AIEHS Certified Process Safety Management
CPSMP Exam
**Question 1. Which of the following best distinguishes process safety from occupational
safety?**
A) Process safety focuses on personal protective equipment.
B) Occupational safety deals with loss of containment incidents.
C) Process safety aims to prevent catastrophic releases of hazardous material.
D) Occupational safety is concerned with equipment design.
Answer: C
Explanation: Process safety is concerned with preventing events that could lead to loss of
containment, fire, explosion, or toxic release, whereas occupational safety typically addresses
slip, trip, and personal injury hazards.
**Question 2. Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119, which of the following is NOT a required element
of a Process Safety Management (PSM) program?**
A) Process hazard analysis.
B) Employee participation.
C) Noise exposure monitoring.
D) Mechanical integrity.
Answer: C
Explanation: Noise exposure monitoring falls under occupational safety regulations, not a
required element of PSM, which focuses on process hazards.
**Question 3. The EPA Risk Management Program (RMP) applies to facilities that store or use a
chemical above its threshold quantity. Which of the following is the correct definition of a
threshold quantity (TQ)?**
A) The smallest amount of a chemical that can be detected by standard analytical methods.
B) The amount of a chemical that triggers reporting and RMP requirements.
C) The maximum amount of a chemical a worker may be exposed to in an 8‑hour shift.
, AIEHS Certified Process Safety Management
CPSMP Exam
D) The volume of a chemical that can be stored in a standard 55‑gallon drum.
Answer: B
Explanation: A threshold quantity is the minimum amount of a highly hazardous chemical that
requires a facility to comply with RMP regulations, including reporting and prevention planning.
**Question 4. Which of the following pillars is NOT part of the Center for Chemical Process
Safety (CCPS) Risk‑Based Process Safety (RBPS) framework?**
A) Process Knowledge Management.
B) Asset Integrity Management.
C) Incident Investigation.
D) Environmental Impact Assessment.
Answer: D
Explanation: The RBPS pillars include Process Knowledge Management, Hazard Identification,
Risk Assessment, Risk Management, Management of Change, Operational Discipline, Incident
Investigation, and Emergency Management, but not a dedicated Environmental Impact
Assessment pillar.
**Question 5. In determining whether a chemical is subject to OSHA’s PSM program, which of
the following criteria is considered?**
A) The chemical’s boiling point.
B) The chemical’s threshold quantity for a highly hazardous chemical.
C) The chemical’s color and odor.
D) The chemical’s market price.
Answer: B
Explanation: OSHA’s PSM applies when a chemical exceeds its defined threshold quantity for a
highly hazardous chemical, regardless of physical properties like boiling point.
, AIEHS Certified Process Safety Management
CPSMP Exam
**Question 6. Which document provides the most detailed information about the chemical
hazards of a substance used in a process?**
A) Process Flow Diagram (PFD).
B) Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
C) Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID).
D) Block Flow Diagram (BFD).
Answer: B
Explanation: The Safety Data Sheet contains comprehensive hazard information, including
toxicity, PELs, physical properties, reactivity, and handling precautions.
**Question 7. A Block Flow Diagram (BFD) is primarily used to:**
A) Show detailed instrumentation and control loops.
B) Illustrate the overall process steps and major unit operations.
C) Provide a line‑by‑line piping schedule.
D) Document electrical classification of equipment.
Answer: B
Explanation: BFDs present a high‑level view of the process, showing major unit operations and
material flow without detailed instrumentation.
**Question 8. Which of the following is NOT typically included in a Process Flow Diagram
(PFD)?**
A) Major equipment and streams.
B. Detailed valve and instrument tag numbers.
C) Operating conditions such as temperature and pressure.
D. Heat and material balances.
Answer: B
, AIEHS Certified Process Safety Management
CPSMP Exam
Explanation: Detailed valve and instrument tags are shown on P&IDs, while PFDs contain major
equipment, streams, and operating conditions.
**Question 9. The purpose of a Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) is to:**
A) Provide a high‑level overview of process chemistry.
B) Show the layout of the entire plant site.
C) Detail the piping, instrumentation, and control loops for a specific process area.
D) List the personnel required for operation.
Answer: C
Explanation: P&IDs depict the detailed arrangement of pipes, valves, instrumentation, and
control loops, essential for design, operation, and maintenance.
**Question 10. Which of the following codes is most commonly referenced for the design of
pressure vessels in the United States?**
A) API 650.
B) NFPA 30.
C) ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC).
D) OSHA 1910.119.
Answer: C
Explanation: The ASME BPVC provides the design, fabrication, and inspection requirements for
pressure vessels.
**Question 11. Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices (RAGAGEP) are
used to:**
A) Determine employee wages.
B) Guide the selection of personal protective equipment.
