How should you manage hoses to prevent tripping hazards at the scene?

• A. Keep lines clear of walkways, secure coils, and maintain heel-toe spacing
• B. Lay lines across walkways
• C. Coil hoses loosely on ground
• D. Ignore hazards and proceed

Answer: (A)

Preventing tripping hazards comes from arranging hoses so people can move safely and tools won’t snag or shift. Keep lines clear of walkways so crews can pass without stepping over them. Secure coils or loops so hoses don’t roll, unravel, or slide into paths or work areas. Maintain heel-toe spacing, giving a clear path for each foot to land without catching on hose material, fittings, or knots. This creates a predictable, stable layout that reduces trips while you advance or retract lines.

Across a walkway, hoses create obvious trip hazards and should not be laid there. Loosely coiled hoses on the ground can shift, snag, or become entangled, increasing the risk of a fall. Ignoring hazards is simply unsafe.