow in the office is equivalent to 6 air
changes/hour. Estimate the ozone generation rate of the air freshener.

A. 0.00000060 cfm
B. 0.00036 cfm
C. 0.0060 cfm
D. 0.36 cfm

38. Gas Laws

Sam is a construction worker for a very large contracting company. He is

working in a confined space at sea level where the atmospheric pressure is 1
atm. The oxygen concentration in the confined space is measured at
19.0%. Bart also works for the contracting company. Bart is preparing a
construction site on a 14,000 foot mountain where a ski lift will be installed. The
atmospheric pressure on the mountain is 450 mm Hg. Which worker has more
available oxygen in their workplace?

A. Sam
B. Bart
C. They have equal amounts of oxygen available.
D. There is not enough information to answer the question.

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39. Ergonomics

A chef at a very popular restaurant is getting ready for the Valentine’s Day
crowd. He is sharpening his best knives. Which of the following characteristics
does not necessarily have a direct positive impact on the ergonomic design of his
knives?

A. Blade and handle are well balanced.

B. Handle is slip resistant
C. Handle is thick enough for fingers to grip comfortably.
D. Blade is less than 8” long

40. Industrial Hygiene

An industrial hygienist sampled the concentration of acetone at a printing

plant. The industrial hygienist reported the results to the safety manager as 1045
mg/m3. The PEL for acetone is 1000 ppm. The molecular weight for acetone is
58.08. Calculate the estimated acetone concentration in ppm.

A. 18 ppm
B. 440 ppm
C. 1045 ppm
D. 2482 ppm

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41. Fire Safety

What is the purpose of the fire stop in building construction?

A. It stops fires from starting.

B. It extinguishes fires within 2 minutes of ignition.
C. It is a point in the building that will allow the fire department to tap into the
sprinkler system.
D. It stops fire from spreading.

42. Ergonomics

Which type of whole-body vibration is most likely to lead to health problems?

A. Resonant frequency vibration

B. Very low frequency vibration
C. Very high frequency vibration
D. Marconi frequency vibration

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43. Noise

A work station has a noise exposure level of 98 dBA. What is the estimated daily
maximum time an employee can work at the station without wearing hearing
protection?

A. 120 minutes
B. 158 minutes
C. 240 minutes
D. 480 minutes

44. Physics

A crane has a boom that can extend to 100 ft. It has a maximum lifting capacity
of 20,000 lbs when the boom is fully extended and at an 85 degree angle with the
ground. What is the absolute maximum lifting capacity of the crane with the
boom fully extended, and it is lowered to an angle parallel with the ground?

A. 1,700 lbs
B. 3,400 lbs
C. 10,000 lbs
D. 20,000 lbs

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45. Probability

What is the estimated probability of failure of a system that has 4 components

with the following characteristics? Components A & B are in parallel. Either A or
B must be working for the system to operate. Components C & D are in series
with the combined A & B. Both C & D must be working for the system to
operate. Assume all components are independent.

The probability that A will fail in 1 year is 0.002.

The probability that B will fail in 1 year is 0.002.
The probability that C will fail in 1 year is 0.0001.
The probability that D will fail in 1 year is 0.0001.

A. 4 x 10-14
B. 4 x 10-6
C. 2 x 10-4
D. 2 x 104

46. Electrical Safety

What is the major injury from electrical arc flashes?

A. Electrocution
B. Burns
C. Heart attack
D. None of the above

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47. Material Handling

Wire rope is used in many applications. A common wire rope fitting is to use
U-bolts to attach the dead end of the rope to the load-bearing section of the
rope. What is the proper way to attach the U-bolts to the wire rope?

A. The U section of each clip is on the live (long end) of the rope.
B. The U section of each clip is on the dead (short end) of the rope.
C. The U sections should alternate on the rope (live-dead-live).
D. The U sections should alternate on the rope (dead-live-live).

48. Personal Protective Equipment

A workplace has a noise level of 104 dBC. What is the minimum hearing
protection NRR that will provide adequate protection in compliance with the
OSHA PEL?

