Which method should be used to ensure safety when handling materials that emit strong odors?

Ventilating the work area is essential for ensuring safety when handling materials that emit strong odors. Strong odors can often indicate the presence of harmful substances, and proper ventilation helps to dilute these odors, allowing for a safer working environment. By increasing airflow, you can reduce the concentration of potentially harmful chemicals in the air, which minimizes the risk of exposure to those materials.

Good ventilation can involve opening windows, using exhaust fans, or employing air filtration systems designed to remove harmful particulates and volatile organic compounds. This approach is aligned with occupational health and safety principles, which emphasize the importance of maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.

The other choices lack sufficient safety measures. Working without ventilation, even if odors are perceived as light, poses risks of accumulating dangerous fumes. Covering the source of the odor may contain it temporarily, but it does not eliminate the risk of exposure. Wearing a mask only when deemed necessary might not provide adequate protection if a person is unaware of hazardous levels of exposure until symptoms occur. Hence, proper ventilation remains the most effective and proactive method for dealing with materials that emit strong odors.