California Designated Operator Practice Exam

What must a continuous monitoring system do when it detects a leak?

1. Send an email alert

2. Trigger an audible and visual alarm

3. Allow continued operation

4. Report the leak to the owner only

The correct answer is: Trigger an audible and visual alarm

A continuous monitoring system must trigger an audible and visual alarm when it detects a leak to ensure immediate awareness of the situation. This functionality is crucial as it serves as a rapid response mechanism, alerting personnel in real-time so that they can take appropriate action to mitigate any potential hazards that arise from the leak. The use of both audible and visual alarms enables multiple channels of notification, which is particularly important in environments where workers may not be in close proximity to monitoring equipment or where noise levels could mask other forms of communication. This system of alerts ensures that the information is disseminated quickly and effectively to people in the vicinity, minimizing the risk of accidents or further damage. In contrast, sending an email alert may not provide immediate response capability and could lead to delays in addressing the leak. Allowing continued operation in the face of a detected leak is not safe, as it could exacerbate the problem. Finally, reporting the leak to the owner only does not ensure that immediate safety measures are taken by personnel on-site who need to respond to the situation without delay.