NEBOSH Practice Test

Which piece of equipment is likely to contain LSA sludge?

1. Centrifuge

2. Shale Shakers

3. Excavator

4. Backhoe loader

The correct answer is: Shale Shakers

The equipment that is likely to contain LSA (Low Specific Activity) sludge is associated with processes in drilling and well completion in the oil and gas industry. Shale shakers are specifically designed to separate fluids and solids during the drilling process. They are used to remove drilled cuttings from the drilling fluid before it is recirculated back into the well. As such, the material collected in shale shakers often includes LSA sludge, which consists of low-level radioactive materials mixed with mud and other drilling debris. This direct association between shale shakers and drilling operations is why they are known to contain LSA sludge. In contrast, while centrifuges also process drilling fluids, their primary role is to further separate solids from liquids, making them less likely destinations for LSA sludge accumulation compared to shale shakers. Equipment like excavators and backhoe loaders are general construction equipment that do not engage in fluid separation processes, so they would not be relevant in the context of LSA sludge containment.