HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTION AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary responsibility of a Hazardous Materials Technician?
A. Conduct air monitoring only
B. Respond to hazardous materials incidents and mitigate releases
C. Drive emergency vehicles
D. File incident reports
Rationale: Hazardous Materials Technicians are trained to respond to and
mitigate hazardous materials releases.
2. Which NFPA standard specifically addresses hazardous materials response
personnel qualifications?
A. NFPA 1500
B. NFPA 472
C. NFPA 1001
D. NFPA 1983
Rationale: NFPA 472 sets the standards for hazmat responder
competencies.
3. What is the first step in any hazardous materials incident?
A. Recovery
B. Identification of the material
C. Decontamination
D. Termination
Rationale: Identifying the hazardous substance is critical to safe response.
,4. What does the “ERG” stand for?
A. Emergency Regulation Guide
B. Emergency Response Guidebook
C. Environmental Response Guide
D. Explosive Response Guide
Rationale: ERG provides initial response guidance for hazardous materials
incidents.
5. Which color on the NFPA 704 placard indicates flammability hazard?
A. Blue
B. Red
C. Yellow
D. White
Rationale: Red denotes flammability in the NFPA diamond.
6. Which PPE level offers the highest protection?
A. Level D
B. Level C
C. Level A
D. Level B
Rationale: Level A provides maximum respiratory and skin protection.
7. What type of monitoring instrument measures oxygen levels?
A. Photoionization detector
B. Oxygen sensor
C. Radiation detector
D. PID
Rationale: Oxygen sensors specifically detect oxygen concentration.
8. What does SDS stand for?
A. Safety Data Sheet
B. Safety Description Sheet
C. Standard Data Summary
D. Standard Description Sheet
Rationale: SDS contains hazard information about chemicals.
, 9. What is a major sign of a hazardous gas leak?
A. Quiet environment
B. Dead vegetation around a pipeline
C. No odor
D. Clear skies
Rationale: Dead vegetation can indicate a long-term gas leak.
10.Which term describes the lowest concentration of a gas that can be felt or
smelled?
A. LEL
B. UEL
C. Odor threshold
D. STEL
Rationale: Odor threshold is the lowest level detectable by smell.
11.What does LEL stand for?
A. Lower Explosive Level
B. Lower Explosive Limit
C. Limited Exposure Level
D. Lethal Exposure Limit
Rationale: LEL is the minimum concentration that can ignite.
12.Which method is used to stop the flow of a liquid hazardous material?
A. Venting
B. Dilution
C. Plugging and patching
D. Absorption
Rationale: Plugging and patching stops the release at the source.
13.What is an example of a physical hazard?
A. Carcinogen
B. Mutagen
C. Flammable liquid
D. Allergen
Rationale: Physical hazards cause injury through non-toxic mechanisms.
CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTION AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary responsibility of a Hazardous Materials Technician?
A. Conduct air monitoring only
B. Respond to hazardous materials incidents and mitigate releases
C. Drive emergency vehicles
D. File incident reports
Rationale: Hazardous Materials Technicians are trained to respond to and
mitigate hazardous materials releases.
2. Which NFPA standard specifically addresses hazardous materials response
personnel qualifications?
A. NFPA 1500
B. NFPA 472
C. NFPA 1001
D. NFPA 1983
Rationale: NFPA 472 sets the standards for hazmat responder
competencies.
3. What is the first step in any hazardous materials incident?
A. Recovery
B. Identification of the material
C. Decontamination
D. Termination
Rationale: Identifying the hazardous substance is critical to safe response.
,4. What does the “ERG” stand for?
A. Emergency Regulation Guide
B. Emergency Response Guidebook
C. Environmental Response Guide
D. Explosive Response Guide
Rationale: ERG provides initial response guidance for hazardous materials
incidents.
5. Which color on the NFPA 704 placard indicates flammability hazard?
A. Blue
B. Red
C. Yellow
D. White
Rationale: Red denotes flammability in the NFPA diamond.
6. Which PPE level offers the highest protection?
A. Level D
B. Level C
C. Level A
D. Level B
Rationale: Level A provides maximum respiratory and skin protection.
7. What type of monitoring instrument measures oxygen levels?
A. Photoionization detector
B. Oxygen sensor
C. Radiation detector
D. PID
Rationale: Oxygen sensors specifically detect oxygen concentration.
8. What does SDS stand for?
A. Safety Data Sheet
B. Safety Description Sheet
C. Standard Data Summary
D. Standard Description Sheet
Rationale: SDS contains hazard information about chemicals.
, 9. What is a major sign of a hazardous gas leak?
A. Quiet environment
B. Dead vegetation around a pipeline
C. No odor
D. Clear skies
Rationale: Dead vegetation can indicate a long-term gas leak.
10.Which term describes the lowest concentration of a gas that can be felt or
smelled?
A. LEL
B. UEL
C. Odor threshold
D. STEL
Rationale: Odor threshold is the lowest level detectable by smell.
11.What does LEL stand for?
A. Lower Explosive Level
B. Lower Explosive Limit
C. Limited Exposure Level
D. Lethal Exposure Limit
Rationale: LEL is the minimum concentration that can ignite.
12.Which method is used to stop the flow of a liquid hazardous material?
A. Venting
B. Dilution
C. Plugging and patching
D. Absorption
Rationale: Plugging and patching stops the release at the source.
13.What is an example of a physical hazard?
A. Carcinogen
B. Mutagen
C. Flammable liquid
D. Allergen
Rationale: Physical hazards cause injury through non-toxic mechanisms.
