What technique is used when entering a contaminated area?

• A. Course Leg.
• B. Zig-zag monitoring.
• C. Star.
• D. Nearside-Farside.

Answer: (D)

Contamination control during entry relies on keeping a clean-to-dirty boundary and moving through that boundary in a way that prevents spreading contaminants. The nearside-farside approach is designed for that controlled flow: the team enters from the near side, establishing a defined boundary as they penetrate the contaminated area, and then proceeds toward the far side, allowing gear and personnel to move through decontamination steps and exit toward the cleaner zone. This sequencing helps prevent contaminants from being dragged back toward the exterior and keeps the decontamination process organized and effective.

Other patterns describe search or movement geometries, but they don’t inherently manage the boundary between clean and contaminated zones or the sequential decon flow required for safe entry. That’s why nearside-farside is the best fit for entering a contaminated area.