What must personnel do when working within an incident's hot zone?

When personnel are working within an incident's hot zone, participating in the personnel accountability system is essential for ensuring safety and effective operations. The hot zone is a highly hazardous area where the risk of exposure to dangerous materials or conditions is significant. The personnel accountability system is designed to track who is present in the hot zone and ensure that every member is accounted for at all times. This is crucial not only for individual safety but also to coordinate efforts efficiently during an incident response.

Understanding the effectiveness of this system helps leadership manage resources, evacuate personnel if necessary, and prevent confusion during critical operations. As such, adherence to accountability protocols fosters a culture of safety and reinforces the operational integrity of incident response teams working in high-risk areas.