Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

Which operation in a ventilation system would require the greatest capture velocity?

1. Welding

2. Grinding

3. Cutting

4. Painting

The correct answer is: Grinding

The operation that would require the greatest capture velocity in a ventilation system is grinding. This is due to the nature of the particulate matter generated during the grinding process. Grinding produces fine dust and particles that can easily disperse into the air. To effectively control the exposure of workers to these contaminants, a higher capture velocity is necessary to quickly draw the particles into the ventilation system before they can settle or be inhaled. In contrast, while welding, cutting, and painting also generate airborne contaminants, they do not typically produce as much fine dust as grinding does. Welding produces smoke, which is denser and may require different control measures, but generally does not necessitate the same high capture velocities as grinding. Cutting can produce larger chips and particles, which may have slower settling rates, allowing for somewhat reduced capture velocities. Painting involves aerosolized vapors but again does not require the high particle movement control that grinding does. Thus, the nature and size of the particulates generated during grinding make it essential to implement a system with greater capture velocities to ensure a safe working environment.