Who may OMIT use of placards to avoid hostile forces?

• A. Safety Officer
• B. Munitions Handlers
• C. Transportation Officer
• D. Commanders

Answer: (D)

Removing placards to hide hazards from hostile forces is a command-level decision because it directly affects mission security and risk management. Placards normally warn about dangerous materials and help everyone handle them safely, but in a hostile environment, showing the exact location or nature of the hazard can reveal sensitive information to the enemy. The authority to authorize such a deviation rests with the commander, who weighs the operational need to protect personnel and assets against the safety risks of not having standard warnings. This kind of override is not within the purview of safety officers, munitions handlers, or transportation officers, who must follow established safety policies and orders from higher command. Any change to placard use should be grounded in a formal risk assessment and documented orders, not a unilateral decision.