What procedure should be performed before donning PPE at a hazmat incident?

• A. Safety briefing
• B. Medical evaluation
• C. PPE inspection
• D. Decontamination

Answer: (B)

Ensuring medical fitness before entering a hazmat scene is essential because wearing protective gear and working in hazardous environments place real physiological demands on the body. A medical evaluation screens for health conditions that could be worsened by respirators, suits, heat, and limited mobility, and it identifies any need for restrictions or clearance. This helps prevent medical emergencies such as fatigue, heat stress, or a sudden inability to safely don, wear, or remove PPE, protecting both the responder and teammates and ensuring the person can safely carry out duties and evacuate if symptoms arise.

Safety briefing and PPE inspection are important steps in the overall process, but they address readiness and gear function rather than the medical readiness to withstand the demands of donning and operating in PPE. Decontamination is performed after exposure, not before donning.