A. 14 NRR
B. 19 NRR
C. 21 NRR
D. 104 NRR

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49. Hydraulics

The pressure drop from a fire hydrant is measured at 16.2 psig during an annual
test. The diameter of the fire hydrant discharge is 3 inches. What is the actual
discharge flow rate from the fire hydrant?

A. 1150 gpm
B. 1310 gpm
C. 4590 gpm
D. 9180 gpm

50. Safety Management

Select the true statement relating to behavior-based safety processes.

A. Behavior-based safety is based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

B. Behavior-based safety is a management driven process.
C. Behavior-based safety is focused on the correct discipline of employees
violating safety procedures.
D. None of the above statements is true.

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SOLUTIONS

1. All safety training programs should include the following:

Needs assessment – determine what training is needed at your facility

Training – delivered by a competent person
Lesson plans – training should be designed to meet the training needs,
these should include learning objectives and ways to evaluate training
effectiveness
Record Keeping – training needs to be documented
Program evaluation – ensure training efforts are meeting the needs

The correct solution is A.

2. This equation provides the required airflow:

403 x 10 6 x SG x ER x K
Q=
MW x C
Where:
Q = airflow (cfm)
SG = specific gravity
ER = evaporation rate (pints/min)
K = mixing factor
MW = molecular weight (grams/mole)
C = desired concentration (ppm)

pint hour
The evaporation rate = 1 • = 0.017 pint/min
hour 60min

The mixing factor is assumed to be 1 under excellent conditions.

403 x 10 6 x 0.824 x 0.017 x 1

Q=
17.03 x 50

Q = 6630 cfm

The correct solution is B.

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3. The total sound pressure level is given by

 n 
L Pt = 10log ∑10 Li 10 
 i =1 
(
L Pt = 10log 10 82 10
+ 1094 10 + 1096 10 + 1096 10 )
L Pt = 100 dB

where Li is the ith sound pressure level and N is the number of

measurements.

The correct solution is C.

4. A mentor is a person outside the employee’s line of supervision that

provides guidance in career development and problem resolution.

The correct solution is B.

5. Management oversight and risk tree (MORT) looks at all events that might
happen in a process and uses management processes to minimize risk.

Simultaneous time events analysis evaluates a process by looking at all

the events happening simultaneously.

Failure modes and effect analysis (FMEA) looks at what will happen in a
process when components fail in the process. It starts with a failure and
moves forward in time to the consequence.

Fault tree analysis starts with the catastrophic event and moves backward
in the process to look at all event sequences that may lead to the
catastrophic events. A fault tree is created with the roots of the tree
leading to the catastrophic event at the top.

The correct solution is D.

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6. The equation S ≅ 6CE can be used to estimate the dose rate at a distance
of 1 foot.

S = dose rate (rad/hr) (1 rem = 1 rad for gamma and beta radiation)
C = activity (curies)
E = energy level (MeV)

Unfortunately, I left the distance out of the question. Oops.

S ≅ 6(0.025)(1.33) = 0.20 rad/hr = 200 mrem/hr

The correct solution is D.

7. We know truck A moved at least 30 feet with the brakes locked. It might
have moved farther, but it struck truck B.

The acceleration is calculated by knowing the force of friction Ff= µN

where
µ = coefficient of friction
N = normal force = mg = 2000 lbs (in this problem)

2000 lbs = m(32.3 ft/sec2) ⇒ m = 62.11 slugs

Ff = ma ⇒ 0.65 (2000 lbs) = (62.11 slugs) a ⇒ a = 20.9 ft/sec2

The equation relating velocity and acceleration and distance is

Vf2 = V02 + 2as

where:
Vf = final velocity
V0 = initial velocity
a = acceleration (in this case it is negative, since the truck is
slowing down)
s = distance

2
02 = V0 - 2(20.9 ft/sec2)(30 ft)
V02 = 1254 ft2/sec2 ⇒ V0 = 35.4 ft/sec = 35.4 ft  1 mile  3600 sec  = 24 mph
sec  5280 ft  hour 
The correct solution is A.

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8. Probability of injury in home = 1/81 = 0.01234
Probability of auto accident = 0.08

Since the events are entirely independent, the probability of both events
happening is the product of the two probabilities.

