What should you do first upon arriving at a hazardous materials incident?

Upon arriving at a hazardous materials incident, establishing a command and assessing the scene for safety is the most critical first action. This approach ensures that there is a clear leadership structure in place to coordinate response efforts effectively. By establishing command, the incident commander can organize resources, delegate tasks, and communicate with responding teams.

Assessing the scene for safety is also paramount. This involves evaluating the surroundings for immediate dangers, such as the presence of toxic fumes, potential explosions, or other risks that could affect responders, civilians, and the environment. A thorough scene assessment allows for informed decision-making regarding the safe containment of the hazardous materials and prioritizes the safety of the personnel involved.

Taking these steps first helps to ensure that containment and further actions are carried out in a manner that minimizes risk to responders and maximizes effectiveness in managing the incident. This logical sequence is essential to follow since rushing into containment without proper scene assessment and command structure could lead to chaos, increased hazards, and unintended consequences.