Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Practice Test

How should contaminated respiratory protective equipment be disposed of?

1. As regular waste

2. As hazardous wastes

3. By burning it

4. By rinsing it with water

The correct answer is: As hazardous wastes

Contaminated respiratory protective equipment must be disposed of as hazardous waste because it may contain harmful substances that could pose risks to public health and the environment if not handled properly. This type of waste can include residues from dust, chemicals, or biological agents that the equipment was designed to protect against. Disposing of such materials as regular waste could lead to contamination of landfill sites and potential exposure to non-specialized personnel who may come into contact with the waste. Burning the equipment might release toxic fumes, which is dangerous and not an acceptable method of disposal. Rinsing the equipment with water would likely not effectively remove the contaminants, making it an inadequate solution for safe disposal. Properly categorizing and handling contaminated equipment as hazardous waste ensures that it is treated with the necessary precautions and in accordance with regulations designed to manage health and environmental risks.