In the beach hazard scenario, after a physical control (such as a wire fence) is installed to mitigate a hazard, what is the recommended next step?

• A. Evaluate the situation to determine if the wire fence physical control will have the desired effect of mitigating the hazard to an acceptable level
• B. Remove the fence and return to swimming
• C. Wait for additional information before acting
• D. Ignore the hazard

Answer: (A)

After adding a physical control, you must verify it actually reduces the risk to an acceptable level. This means checking how well the fence performs, looking for gaps or weak spots, wear, or ways someone could bypass it, and confirming that the remaining risk meets your safety criteria. This evaluation shows whether the control works as intended and if any adjustments are needed, such as maintenance, extending coverage, or adding related measures. Removing the fence, waiting for more information, or ignoring the hazard would all fail to protect people and leave risk unresolved, whereas a careful check ensures you’re moving the risk down to an acceptable level.