Which zone is the area where contamination has occurred and requires established entry/exit control points?

• A. Warm/contamination reduction zone
• B. Safety/cold zone
• C. Hot/exclusion zone
• D. Cold/support zone

Answer: (C)

Contamination control around a hazmat incident relies on clearly defined zones to protect responders and the public. The area where contamination has occurred is the hot/exclusion zone. This zone is the most hazardous, and access is strictly controlled with entry and exit points so only trained personnel in proper PPE can enter or leave, ensuring accountability and that decontamination is performed at the boundary as needed. The warm zone is the contamination reduction or decontamination corridor between the hot zone and the cold zone, where doffing and initial decon happen. The cold zone is the clean area where support functions and noncontaminated operations occur. So, the area requiring established entry/exit control points because contamination is present is the hot/exclusion zone.