Identify hazards and secure environment.

• A. Potential risks during approach
• B. Identify hazards and secure environment
• C. Clandestine lab discovery actions
• D. Source of lithium

Answer: (B)

Identifying hazards and securing the environment is the foundational step in any on-scene operation. It centers on quickly sizing up the scene to spot potential dangers—chemical, structural, electrical, environmental, or weapon-related—and then establishing a safe, controlled area. This enables responders to proceed with operations without exposing themselves or others to unnecessary risk, using a defined perimeter, access control, clear communications, appropriate PPE, and a plan for contingencies.

The other options are narrower or off-topic for this broad safety goal. Focusing only on risks during the approach highlights a part of scene safety but doesn’t capture the broader need to secure the entire environment first. A clandestine lab discovery action is a specific scenario with its own procedures, not the universal concept of hazard identification and scene control. A source of lithium is unrelated to the general process of recognizing hazards and securing the area.