Industrial Safety: Fire hazards, extinguishers and emergency response MCQs With Answer

Industrial Safety: Fire hazards, extinguishers and emergency response MCQs With Answer

This set of MCQs is tailored for M.Pharm students studying MPC 204T Pharmaceutical Process Chemistry. It focuses on fire hazards commonly encountered in pharmaceutical labs and production areas, the science behind fire behavior, selection and mechanism of various extinguishing agents, and practical emergency response procedures. Questions probe deep into classification of fires (A, B, C, D, K), extinguisher types (water, foam, CO2, dry chemical, wet chemical, metal powders, clean agents), and workplace controls such as grounding, ventilation and storage. Also covered are regulatory concepts, NFPA coding, and hands-on response protocols (RACE, PASS), preparing students for safe process design and incident management.

Q1. Which class of fire specifically involves combustible metals such as sodium, magnesium, and lithium commonly encountered in specialty reagent handling?

• Class A
• Class B
• Class C
• Class D

Correct Answer: Class D

Q2. The fundamental components of the fire triangle are fuel, heat and oxygen. Which additional element is included in the fire tetrahedron concept that explains sustained combustion?

• Radiation
• Chain reaction
• Vapor pressure
• Heat capacity

Correct Answer: Chain reaction

Q3. Which of the following extinguishing agents works primarily by cooling the burning material and is unsuitable for Class B liquid fires?

• Water (spray)
• Carbon dioxide
• Foam (AFFF)
• Dry chemical (ABC)

Correct Answer: Water (spray)

Q4. In a pharmaceutical manufacturing area handling flammable solvents, which administrative control best reduces the risk of static discharge igniting vapors during drum-to-drum transfer?

• Using grounded and bonded transfer pumps and hoses
• Heating the solvent to reduce viscosity
• Keeping windows open for cross-ventilation
• Using wooden platforms for insulation

Correct Answer: Using grounded and bonded transfer pumps and hoses

Q5. A CO2 extinguisher is chosen for which of these applications in a lab environment?

• Extinguishing a deep-seated metal fire
• Suppressing a Class C electrical equipment fire
• Cooling hot oil in a kettle
• Suppressing a large outdoor solvent pool fire

Correct Answer: Suppressing a Class C electrical equipment fire

Q6. The PASS technique for operating portable extinguishers stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. Which part describes where to direct the agent on a Class B liquid fire?

• Aim at the base of the flames or near the leading edge of the burning liquid
• Aim at the top of the flame to knock down heat
• Aim at the ceiling to create a foam blanket
• Aim away from the fire to avoid splashback

Correct Answer: Aim at the base of the flames or near the leading edge of the burning liquid

Q7. For fires involving cooking oils and fats (commercially relevant to certain pharma pilot plants), which extinguisher class and agent is most appropriate?

• Class A — Water
• Class B — CO2
• Class K — Wet chemical (potassium acetate/alginate)
• Class D — Dry powder

Correct Answer: Class K — Wet chemical (potassium acetate/alginate)

Q8. Which statement about dry chemical (ABC) extinguishers is correct and relevant to pharmaceutical electrical equipment fires?

• They cool the fire by large water content
• They interrupt the chemical chain reaction and are effective on A, B and C fires
• They are the primary choice for metal fires (Class D)
• They leave no residue and are ideal for sterile environments

Correct Answer: They interrupt the chemical chain reaction and are effective on A, B and C fires

Q9. What is the primary hazard from smoke in an enclosed fire incident in a pharmaceutical plant?

• Loss of visibility only
• Toxic gases and asphyxiation risk
• Increase in ambient humidity
• Accelerated corrosion of metal structures

Correct Answer: Toxic gases and asphyxiation risk

Q10. Which parameter defines the flammability range of a solvent vapor in air and is critical for assessing explosion risk?

• Boiling point
• Lower and Upper Explosive Limits (LEL and UEL)
• Vapor pressure at 0°C
• Dielectric constant

Correct Answer: Lower and Upper Explosive Limits (LEL and UEL)

Q11. For alkali metal fires (e.g., sodium, potassium), which extinguishing powder is commonly specified in chemical labs?

• Standard ABC monoammonium phosphate powder
• Carbon dioxide gas
• Sodium chloride based dry powder
• Water mist

Correct Answer: Sodium chloride based dry powder

Q12. Which clean agent is commonly used as a Halon alternative for protecting sensitive instrumentation rooms in pharmaceutical facilities?

• Halon 1211
• FM-200 (HFC-227ea)
• Carbon tetrachloride
• Chlorofluorocarbon-11

Correct Answer: FM-200 (HFC-227ea)

Q13. According to emergency response principles, what does RACE stand for and which step is first in that sequence?

• Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish — Rescue
• Run, Alert, Control, Evacuate — Run
• Remove, Air, Contain, Extinguish — Remove
• React, Assist, Communicate, Exit — React

Correct Answer: Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish — Rescue

Q14. Which sprinkler system type is most suitable for areas with corrosive atmospheres or where freezing is possible?

• Wet pipe system
• Dry pipe system
• Deluge system
• Water mist system

Correct Answer: Dry pipe system

Q15. Which NFPA 704 diamond section identifies health hazard and uses a numeric scale where 4 indicates a severe hazard?

• Red (Flammability)
• Blue (Health)
• Yellow (Instability)
• White (Special hazards)

Correct Answer: Blue (Health)

Q16. In selection of foam for large hydrocarbon spills in an outdoor loading area, which foam type provides rapid vapor suppression and fuel tolerance?

• Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)
• Protein foam
• Water only
• Carbon dioxide

Correct Answer: Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)

Q17. Which of the following is the most important document to consult for handling a newly received hazardous reagent to understand its fire and reactivity hazards?

• Purchase order
• Material Safety Data Sheet / Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
• Invoice from supplier
• Product brochure

Correct Answer: Material Safety Data Sheet / Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Q18. Which emergency respiratory protection is recommended for interior structural firefighting and potentially toxic atmospheres in pharmaceutical incidents?

• N95 particulate mask
• Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
• Half-face elastomeric respirator with P100
• Disposable surgical mask

Correct Answer: Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)

Q19. Which storage practice reduces the overall fire risk in a solvent storage room in a pharmaceutical plant?

• Stacking drums up to ceiling height without aisles
• Segregating oxidizers from flammables and using spill containment
• Storing flammable liquids near main electrical panels
• Keeping open containers to allow solvent off-gassing

Correct Answer: Segregating oxidizers from flammables and using spill containment

Q20. Which measurement on an extinguisher label indicates its suitability for a Class B (flammable liquid) fire by denoting coverage area in square feet?

• Numerical Class A rating (e.g., 2A)
• Numerical Class B rating (e.g., 20B)
• Pressure gauge color
• Weight of the extinguisher in kg

Correct Answer: Numerical Class B rating (e.g., 20B)

Download