Probability of injury in home and auto accident = 0.08 x 0.01234 = 0.00099

The correct solution is A.

9. The equation relating air concentrations in mg/m3 and ppm is given by:
mg/m 3 x 24.45
ppm =
MW
where:
24.45 = molar volume (liters) of a gas at 77 oF and 1 atm (29.92 in Hg) of
pressure. MW = molecular weight of substance

Step 1:
Find the molar volume under the current conditions using the ideal gas
law.

P1V1 P2 V2
=
T1 T2
where:
P = pressure
V = volume
T = absolute temperature (R = oF + 460)

(29.92 in Hg)(24.45 liters) (30.85 in Hg)V2

=
537 R 525 R
(29.92 in Hg)(24.45 liters)  525 R 
V2 =   = 23.18 liters
537 R  30.85 in Hg 
Step 2:
Use the first equation to solve for the concentration in ppm.

15.0 x 23.18
ppm = = 3.77
92.13

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 The correct solution is D.

10. The LFL is the lower flammable limit. The atmosphere in a confined
space must be below 10% of the LFL prior to entry.

The correct solution is A.

11. The boom of the crane must be kept at least 10 feet away plus an
additional 4” per 10,000 volts greater than 50,000 volts.

4  500,000 − 50,000 
10 +   = 25 feet
12  10,000 

The correct solution is C.

12. The future value of money spent today is given by: F = P(1 + i)n

where:
F = the future value
P = present day value (or principal)
i = interest rate per period
n = the number of periods (in this case, periods = years)

F = $500,000(1 + 0.06)10 = $895,000

The correct solution is D.

13. The airflow does not change.

A1V1=A2V2

Q1=Q2

The correct solution is B.

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14. Step 1: Convert gauge pressure to absolute pressure.

2000 psig – 14.7 psig = 1985.3 psi

Step 2: Use the ideal gas law to determine the gas volume at normal
atmospheric pressure.

P1V1 = P2V2

(1985.3 psi)(1 ft3) = (14.7 psi)V2

(1985.3 psi )(1 ft 3 )

V2 = = 135 ft3
14.7 psi

Step 3: Convert the volume to liters.

1 liter
135 ft 3 = 3,823 liters
0.03531 ft 3

Step 4: Determine the number of minutes available.

3,823 liters
= 637 minutes
6 liters
min

The correct solution is C.

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15. Torque is defined as the product of the force applied perpendicularly to a
lever arm and the length of the lever arm.

Step 1:

Determine the force applied perpendicularly to the lever arm by splitting

the force of gravity (arrow B) into the perpendicular component (arrow A)
and the parallel component (arrow C).

Force Arrow A
Cos 85o = A
Weight

Force Arrow A
Cos 85o =
200 lbs C

(200 lbs)(Cos 85o) = Force of Arrow A B

Force of Arrow A = 17.4 lbs

200
Step 2:

Calculate the torque.

Torque = Perpendicular force x Length

Torque = (17.4 lbs)(50 ft) = 872 ft-lbs

The correct solution is D.

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16. Step 1: Calculate the dose of the exposure.
n
Ci
D = 1∑
i =1 Ti
where:

Ci = exposure time for the ith sound level

Ti = maximum exposure time allowed by OSHA for ith sound level

OSHA allowed exposure times:

80 dBA 32 hours
90 dBA 8 hours
95 dBA 4 hours

 2 2 1 3
D =100  + + +  = 93.75
 32 8 4 8 

 D 
Step 2: Calculate the TWA TWA = 16.61 log10   + 90
 100 

TWA = 16.61 log(0.9375) + 90 = 89.5 dBA

The best solution is B.

17. c = λf

c 3x10 8 m/s
λ= = = 0.0048 m = 0.48 cm
f 62x10 9 /s

The correct solution is A.

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18. A worker hanging from a harness,
(especially one that is unconscious), is at
great risk of suffering from orthostatic
intolerance. This is a condition caused
by poor circulation of the blood. A very
brief explanation of what happens is that
the blood that has not circulated has very
low oxygen levels. When the person is
moved, and the blood starts to circulate
again, the blood with low oxygen levels
can cause major problems (even death).

