True or false: A person exposed to a hazardous material may not necessarily be contaminated by it.

True or false: A person exposed to a hazardous material may not necessarily be contaminated by it.

• A. Sometimes
• B. True
• C. Not sure
• D. False

Answer: (B)

Exposure versus contamination is what this question tests. You can be exposed to a hazardous material—that means the hazardous environment or substance is encountered, such as inhaling vapors or touching a surface. Contamination, however, means the material actually ends up on your skin, clothing, or inside your body. Proper PPE and quick decontamination can prevent contamination even if exposure occurs. For instance, you might encounter vapors while wearing respirators and protective clothing, and after decontamination those residues are removed, so you’re exposed but not contaminated. That’s why the statement is true: exposure does not necessarily mean contamination. The other answers don’t fit because they imply exposure and contamination are always linked or uncertain, which isn’t the case.

Exposure versus contamination is what this question tests. You can be exposed to a hazardous material—that means the hazardous environment or substance is encountered, such as inhaling vapors or touching a surface. Contamination, however, means the material actually ends up on your skin, clothing, or inside your body. Proper PPE and quick decontamination can prevent contamination even if exposure occurs. For instance, you might encounter vapors while wearing respirators and protective clothing, and after decontamination those residues are removed, so you’re exposed but not contaminated. That’s why the statement is true: exposure does not necessarily mean contamination. The other answers don’t fit because they imply exposure and contamination are always linked or uncertain, which isn’t the case.