What can be a result of inadequate recognition of secondary exposure?

Inadequate recognition of secondary exposure can indeed lead to increased injury and contamination risks. Secondary exposure occurs when individuals come into contact with hazardous materials indirectly, such as through contaminated clothing, equipment, or surfaces after an initial incident. If this risk is not properly acknowledged, responders and those in the vicinity may not take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from potential contaminants, increasing the likelihood of injury to both emergency personnel and bystanders.

Understanding secondary exposure is critical for ensuring safety and minimizing health risks following a hazardous materials incident. It emphasizes the importance of thorough decontamination procedures and maintaining awareness of how hazards can persist or spread after the initial event.

Other options relate to potential enhancements in equipment standards, response efforts, or incident management that would not stem directly from a lack of recognition of secondary exposure, thereby making them less applicable in this context.