Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

What type of materials does the term "dry powder" relate to?

1. Flammable liquids

2. Electrical components

3. Metals

4. Non-toxic substances

The correct answer is: Metals

The term "dry powder" is commonly associated with materials that are in a solid state and can range from lightweight powders to fine particulates. In this context, metals are often referred to in the realm of dry powders, particularly in processes such as metal powder metallurgy, where metals are finely ground into powders for various applications, including additive manufacturing and metal forming. In safety practices, the handling and storage of dry powder materials, especially metals, require specific considerations due to potential hazards such as dust explosions or reactivity when certain metal powders come in contact with moisture or oxidizers. Understanding the characteristics of dry powder metals is crucial for ensuring safety in environments where these materials are processed or stored. The other answer choices involve categories that do not typically align with the definition of dry powder. Flammable liquids, for instance, present a very different hazard profile compared to solid powders and require different safety measures. Electrical components are generally not categorized as dry powders, as they are physical assemblies made of various materials, often not in powder form. Non-toxic substances can include many different forms of materials but do not specifically define what "dry powder" represents, which is inherently a physical state of substances like metals.