Operational Level Lesson 5 Presentation

Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 3rd Ed.

Operational Level5–2

Types of PPE Usedat Haz Mat Incidents

• Structural fire-fighting protective clothing

• High-temperature protective clothing

• Chemical-protective clothing– Liquid-splash protective

clothing– Vapor-protective clothing

Operational Level5–3

Hazards Encountered Due to Skin Contact with Hazardous Materials

• Chemical burns

• Allergic reactions

• Rashes

• Absorption of toxic materials into the body

Operational Level5–4

Structural Fire-FightingProtective Clothing

• Gives a person protection from heat, moisture, and the ordinary hazards associated with structural fire fighting

• Includes a helmet, coat, pants, boots, gloves, a personal alert safety system (PASS) device, and a hood to cover parts of the head not protected by the helmet and facepiece (1 of 3)

Operational Level5–5

Structural Fire-FightingProtective Clothing

• Provides limited protection against hazardous materials, but may be used at haz mat incidents when the following conditions are met:– Contact with splashes of extremely hazardous

materials is unlikely– Total atmospheric concentrations do not contain

high levels of chemicals that are toxic by way of skin contact

– There is a chance of fire or there is a fire, and this type of protection is appropriate (2 of 3)

Operational Level5–6

Structural Fire-FightingProtective Clothing

• Advantage– Multiple layers of coat and pants may provide

short-term exposure protection

• Limitations– Is neither corrosive-resistant nor vapor-tight– Gaps occur at the neck, wrists, waist, and the

point where the pants and boots overlap– Chemicals absorbed into the equipment can

subject the wearer to repeated exposure or to a later reaction with another chemical (3 of 3)

Operational Level5–7

High-TemperatureProtective Clothing

• Protects the wearer from short-term high-temperature exposures in situations where heat levels exceed the capabilities of standard fire-fighting protective clothing

• Types– Proximity suits– Fire-entry suits

(1 of 4)

Operational Level5–8

High-TemperatureProtective Clothing

• Proximity suit advantages– Permits close approach to fires for rescue, fire-

suppression, and property-conservation activities such as in aircraft rescue and fire fighting or other fire-fighting operations involving flammable liquids

– Provides greater heat protection than standard fire-fighting protective clothing

(2 of 4)

Operational Level5–9

High-TemperatureProtective Clothing

• Fire-entry suit advantages– Allows a person to work in total flame

environments for short periods of time– Provides short-duration and close-proximity

protection at radiant heat temperatures as high as 2,000ºF (1 093ºC)

(3 of 4)

Operational Level5–10

High-TemperatureProtective Clothing

• Limitations– Contributes to heat stress by not allowing the body

to release excess heat– Is bulky– Limits wearer’s vision– Limits wearer’s mobility– Limits communication– Requires frequent and extensive training for

efficient and safe use(4 of 4)

Operational Level5–11

Chemical-Protective Clothing (CPC)

• Shields or isolates individuals from the chemical, physical, and biological hazards that may be encountered during hazardous materials operations

• Is made from a variety of different materials, each of which provides protection against certain chemicals or products, but only limited or no protection against others

• May be encapsulating (covering responder including respiratory equipment completely) or nonencapsulating (1 of 2)

Operational Level5–12

Chemical-Protective Clothing (CPC)

• Advantage– Affords the wearer a known degree of protection

from a known type, a known concentration, and a known length of exposure to a hazardous material

• Limitation– Improperly worn equipment can expose and

endanger the wearer

(2 of 2)

Operational Level5–13

Liquid-SplashProtective Clothing

• Protects users from chemical liquid splashes but not against chemical vapors or gases

• Types– Encapsulating– Nonencapsulating

(1 of 3)

Operational Level5–14

Liquid-SplashProtective Clothing

• Encapsulating suit– A single, one-piece unit that protects against

splashes– Boots and gloves are sometimes separate, or

attached and replaceable– Limitations

– Impairs worker mobility, vision, and communication

– Traps body heat, necessitating a cooling vest, particularly when self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is also worn (2 of 3)

Operational Level5–15

Liquid-SplashProtective Clothing

• Nonencapsulating suit– A one-piece coverall or individual pieces such as a

jacket, hood, pants, or bib overalls– Limitations

– Protects against splashes and dusts but not against gases and vapors

– Does not provide full body coverage; parts of head and neck are often exposed

– Traps body heat, so may contribute to heat stress (3 of 3)

Operational Level5–16

Vapor-Protective Clothing

• Protects the wearer against chemical vapors or gases

• Must be worn with positive-pressure SCBA or combination SCBA/supplied-air breathing apparatus

• Limitations– Does not protect the user against all chemical

hazards– Impairs mobility, vision, and communication– Does not allow body heat to escape, so can

contribute to heat stress, which may require the use of a cooling vest

Operational Level5–17

Choosing and Using Chemical-Protective Clothing (CPC)