A better explanation is found on the

OSHA website
http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib0324
04.pdf.

Companies using a harness as fall

protection need to have a plan to rescue
workers quickly if they’ve fallen.

The correct solution is B.

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19. The weight of the ladder is being supported at both ends. Some of the
weight is supported at the foot and the rest of the weight is supported on
the wall.

As the angle of the ladder increases, more of the weight is transferred to

the foot of the ladder. This increases the normal forces of the foot.

Frictional forces are calculated by the product of the friction coefficient

between the surface and the foot of the ladder and the normal force of the
ladder.

Ff = µN

Since the normal forces are increasing, the frictional forces also increase.
Of course, this means there is less weight (and less friction) on the wall.
The ladder is more likely to move sideways.

The correct solution is A.

Ladder
Ladder

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20. Step 1: Determine the dose rate at a distance of 50 feet.
2
d 
I 2 = I1  1 
 d2 
2
 10 ft 
I 2 = 0.2 mrad/hr  = 0.008 mrad/hr
 50 ft 

Step 2: Determine the dose.

Dose = dose rate x time

Dose = (0.008 mrad/hr)(4 hrs) = 0.032 mrad

The correct solution is B.

21. Carpal tunnel syndrome is an illness related to the carpal tunnel on the
palm-side of the wrist.

A ganglion cyst is a bump that may show up at the joints or tendons in the
hand.

Trigger finger is a musculoskeletal disorder characterized by the snapping,

jerky motions of the finger.

DeQuervain’s disease is characterized by an inflammation of tendons at

the base of the thumb.

The correct solution is C.

22. The probability of A failing during 10 years is 0.01.

The probability of B failing during 10 years is 1-0.99910 = 9.96 x 10-3 ≅ 0.01
The probability of both A & B failing during 10 years is 0.01 x 0.01 = 10-4.
The probability of C failing during 10 years is 1 – 0.999992 ≅ 2 x 10-5.
The probability of D failing during 10 years is 10-7.

The probability of the process failing during 10 years

is 10-4 + 2 x 10 -5 + 10-7 ≅ 10-4.

The correct solution is D.

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23. Changing the duct size to the hood will not affect the hood capture
velocity.

Changing the hood to a slot hood will likely decrease the capture velocity.

The best solution is C.

24. Solve this problem by determining the airflow necessary for each
contaminant and add the airflows together.

The mixing factor is assumed to be 1.

Xylene evaporation rate =0.80 (1.2 pints/min) = 0.96 pints/min

Methylene chloride evaporation rate = 0.2 (1.2 pints/min) = 0.24 pints/min

403 x 10 6 x SG x ER x K
Q=
MW x C
403 x 10 6 x 0.87 x 0.96 x 1
Q xylene = = 31,700 cfm
106.17 x 100
403 x 10 6 x 1.318 x 0.24 x 1
Q methylene chloride = = 30,000 cfm
84.93 x 50

QTotal = 31,700 cfm + 30,000 cfm = 61,700 cfm

The correct solution is C.

25. The maximum length of a dead-end corridor using sprinkler protection is

50 ft. in a mercantile occupancy.

The correct solution is D.

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26. The WB is wet bulb which the temperature of a thermometer with its bulb
kept wet with a wick. It is a measure of the heat loss through evaporation.

The DB is the dry bulb. It measures the dry air temperature.

The GT is the globe temperature which the temperature measured by a

thermometer with its bulb kept in a globe painted flat black. It is a
measure of the radiant energy.

The correct solution is C.

27. Plaintiffs in a product liability lawsuit must show that the product was
defective, the defect existed when it left the defendant’s hands, and the
defect caused the injury or harm.

Warranty liability includes merchantability and fitness for a particular

purpose. Implied warranty is a branch of contract law. Merchantability
applies to companies that normally offer a product. There is an implied
warranty that the product meets some level of quality and is safe to use.

Negligence lawsuits must show the defendant had a duty to provide a

product free of the claimed defect and was negligent in performing that
duty. Negligence is a behavior and can be difficult to prove.

A manufacturer is strictly liable in tort when the company sold a product

with a defect and the defect caused an injury. It does not deal with the
behavior of the company.

