Immediately after identifying the hazard, which shall be established?

• A. Control zones
• B. Staging area
• C. Hot zone
• D. Safe refuge

Answer: (A)

When a hazard is identified, the first step is to create a protective boundary around it. Establishing control zones serves this purpose by defining who can enter and where operations will be conducted, providing a safety buffer for assessment and decision-making. This boundary helps keep unprotected personnel out and gives incident command a clear area to coordinate resources.

Within that control zone, the hazardous area itself becomes the hot zone, where the danger is present, and other operational areas are arranged (like staging areas for equipment and personnel outside the immediate hazard). Safe refuges are planned spaces that crew can reach or retreat to for safety, but they are organized in relation to the established zones, not created in place of the initial boundary.