JBL Hazardous Materials Practice Test

Diversion means redirecting the flow of product from a more hazardous area to a location that presents less risk to people and the environment. It’s about actively moving the material to a safer path rather than simply blocking it or collecting it where it’s released. This approach helps reduce exposure and environmental impact by changing where the product proceeds. For example, if a spill is heading toward a storm drain, responders would divert the flow toward a safer area that doesn’t lead to the drain, minimizing contamination of the water system. Blocking a flow or creating a barrier in a waterway or depression focuses on containment, not moving the product. Collecting the product in a less hazardous area is a recovery step, not diverting its path. Creating a barrier elsewhere is still containment, not diversion.