In incident risk assessment, what should be the primary driver for selecting control measures such as PPE?

• A. budget
• B. weather
• C. hazard on the scene
• D. time of day

Answer: (C)

Hazards on the scene drive the selection of protective measures. When you arrive, you perform a quick, focused scene size-up to identify what could injure or harm responders. The PPE and other controls are chosen to mitigate those specific risks to an acceptable level. If the scene presents a hazardous atmosphere, you would select appropriate respiratory protection and arc-and-fire protection; if there’s a risk of structural failure or fall hazards, you’d match PPE and procedures to that risk. Weather, time of day, or budget may influence how you implement or access resources, but they do not determine the necessary level of protection—the hazard present dictates it.