AV Safety Prelim Exams

Fire Triangle

A concept representing the three elements required to ignite and sustain a fire: Heat, Fuel, and Oxygen.

Fuel

Any combustible material.

Heat

The energy required to raise the fuel to its ignition temperature.

Oxygen

Supports the chemical reaction of a fire.

Fire Tetrahedron

Formed when a fourth element, the Chemical Chain Reaction, is added to the Fire Triangle.

Chemical Chain Reaction

The reaction that sustains the fire's ability to produce its own heat.

Class A

Fires involving ordinary combustible materials like wood, paper, cloth, trash, and plastics.

Class B

Fires involving flammable liquids and gases such as gasoline, oil, propane, and solvents.

Class C

Fires involving energized electrical equipment, which can become Class A or B fires once the power is de-energized.

Class D

Fires involving combustible metals like magnesium, titanium, and sodium.

Class K

Fires involving cooking oils and fats in commercial cooking equipment.

Water Extinguishers (Class A)

Work by cooling the fuel below its ignition temperature.

Water Extinguishers (Class A)

Should never be used on electrical or flammable liquid fires.

Dry Chemical Extinguishers (Classes A, B, and C)

Work by interrupting the chemical chain reaction.

Dry Chemical Extinguishers (Classes A, B, and C)

The most common multi-purpose extinguishers.

CO2 Extinguishers (Classes B and C)

Work by displacing oxygen and cooling the fire.

CO2 Extinguishers (Classes B and C)

Good for electrical fires because they leave no residue.

Foam Extinguishers (Classes A and B)

Create a barrier between the oxygen and the fuel, and also cool the fire.

Wet Chemical Extinguishers (Class K)

Specifically designed for kitchen fires.

Wet Chemical Extinguishers (Class K)

Work by creating a soapy foam layer that cools and smothers the fire.

Carbon tetrachloride (Halon 104)

An extremely toxic chemical with the chemical formula CCl4 and an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) toxicity rating of 3.

Methyl bromide (Halon 1001)

A liquefied gas with the chemical formula CH3Br and a UL toxicity rating of 2.

Methyl bromide (Halon 1001)

Very toxic and corrosive to aluminum alloys, magnesium, and zinc, and not recommended for aircraft use.

Chlorobromomethane (Halon 1011)

A liquefied gas with the chemical formula CH2ClBr and a UL toxicity rating of 3, which is not recommended for aircraft use.

Dibromodifluoromethane (Halon 1202)

A chemical with the chemical formula CBr2F2 and a UL toxicity rating of 4, which is not recommended for aircraft use.

Bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211)

A colorless, non-corrosive liquefied gas with the chemical formula CBrClF2 and a UL toxicity rating of 5.

Bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211)

Evaporates rapidly, leaving no residue, and does not freeze, cause cold burns, or harm fabrics, metals, or other materials.

Bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211)

Acts rapidly on fires by producing a heavy blanketing mist that eliminates oxygen from the fire source.

Bromotrifluoromethane (Halon 1301)

A liquefied gas with the chemical formula CF3Br and a UL toxicity rating of 6.

Bromotrifluoromethane (Halon 1301)

Has all the characteristics of Halon 1211, except that it has a vapor spray that is more difficult to direct.

Dry Powder Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers that are effective on Class B and C fires, but are best for use on Class D fires.

Foam Fire Extinguishers

Extinguishers suitable for use on Class A solid combustible fires and Class B flammable liquid fires.

Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers

The most common fire extinguishers in the home.

P.A.S.S. Method

The standard procedure for using a fire extinguisher.

Industrial Hygiene

The science of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling workplace conditions that may cause workers to become injured or ill.

Chemical Hazards

Exposure to chemicals in the form of gases, vapors, liquids, or solids.

Physical Hazards

Exposure to things like noise, temperature extremes, radiation, and vibration.

Biological Hazards

Exposure to living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites.

Indoor Air Quality

A workplace condition that can be impacted by pollution from machines or tools inside, highway pollution outside, dusts from mechanical processes, or gases.

Chemical Exposure

Chemical hazards taking many forms, from liquid to fumes to dusts, that can be absorbed, inhaled, or ingested into a worker's system.

Ergonomics

The study of people at work.

Noise

An environmental stressor consisting of both wanted and unwanted sound, where long-term exposure can lead to hearing loss for workers.

Temperature

An environmental stressor where both high and low temperatures can cause problems for workers.

Heat stroke

A medical emergency that requires immediate attention and can occur if temperatures are too high.

Radiation

An environmental stressor divided into non-ionizing radiation and ionizing radiation.

Non-ionizing radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and laser radiation, which are most likely to cause safety concerns (usually burns) for workers.

Ionizing radiation

Radiation that can cause more considerable health risks for workers, found in settings ranging from health care facilities to nuclear reactors.

Eliminating or Controlling Hazards

A systematic approach to eliminating or minimizing the potential hazard once hazardous conditions have been identified.

