An example of an asphyxiation hazard is:

• A. Exposure to heat
• B. Suffocation due to oxygen deficiency
• C. Chemical burn
• D. Noise exposure

Answer: (B)

Asphyxiation hazards occur when the air around you doesn’t provide enough oxygen or when oxygen is displaced by other gases, making it hard or impossible to breathe. This example shows suffocation due to oxygen deficiency, which is the defining feature of an asphyxiation hazard: the environment prevents adequate oxygen intake. The other options describe different hazards—heat exposure is a thermal hazard, a chemical burn is a chemical hazard affecting skin or tissues, and noise exposure is a physical hazard that can damage hearing. In real-world HazMat and confined-space work, the key is recognizing when the danger is the air supply itself, not heat, contact burns, or loud sounds.