GRADE 9 Pre-technical – HANDLING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE Quiz
1. What is a hazardous substance?
A hazardous substance is any material that can cause injury, illness, damage or pollution if handled incorrectly. It is not limited to explosives or factory-only materials.
2. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is most suitable to protect your hands when handling corrosive chemicals?
Chemical-resistant or appropriate disposable gloves (such as latex or nitrile when suitable) protect skin from corrosive substances; cotton or wool do not provide sufficient protection.
3. What should you check before using a chemical in the school laboratory?
The SDS or label provides information on hazards, safe handling, storage, first aid and disposal, which is essential before using any chemical.
4. Which symbol indicates a substance is flammable?
A flame pictogram is used to show that a substance can easily catch fire. Other symbols represent different hazards (poison, environmental hazard, health hazard).
5. Why must hazardous substances be stored in labeled containers?
Clear labels help users and emergency responders know what is inside the container and how to handle it safely; neatness or weight is not the primary reason.
6. What is the safest action if you spill a small amount of a liquid chemical on the bench?
Reporting the spill to the teacher ensures it is cleaned up correctly using the right materials and PPE; smelling or ignoring a spill can be dangerous.
7. Which of the following is a correct rule when handling hazardous substances?
Eating or drinking in such areas risks ingesting harmful chemicals. Washing hands after handling is important and eating should be avoided entirely in those areas.
8. What should you do if a chemical splashes into your eye?
Rinsing the eye with water right away helps remove the chemical; rubbing or covering can worsen injury. A teacher or medical help must be informed immediately.
9. What is the purpose of ventilation when working with hazardous substances?
Good ventilation or a fume hood helps remove toxic vapours and reduces the risk of breathing in dangerous substances.
10. When transporting a hazardous chemical from the store to the lab, you should:
Using a spill tray and keeping containers closed and upright reduces the chance of spills and exposure while transporting hazardous chemicals.
11. Which sign indicates a substance is corrosive?
The pictogram showing liquid damaging a hand and surface means the substance is corrosive and can burn skin or damage materials.
12. What is an important part of disposing of hazardous waste in school?
Proper disposal procedures ensure hazardous waste is handled safely and legally; pouring down drains or mixing wastes can cause pollution and danger.
13. Why should you never mix chemicals unless instructed and supervised?
Unsupervised mixing can cause violent reactions, heat, explosions, or toxic gases. Only trained personnel with instructions should mix chemicals.
14. What information is NOT usually found on a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?
An SDS provides hazards, composition, handling, storage and first aid details. It does not include retail pricing information.
15. If you discover a broken container with a chemical leak, your first action should be to:
Leaving the area and alerting others reduces exposure risk; the teacher or supervisor will follow proper emergency procedures. Smelling or attempting cleanup without training is dangerous.
16. Which practice helps prevent contamination when handling hazardous substances?
Clean, appropriate gloves reduce contamination and should be changed if soiled. Bare hands or sharing gloves increases the risk of exposure.
17. What does the skull and crossbones symbol mean on a chemical label?
The skull and crossbones pictogram warns that a substance is toxic and can cause severe health effects or death if ingested, inhaled or absorbed.
18. Who should supervise students when they handle hazardous substances in school?
A trained teacher or lab technician has the knowledge to ensure safe procedures, correct PPE use and to respond to emergencies; untrained supervision is unsafe.
19. Why is it important to keep incompatible chemicals apart in storage?
Some chemicals react violently, produce heat or toxic gases when combined. Storing incompatible chemicals apart reduces the risk of accidental reactions.
20. Which action shows correct behaviour when using a hazardous substance for school work?
Following instructions and wearing PPE ensures safety. Tasting, guessing amounts or working carelessly are dangerous practices.
21. What should you do immediately after handling hazardous substances, even if you wore gloves?
Washing hands removes any contamination that may have occurred despite wearing gloves and reduces the risk of accidental ingestion or skin exposure.
22. How should small amounts of broken glass from a container that held a hazardous chemical be cleaned up?
Using tools and PPE prevents cuts and exposure; the waste must be disposed of following the school's hazardous waste procedures, not with general waste or by hand.
23. Which of the following is a correct sign of a laboratory emergency involving chemicals?
Unusual smells, fumes or visible injuries indicate an emergency that requires immediate action and reporting. Quiet or routine events are not necessarily emergencies.
24. Why do we keep hazardous substances in locked or secure stores in schools?
Secure storage prevents pupils or untrained people from accessing dangerous chemicals, reducing the chance of misuse and accidents.
25. What information should you give when reporting a chemical incident to the teacher or emergency services?
Location, substance identity and information about injuries help responders act quickly and appropriately. Irrelevant personal details are not helpful.