Hazard Communication

A system designed to ensure that employers and employees have the information they need to handle chemicals safely.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Detailed documents that provide comprehensive information about a specific chemical, including its properties, hazards, and safety precautions.

Labels

Standardized labels (following the GHS system or Risk Diamond) that provide immediate, critical information including a signal word, pictograms, and hazard statements.

Globally Harmonized System (GHS)

A system providing a universal approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information via standardized labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

Exploding Bomb

GHS pictogram representing explosives, self-reactive substances, or organic peroxides.

Flame

GHS pictogram representing flammables, pyrophorics, self-heating substances, or organic peroxides.

Flame Over Circle

GHS pictogram representing oxidizers.

Gas Cylinder

GHS pictogram representing gases under pressure.

Corrosion

GHS pictogram representing skin corrosion/burns, eye damage, or substances corrosive to metals.

Skull & Crossbones

GHS pictogram representing acute toxicity (fatal or toxic).

Exclamation Mark

GHS pictogram representing skin irritants, eye irritants, or narcotic effects.

Health Hazard

GHS pictogram representing carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins, respiratory sensitizers, or target organ toxicity.

Environment

GHS pictogram representing aquatic toxicity (non-mandatory for U.S. use).

Risk Diamond (or Fire Diamond)

The NFPA 704 Hazard Identification System, which is a standard for identifying the hazards of materials for emergency responders.

Blue Quadrant (Health)

Indicates the level of health hazard on the NFPA 704 Risk Diamond.

Red Quadrant (Flammability)

Indicates the material's susceptibility to burning on the NFPA 704 Risk Diamond.

Yellow Quadrant (Reactivity/Instability)

Indicates how readily the material can undergo chemical reaction or detonation on the NFPA 704 Risk Diamond.

White Quadrant (Special Hazards)

Contains symbols indicating specific risks on the NFPA 704 Risk Diamond.

W (with a line through it)

White quadrant Risk Diamond symbol indicating that the material reacts with water in a dangerous manner.

OX

White quadrant Risk Diamond symbol indicating an oxidizer.

SA

White quadrant Risk Diamond symbol indicating a simple asphyxiant gas.

RAD

White quadrant Risk Diamond symbol indicating radiation.

ALK

White quadrant Risk Diamond symbol indicating alkali materials.

Acid

White quadrant Risk Diamond symbol indicating acidic materials.

CARC

White quadrant Risk Diamond symbol indicating carcinogenic materials.

Hazardous materials

Substances that, because of their chemical, physical, or biological nature, pose a risk to people, property, or the environment.

Flammable/Combustible Materials

Hazardous materials that can easily ignite.

Toxic Materials

Substances that can cause harm when inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin.

Corrosive Materials

Substances that can cause damage by chemical action to living tissue or other materials.

Reactive Materials

Substances that can undergo a chemical reaction that releases energy, such as an explosion.

Proactive Safety

A continuous process of preventing accidents before they happen, not just a reaction to accidents.

Hazard

A condition, object, or activity with the potential to cause injury to personnel, damage to equipment or structures, loss of material, or a reduction in the ability to perform a function.

Hazard

Sources of harm in aviation that can be technical (e.g., a faulty component), human (e.g., fatigue), or environmental (e.g., severe weather).

Safety Risk

A ____ is the projected likelihood and severity of the consequences of a hazardous event.

Safety Risk

____ = Likelihood (How probable is it?) x Severity (How bad could it be?).

Risk

The likelihood and severity of a potential problem occurring.

Safety Management

Effective ____ is the process of reducing risk to an acceptable level.

Safety Management System (SMS)

An organizational system for safety, of which the SRM process is a foundational component.

Safety Risk Management (SRM) Process

A structured, cyclical approach for making informed decisions about risk.

Hazard Identification

The initial, critical phase of the SRM process.

Proactive Methods (Hazard Identification)

Audits, safety surveys, hazard reporting systems, and predictive data analysis.

Reactive Methods (Hazard Identification)

Incident and accident investigations, and mandatory occurrence reporting.

Risk Analysis

Once a hazard is identified, the phase where we analyze the associated risk.

Likelihood

How often do we expect this event to occur? (e.g., Improbable, Remote, Occasional, Frequent).

Severity

What would be the outcome if the event happened? (e.g., Negligible, Minor, Major, Catastrophic).

Risk Evaluation

This step compares the assessed risk against the organization's pre-determined risk tolerability criteria.

Risk Matrix

A tool used by organizations to visually evaluate risks and determine their acceptability.

Catastrophic

Equipment destroyed; multiple deaths.

Hazardous

A large reduction in safety margins, physical distress or a workload such that the operators cannot be relied upon to perform their tasks accurately or completely; serious injury; major equipment damage.

Major

A significant reduction in safety margins, a reduction in the ability of the operators to cope with adverse operating conditions as a result of increase in workload, or as a result of conditions impairing their efficiency; serious incident; injury to persons.

Minor

Nuisance; operating limitations; use of emergency procedures; ____ incident.

Negligible

Little consequences.