The best solution is C.

B is also a possible solution, but we would need to know more information

before determining negligence.

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28. Use this equation to determine the sound intensity at a 10 ft distance.

D 
dB1 = dB 0 + 20log 0 
 D1 
where:

dB0 = sound intensity at reference distance

dB1 = sound intensity at new distance
D0 = reference distance
D1 = new distance

 2 ft 
dB1 = 93 dB + 20log  = 79 dB
 10 ft 

The correct solution is A.

29. Theory X assumes that workers do not really want to work. They must be
externally motivated to work with a system of rewards and discipline.

Theory Y assumes that workers are self-motivated and only need the
proper tools and goals to achieve the desired result.

Theory Z assumes that work is best conducted in a group type setting.

Abraham Maslow developed a motivational theory of “The Hierarchy of

Needs”. Self actualization is the highest priority of persons who have
already satisfied needs lower down on the hierarchy.

The correct solution is A.

30. The clearance is necessary to protect the head in the event a heavy object
is dropped on the head.

The correct solution is B.

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31. The pressure of a liquid in a tank is given by this equation:

P = ρgh
where:

P = pressure
ρ = liquid density h
g = acceleration due to gravity
h = height of liquid

ρg = 62.4 lbs/ft3 for water

Benzene ρg = 0.87 (62.4 lbs/ft3) = 54.3

lbs/ft3

h = 20 ft – 2 ft = 18 ft

P = (54.3 lbs/ft3)(18 ft) = 977.4 lbs/ft2

Now convert lbs/ft2 to psi

 977.4 lbs  ft 
2
 2 
  = 6.8 psi
2 
 ft  144 in 

The correct solution is B.

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32. The equation to solve this problem is given below.

Q T −T 
H= = kA 1 2 
Δt  L 
where:

H = heat flow (BTU/HR)

k = thermal conductivity (Btu/h-ft-F)
A = Area (ft2)
T = temperature (R or F)
L = thickness (ft)

A = πDH + 2  πD  = 3.14(8 ft)(15ft) + 2  π (8 ft )  = 477.3 ft2

 2
  2

 4   4 
T1 = 140 F
T2 = 70 F
L = 2 in(1 ft/12 in) = 0.167 ft

Q  140 F − 70 F 
H=
Δt
( )
= (25 BTU/h − ft − F) 477.3 ft 2   = 5.00 x 106 BTU/hr
 0.167 ft 

The correct solution is C.

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33. The total power supplied by the circuit = 3 x 1500 watts = 4500 watts.
The equation that relates power, voltage and current is given below:

P=V•I

where:

P = power (watts)
V = voltage (volts)
I = current (amps)

4500 watts = 110 V • I

4500
I= = 41 amps
110

The correct solution is C.

34. The correct solution is C.

35. An alpha particle is composed of 2 neutrons and 2 protons.

A beta particle is an electron.

A photon has no mass.

The correct solution is A.

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36. Both components must fail for the system to fail since the components are
wired in parallel.

P(A failing) = 1 – 0.9 = 0.1

P(B failing) = 1 – 0.9 = 0.1

P(A failing and B failing) = 0.1 x 0.1 = 0.01

P(system success) = 1 – P(A failing and B failing) = 1 – 0.01 = 0.99

The correct solution is C.

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37. The equation to solve this problem is
 G − Q' C 2  Q' (t 2 − t1 )
ln =−

 G − Q' C1  V
where:

G = generation rate (cfm)

Q’ = effective airflow (cfm)
C1 = initial concentration (dimensionless)
C2 = final concentration (dimensionless)
V = room volume (ft3)
t2 – t1 = change in time (minutes)

The values in this problem are:

V = 10 ft x 15 ft x 8 ft = 1200 ft3
C1 = 5 ppb = 5 x 10-9
C2 = 3 ppm = 3 x 10-6
t2 – t1 = 2 hours = 120 min
6 x 1200 ft 3
Q’ = 6 room changes/hour x (1200 ft3) = = 120 cfm
60min
(
 G − 120 3x10 −6 
ln =−
)
120(120 )
( −9 
 G − 120 5x10  1200 )
(
 G − 360x10 −6 
ln  = −12
)
( −9 
 G − 600x10  )
(
G − 360 x 10 −6 )
= e −12
(
G − 600 x 10 −9
)
G − (360 x 10 −6 ) = e −12 (G − (600 x 10 −9 ))
( )
G − Ge −12 = 360x10 −6 - e −12 600 x 10 −9
G (1 − e ) = 360x10 - e (600 x 10 )
−12 −6 −12 −9

360x10 - e (600 x 10 )
−6 −12 −9
−4
G= = 3.60 x 10
1 − e −12

The correct solution is B.