CPSMP Exam
**Question 1. Which of the following best distinguishes process safety from occupational
safety?**
A) Process safety focuses on personal protective equipment.
B) Occupational safety deals with loss of containment incidents.
C) Process safety aims to prevent catastrophic releases of hazardous material.
D) Occupational safety is concerned with equipment design.
Answer: C
Explanation: Process safety is concerned with preventing events that could lead to loss of
containment, fire, explosion, or toxic release, whereas occupational safety typically addresses
slip, trip, and personal injury hazards.
**Question 2. Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119, which of the following is NOT a required element
of a Process Safety Management (PSM) program?**
A) Process hazard analysis.
B) Employee participation.
C) Noise exposure monitoring.
D) Mechanical integrity.
Answer: C
Explanation: Noise exposure monitoring falls under occupational safety regulations, not a
required element of PSM, which focuses on process hazards.
**Question 3. The EPA Risk Management Program (RMP) applies to facilities that store or use a
chemical above its threshold quantity. Which of the following is the correct definition of a
threshold quantity (TQ)?**
A) The smallest amount of a chemical that can be detected by standard analytical methods.
B) The amount of a chemical that triggers reporting and RMP requirements.
C) The maximum amount of a chemical a worker may be exposed to in an 8‑hour shift.
, AIEHS Certified Process Safety Management
CPSMP Exam
D) The volume of a chemical that can be stored in a standard 55‑gallon drum.
Answer: B
Explanation: A threshold quantity is the minimum amount of a highly hazardous chemical that
requires a facility to comply with RMP regulations, including reporting and prevention planning.
**Question 4. Which of the following pillars is NOT part of the Center for Chemical Process
Safety (CCPS) Risk‑Based Process Safety (RBPS) framework?**
A) Process Knowledge Management.
B) Asset Integrity Management.
C) Incident Investigation.
D) Environmental Impact Assessment.
Answer: D
Explanation: The RBPS pillars include Process Knowledge Management, Hazard Identification,
Risk Assessment, Risk Management, Management of Change, Operational Discipline, Incident
Investigation, and Emergency Management, but not a dedicated Environmental Impact
Assessment pillar.
**Question 5. In determining whether a chemical is subject to OSHA’s PSM program, which of
the following criteria is considered?**
A) The chemical’s boiling point.
B) The chemical’s threshold quantity for a highly hazardous chemical.
C) The chemical’s color and odor.
D) The chemical’s market price.
Answer: B
Explanation: OSHA’s PSM applies when a chemical exceeds its defined threshold quantity for a
highly hazardous chemical, regardless of physical properties like boiling point.
, AIEHS Certified Process Safety Management
CPSMP Exam
**Question 6. Which document provides the most detailed information about the chemical
hazards of a substance used in a process?**
A) Process Flow Diagram (PFD).
B) Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
C) Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID).
D) Block Flow Diagram (BFD).
Answer: B
Explanation: The Safety Data Sheet contains comprehensive hazard information, including
toxicity, PELs, physical properties, reactivity, and handling precautions.
**Question 7. A Block Flow Diagram (BFD) is primarily used to:**
A) Show detailed instrumentation and control loops.
B) Illustrate the overall process steps and major unit operations.
C) Provide a line‑by‑line piping schedule.
D) Document electrical classification of equipment.
Answer: B
Explanation: BFDs present a high‑level view of the process, showing major unit operations and
material flow without detailed instrumentation.
**Question 8. Which of the following is NOT typically included in a Process Flow Diagram
(PFD)?**
A) Major equipment and streams.
B. Detailed valve and instrument tag numbers.
C) Operating conditions such as temperature and pressure.
D. Heat and material balances.
Answer: B
, AIEHS Certified Process Safety Management
CPSMP Exam
Explanation: Detailed valve and instrument tags are shown on P&IDs, while PFDs contain major
equipment, streams, and operating conditions.
**Question 9. The purpose of a Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) is to:**
A) Provide a high‑level overview of process chemistry.
B) Show the layout of the entire plant site.
C) Detail the piping, instrumentation, and control loops for a specific process area.
D) List the personnel required for operation.
Answer: C
Explanation: P&IDs depict the detailed arrangement of pipes, valves, instrumentation, and
control loops, essential for design, operation, and maintenance.
**Question 10. Which of the following codes is most commonly referenced for the design of
pressure vessels in the United States?**
A) API 650.
B) NFPA 30.
C) ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC).
D) OSHA 1910.119.
Answer: C
Explanation: The ASME BPVC provides the design, fabrication, and inspection requirements for
pressure vessels.
**Question 11. Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices (RAGAGEP) are
used to:**
A) Determine employee wages.
B) Guide the selection of personal protective equipment.
