A refrigerant leak has made the air in a small mechanical room stuffy and you feel dizzy. What should you do first?
Safety · EPA 608 Core. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Exposure risks, protective equipment, the 80% cylinder limit and nitrogen for leak testing.
The question
A refrigerant leak has made the air in a small mechanical room stuffy and you feel dizzy. What should you do first?
- Light a torch to burn off the refrigerant
- Keep working quickly to finish the repair
- Leave the area and ventilate itCorrect answer
- Lie down on the floor until it passes
Why “Leave the area and ventilate it” is correct
Dizziness is a warning of oxygen deprivation or refrigerant overexposure. Get to fresh air, ventilate the space, and return only when it is safe or with proper breathing equipment.
Source: EPA: Test Topics
Why the other answers are wrong
- Light a torch to burn off the refrigerant — An open flame can break refrigerant down into toxic gases.
- Keep working quickly to finish the repair — Staying in the space can lead to unconsciousness or heart effects.
- Lie down on the floor until it passes — Refrigerant vapor collects low, so lying on the floor is the worst place to be.
Practice more of this
More EPA 608 Core practice questions, or see every EPA 608 practice test.
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