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38. 1 atm = 760 mm Hg

The partial pressure of oxygen for Sam is 0.19 x 760 mm Hg =

144.4 mm Hg.

Oxygen is generally considered to make up 20.9% of the atmosphere.

The partial pressure of oxygen for Bart is 0.209 x 450 mm Hg =

94.05 mm Hg.

While the oxygen concentration of Bart’s breathing zone is higher than

Sam’s, he actually has less oxygen available on the mountain.

The correct solution is A.

39. Tools should be well balanced.

Tools should have slip resistant handles.
Tools should have handles that are thick enough to grip comfortably.

The correct solution is D.

40. Use this equation to use to solve this problem.

mg/m 3 x 24.45
ppm =
MW

1045 x 24.45
ppm = = 440 ppm
58.08

The correct solution is B.

41. Fire stops are used to prevent the hot gases in a fire from spreading
through the structures. Fire stops may be fire walls, and they may be
caulks or insulation placed in gaps between floors and rooms.

The correct solution is D.

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42. Physical bodies absorb the most energy at resonant frequencies. Each
body has specific resonant frequencies. Resonance has caused the
destruction of large structures including the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in
1940.

Resonant frequencies in the body are those frequencies at which the body
is most likely to absorb vibrational energy.

The correct solution is A.

43. The maximum time of exposure is given by this equation:

8
T= [( L −90 ) / 5 ]
2
where:

T = maximum time (hours)

L = sound level (dBA)

8
T= [(98−90 ) / 5 ] = 2.639 hours = 158 minutes
2

The correct solution is B.

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44. The way to solve this problem is to calculate the maximum torque on the
crane when the crane is at an 85 degree angle.

Torque = length of lever arm x force perpendicular to lever arm

Torque = 100 ft x 20,000 lbs x cos 85o = 174,000 ft-lbs

Now if the maximum torque = 174,000 ft-lbs, what is the maximum

perpendicular force if the angle with the ground is zero?

174,000 ft-lbs = 100 ft x unknown x cos 0o

174,000 ft − lbs
unknown = = 1740 lbs
100 ft

The best solution is A. (One problem with this solution is that we are
neglecting the weight of the boom. This would make the maximum lifting
capacity even less.)

45. A diagram of the system is given below.

A
C D

P(A and B failing) = P(A failing) x P(B failing) = 0.002 x 0.002 = 4 x 10-6

Probability of the system failing = P(A and B failing) + P(C failing) + P(D
failing)

Probability of the system failing = 4 x 10-6 + 0.0001 + 0.0001 = 2.04 x 10-4

The correct solution is C.

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46. A tremendous amount of energy is released during an arc flash.
Employees exposed to arc flashes frequently receive very severe burns.

The correct solution is B.

47. The U section of each clip should be on the dead (short end) of the rope.
Remember the saying “never saddle a dead horse.”

The correct solution is B.

48. The OSHA PEL is 90 dBA.

Use 29 CFR 1910.95 Appendix B to determine the correct value.

104 – 90 = 14

The correct solution is A.

49. The equation to solve this problem is:

Q2
pv =
891d 4
where:

Q = discharge flow rate (gpm)

pv = pressure drop (psig)
d = discharge diameter (inches)

Q2
16.2 =
891(3)
4

Q= (16.2)(891)(3)4 = 1081 gpm

The correct solution is not presented.

The best choice is A.

50. Behavior-based safety is based on the measurement of safe behaviors in

the workplace. It is an employee-driven process that will only succeed
with the active participation of employees.

The correct solution is D.

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