• CPC can be reduced by three actions, all of which should be considered when choosing and using protective ensembles– Permeation– Chemical degradation– Penetration

• Service life– Reusable (multiuse)– Limited use– Disposable (one-time use)

Operational Level5–18

Permeation

• Occurs when a chemical passes through the CPC fabric on a molecular level

• The rate at which a compound permeates CPC depends on various factors; most manufacturers provide charts on the breakthrough time for a wide range of chemical compounds

• Permeation data will include the permeation rate, or the speed at which the chemical moves through the CPC material after it breaks through (1 of 2)

Operational Level5–19

Permeation

(2 of 2)

Operational Level5–20

Chemical Degradation

• Occurs when the characteristics of a material in use are altered through contact with chemical substances (cracking, brittleness, and other changes in the structural characteristics)

• The most common observations are discoloration, swelling, loss of physical strength, or deterioration

Operational Level5–21

Penetration

• Occurs when there is an opening or a puncture in the protective material– Examples: Rips, tears, and cuts in protective

materials; unsealed seams, buttonholes, and zippers

Operational Level5–22

Types of Respiratory Protection

• Atmosphere-supplying respirators– Closed-circuit SCBA– Open-circuit SCBA– Supplied-air respirators (SARs)

• Air-purifying respirators (APRs)– Particulate removing– Vapor and gas removing– Combination particulate and vapor-and-gas

removing

Operational Level5–23

Positive Pressure SCBA

• Advantages– Independence– Maneuverability

• Limitations– Heavy weight of the units– Limited air supply duration– Change in profile that may hinder mobility because of the

configuration of the harness assembly and the location of the air cylinder

– Limited vision caused by facepiece fogging– Limited communications if the facepiece is not equipped with

a microphone or speaking diaphragm

Operational Level5–24

Supplied-Air Respirators

• Advantage– Reduces physical stress

to the wearer by removing the weight of the SCBA

• Limitations– Restricted mobility– Restricted vision– Restricted

communications

Operational Level5–25

Air-Purifying Respirators

• Limitations– The limited life of filters

and canisters– The need for constant

monitoring of the contaminated atmosphere

– The need for a normal oxygen content of the atmosphere before use

Operational Level5–26

Open-Circuit SCBA

Operational Level5–27

Limitations of Protective Breathing Equipment

• Wearer limitations

• Equipment limitations

• Air-supply limitations

Operational Level5–28

Wearer Limitations

• Physical condition — The wearer must be in good physical condition in order to maximize the work that can be performed and to stretch the air supply as far as possible

• Agility — Wearing a protective breathing apparatus with an air cylinder or backpack restricts wearers’ movements and affects their balance

(1 of 4)

Operational Level5–29

Wearer Limitations

• Facial features — The shape and contour of the face affect the wearer’s ability to get a good facepiece-to-face seal

• Neurological functioning — Good motor coordination is necessary for operating effectively in protective breathing equipment

• Mental soundness — First responders must be of sound mind to handle emergency situations that may arise

(2 of 4)

Operational Level5–30

Wearer Limitations

• Muscular/skeletal condition — First responders must have the physical strength and size required to perform necessary tasks while wearing the protective equipment

• Cardiovascular conditioning — Poor cardiovascular conditioning can result in heart attacks, strokes, or other related problems during strenuous activity

• Respiratory functioning — Proper respiratory functioning maximizes the wearer’s operations time while wearing respiratory protection (3 of 4)

Operational Level5–31

Wearer Limitations

• Training in equipment use — First responders must be knowledgeable in every aspect of protective breathing apparatus use.

• Self-confidence — First responders’ belief in their abilities has an extremely positive overall effect on the actions that are performed.

• Emotional stability — The ability to maintain control in an excited or high-stress environment reduces the chances of making a serious mistake.

(4 of 4)

Operational Level5–32

Equipment Limitations

• Limited visibility — A facepiece reduces peripheral vision, and facepiece fogging can reduce overall vision

• Decreased ability to communicate — A facepiece hinders voice communication

• Increased weight — Depending on the model, the protective breathing equipment can add 25 to 35 pounds (11 kg to 16 kg) of weight to the emergency responder

(1 of 2)

Operational Level5–33

Equipment Limitations

• Decreased mobility — The increase in weight and the splinting effect of the harness straps reduce the wearer’s mobility

• Inadequate oxygen levels — Air-purifying respirators cannot be worn in immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) or oxygen-deficient atmospheres

• Chemical specific — Air-purifying respirators can only be used to protect against certain chemicals

(2 of 2)

Operational Level5–34

Air-Supply Limitations

• Physical condition of user — if the wearer is in poor physical condition, the air supply is depleted faster.

• Degree of physical exertion — The harder that wearers exert themselves, the faster the air supply is depleted.

• Emotional stability — Persons who become excited increase their respirations and use air faster.

(1 of 2)

Operational Level5–35

Air-Supply Limitations

• Condition of equipment — Minor leaks and poor adjustment of regulators can result in excessive air loss.

