Which method reduces the size of a hole to lessen the flow of hazardous materials?

The method that effectively reduces the size of a hole to lessen the flow of hazardous materials is plugging. Plugging involves using materials or devices to fill or stop the hole directly, thereby minimizing the escape of hazardous substances. It is particularly useful for controlling leaks in containers, pipelines, or vessels where a rapid response is necessary to prevent further contamination or hazard.

This technique is vital in hazardous materials incidents where immediate action is required to prevent the spread of materials that could pose risks to human health and the environment. By effectively obstructing the flow at the source, plugging aims to stabilize the situation until a more permanent solution can be implemented.

While sealing and patching can also be effective in certain contexts, they often describe broader actions that may not directly address the issue of flow reduction as explicitly as plugging does. Containment, on the other hand, usually refers to strategies that surround the hazardous materials to prevent them from spreading but do not necessarily reduce the size of the initial hole itself.