Which statement best describes Passive Countermeasures?

• A. They are designed to apply pain quickly
• B. They are designed to decentralize
• C. They are used to coax to surrender
• D. They replace medical staff

Answer: (B)

Passive countermeasures focus on reducing risk by design and through systems that work without requiring immediate action from staff. They aim to deter, delay, detect, and mitigate threats through the environment and procedures rather than through force or direct intervention. Decentralizing fits this idea because spreading authority, controls, and monitoring across multiple points and systems reduces reliance on a single actor and makes the safety measures effective even when staff aren’t actively engaging a situation. Examples include multiple access controls, surveillance coverage, alarms, and physical barriers that work automatically or with minimal intervention. That’s why the description that passive countermeasures are designed to decentralize best captures their nature.