What type of hazard can be assessed during secondary assessments involving environmental risks?

The assessment of downed power lines during secondary assessments involving environmental risks is crucial for ensuring the safety of rescue personnel and victims. This type of hazard poses a significant risk because downed power lines can carry live electricity, creating the potential for electrocution. During a rescue operation, responders must identify and mitigate this hazard before approaching the scene to protect themselves and those they aim to assist.

Differentiating downed power lines from other options, while all environmental hazards pose risks, downed power lines specifically contribute to immediate life-threatening situations due to their association with electricity. Recognizing this hazard is essential as it dictates the approach to the rescue and the necessary precautions to implement, such as keeping a safe distance and coordinating with utility companies to ensure the area is secure.

The other environmental risks, while serious, may not present the same immediate and lethal potential as downed power lines. Falling rocks, aging infrastructure, and water sources are important to assess, but they do not involve the same level of acute threat posed by live electricity, which is why downed power lines are the more significant hazard in this context.