• Cylinder pressure before use — If the cylinder is not filled to capacity, the amount of working time is reduced proportionately.

• Training and experience — Poorly trained and inexperienced personnel use air at a fast rate.

(2 of 2)

Operational Level5–36

Components of theChemical-Protective Ensemble

• Protective clothing (suits, coveralls, hoods, gloves, and boots)

• Respiratory equipment

• Cooling system

• Communications device

• Head protection

• Eye protection

• Ear protection

• Inner garment

• Outer protection (overgloves, overboots, and flashcover)

Operational Level5–37

EPA Levels of Protection

• Note: The following information is taken from the OSHA requirements for EPA levels of protective equipment. The NFPA requirements (listed in Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 3rd ed.) may differ slightly.

Operational Level5–38

EPA Level A Ensemble

• Components– Vapor protective suit – Pressure-demand, full-face

SCBA– Inner chemical-resistant gloves– Chemical-resistant safety boots– Two-way radio communication– Cooling system (optional)– Outer gloves (optional)– Hard hat (optional)

(1 of 3)

Operational Level5–39

EPA Level A Ensemble

• Protection provided — Highest available level of respiratory, skin, and eye protection from solid, liquid, and gaseous chemicals

• Used in the following situations:– The chemical(s) have been identified and have

high level of hazards to respiratory system, skin, and eyes

– Substances are present with known or suspected skin toxicity or carcinogenity

– Operations must be conducted in confined or poorly ventilated areas (2 of 3)

Operational Level5–40

EPA Level A Ensemble

• Limitations– Protective clothing must resist permeation by the

chemical or mixtures present– Ensemble items must allow integration without

loss of performance

(3 of 3)

Operational Level5–41

EPA Level B Ensemble

• Components – Liquid splash-protective suit– Pressure-demand, full-facepiece

SCBA– Inner chemical-resistant gloves– Chemical-resistant safety boots– Two-way radio communications– Hard hat– Cooling system (optional)– Outer gloves (optional)

(1 of 3)

Operational Level5–42

EPA Level B Ensemble

• Protection provided — Provides same level of respiratory protection as Level A, but less skin protection; provides liquid splash protection, but no protection against chemical vapors or gases.

• Limitations– Protective clothing items must resist penetration

by the chemicals or mixtures present– Ensemble items must allow integration without

loss of performance (2 of 3)

Operational Level5–43

EPA Level B Ensemble

• Used in the following situations:– The chemical(s) have been identified but do not

require a high level of skin protection– Initial site surveys are required until higher levels

of hazards are identified– The primary hazards associated with site entry are

from liquid and not vapor contact

(3 of 3)

Operational Level5–44

EPA Level C Ensemble

• Components – Support Function Protective

Garment– Full-facepiece, air-purifying,

canister-equipped respirator– Chemical-resistant gloves and

safety boots– Two-way communications system– Hard hat– Faceshield (optional)– Escape SCBA (optional) (1 of 3)

Operational Level5–45

EPA Level C Ensemble

• Protection provided — The same level of skin protection as Level B, but a lower level of respiratory protection; provides liquid splash protection but no protection from chemical vapors or gases

• Limitations– Protective clothing items must resist penetration

by the chemical or mixtures present– Chemical airborne concentration must be less

than IDLH levels– The atmosphere must contain at least 19.5%

oxygen(2 of 3)

Operational Level5–46

EPA Level C Ensemble

• Used in the following situations:– Contact with site chemical(s) will not affect the

skin– Air contaminants have been identified and

concentrations measured– A canister is available which can remove the

contaminant– The site and its hazards have been completely

characterized

(3 of 3)

Operational Level5–47

EPA Level D Ensemble

• Components – Coveralls– Safety boots/shoes– Safety glasses or

chemical splash goggles– Gloves (optional)– Escape SCBA (optional)– Faceshield (optional)

• Protection provided — No respiratory protection; minimal skin protection

(1 of 2)

Operational Level5–48

EPA Level D Ensemble

• Used in the following situations:– The atmosphere contains no known hazard– Work functions preclude splashes, immersion,

potential for inhalation, or direct contact with hazard chemicals

• Limitations– This level should not be worn in the Hot Zone– The atmosphere must contain at least 19.5%

oxygen(2 of 2)

Operational Level5–49

Types of Chemical-Protective Clothing Inspections

• Inspection and operational testing of equipment received new from the factory of distributor

• Inspection of equipment when it is selected for a particular chemical operation

• Inspection of equipment after use or training and before maintenance

• Periodic inspection of stored equipment• Periodic inspection when a question arises

concerning the appropriateness of selected equipment or when problems with similar equipment are discovered

Operational Level5–50

Information to be Recordedat Each Clothing Inspection

• Clothing/equipment item identification number

• Date of the inspection

• Person making the inspection

• Results of the inspection

• Any unusual conditions noted