If you must pass near a suspected MPPEH site, what should you do?

• A. Ask for permission to pass somewhere near the zone.
• B. Do not pass within the exclusion zone; take an alternate safe route as directed by site safety.
• C. Bypass the site entirely and ignore safety signage.
• D. Pass as quickly as possible to minimize exposure.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is to avoid the hazard area around suspected MPPEH and follow safety guidance to minimize exposure to possible detonation or fragmentation. Exclusion zones are established to protect you from blast, shrapnel, and toxic compounds, so the safest action is to stay out of that zone and use the alternate route specified by site safety personnel. By following the directed safe route, you rely on the established controls and approvals that ensure you won’t be in the danger area.

Asking for permission doesn’t make it safe to be near the zone, and bypassing safety signs or trying to pass quickly can increase the risk of triggering or encountering unexploded ordnance. The correct approach is to adhere to the safety plan and proceed only along the route approved by site safety.