Massachusetts Wastewater Practice Exam

In an emergency involving a chemical, which document should be readily available?

1. Incident report

2. Emergency response plan

3. First aid manual

4. Safety data sheet

The correct answer is: Safety data sheet

In an emergency involving a chemical, the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) should be readily available. The SDS contains essential information about the chemical, including its properties, potential hazards, safe handling practices, and emergency response measures. This document provides crucial guidance in understanding how to respond appropriately to chemical exposures or spills, such as recommended protective measures, first aid procedures, and firefighting techniques, which are vital for ensuring the safety of responders and minimizing exposure risks. While the emergency response plan outlines overall procedures and protocols for handling emergencies, it may not provide specific details about the chemical involved. The incident report is typically created after an event has occurred and is not useful in immediate response scenarios. The first aid manual, although beneficial for general first aid procedures, does not specifically address the chemical hazards or the particular actions required to manage a chemical emergency effectively. Thus, having the SDS on hand is critical for making informed decisions during a chemical emergency.