Personal Protective Equipment

(PPE)

Objective

Gain knowledge and familiarization with the different

types of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and their

uses for radiological emergency response operations.

1

Goals

• Understand the purpose of using PPE

• Review the factors that determine PPE usage

• Review the types and levels of protection

• Review the proper dressing (donning) and

undressing (doffing)

• Provide an overview of personal

decontamination procedures

2

What is the purpose of PPE?

• To prevent contamination

• To minimize skin and clothing

contact

– Avert spreading contamination

– Minimize the possibility of

skin/clothing becoming

contaminated

3

Factors to Determine PPE Usage

There are four basic factors to

determine the type and extent of

PPE:

1. Type and form of contamination

2. Levels of contamination

3. Type of work being performed

4. Hazard type

4

Additional PPE Factors to Consider

• Types of clothing

• Potential for increased contamination

(resuspension)

• Areas of the body at risk

• Competing hazards

• Respiratory protective equipment

5

6

Contamination Control is Important

• To control the contamination:

– Establish a “hotline” prior to entry

– Use appropriate Personnel Protective Equipment

– To protect your skin from contamination

– To protect from internal contamination (use a

respirator)

– To protect from other hazards that may be

collocated with the radiological contamination

– Conduct surveys to determine where contamination is

located and isolate area

Types of Protection

• Whole body protection

– Level A, B, and, C

– Fire fighter turn-out gear

7

Types of Protection - Level A

• Level A PPE consists of a Self-

Contained Breathing Apparatus

(SCBA) and a totally encapsulating

chemical-protective suit

• Level A PPE provides the highest

level of respiratory, eye, mucous

membrane, and skin protection

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• Level B PPE consists of a

positive-pressure respirator SCBA

or supplied-air respirator and non-

encapsulated chemical-resistant

garments, gloves, and boots,

which guard against chemical

splash exposures

• Level B PPE provides the highest

level of respiratory protection with

a lower level of skin protection

Types of Protection - Level B

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Types of Protection - Level C PPE

• Level C PPE consists of an Air

Purifying Respirator (APR) and non-

encapsulated chemical-resistant

clothing, gloves, and boots

• Level C PPE provides the same

level of skin protection as Level B,

with a lower level of respiratory

protection

• Level C PPE is used when the type

of airborne exposure can be

adequately guarded against by an

APR

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Types of Protection - Level D

• Level D PPE consists of

standard work clothes without a

respirator. In hospitals, Level D

consists of surgical gown,

mask, and latex gloves

(universal precautions)

• Level D PPE provides no

respiratory protection and only

minimal skin protection

11

Hand Protection PPE

• Surgical gloves

• Rubber gloves

• Neoprene gloves

• Cotton gloves

• Leather or canvas

work gloves

12

Foot Protection PPE

• Booties

– Plastic and cloth

• Shoe covers

– Plastic or rubber

13

• Full-face masks

• Powered-Air Purifying Respirator

(PAPR)

• Supplied air systems

• Self-Contained Breathing

Apparatus (SCBA)

Requires medical approval, training,

and fit testing!

Respiratory Protection

14

Demonstration of Dressing (Donning)

and Undressing (Doffing) in PPE

15

Undressing or Removing PPE

Order of removal:

• Rubber overshoes

• Outer gloves

• Hood

• All exposed tape

• Dosimetry

• Coveralls

• Shoe covers

• Respiratory equipment

• Surgical gloves

16

Dressing (donning) in PPE

Order of dressing:

• Shoe covers

• Coveralls

• Dosimetry

• Overshoes

• Surgical gloves

• Outer gloves

• Hood

• Respiratory equipment

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• Procedures for exiting a contaminated area

– Report to hot line exit area

– Health physics personnel will guide and assist in the

proper removal of PPE to minimize the spread of

contamination

– Place equipment in the designated drop area

– Health physics personnel will conduct a

contamination survey

– Health physics personnel will decontaminate and

resurvey as appropriate

Contamination Control

Five Point Survey

• A survey of hands, feet, and

face/head quickly evaluates

personnel for gross contamination

• First verify the instrument is

turned on and operational

• Hold the probe about 0.5 to 1 cm

from the surface to be surveyed

• Avoid touching the surface with

probe

• Move the probe slowly, about 2.5

to 5 cm/second

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Contaminated Clothing

Advise the individual to refrain from moving around

or touching the contaminated area

• Contain or remove areas of gross contamination

• Carefully remove and store all contaminated

clothing

• Resurvey clothing after each tape press to

evaluate effectiveness

• Save contaminated clothing for future analysis if

internal contamination suspected

• Perform a whole body survey

20

Skin Contamination Assessment

• Survey/measure skin contamination

• Determine level of contamination

• Determine size of the contaminated

area

• Determine length of time on skin

• Identify radionuclides involved

21

Decontamination

There are three factors that determine the

course of action to be taken for decontamination:

1. Physical condition of the worker

2. Activity of radionuclide(s) present

3. Location of contamination on the body

22

Skin Decontamination

Precautions

• Prevent contaminated

water from entering body

openings

• Use only lukewarm water

• Medical care takes precedence

• Modesty issues need to be

addressed

• Use biohazard bags and

gloves

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Decontamination or Transport of

Injured Personnel

Decontamination factors to consider:

• Treatment of a major injury take precedence over decontamination

• Taking off all outer clothing may remove up to 90% of contamination

• Ease with which decontamination can be accomplished

• Potential for spreading contamination

• Contaminating a wound

• Added dose by delaying decontamination

• Inform hospital of radiological issues

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Documentation

Develop a “Real-Time" history:

• Activity of contamination

• Location of contamination

• Area of contamination

• Decontamination method used

• Effectiveness of

decontamination method

• Estimated exposure time when

contamination on skin

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Summary

• Review of the purpose of using PPE

• Factors that determine PPE usage and levels

• Proper dressing (donning) and undressing (doffing)

procedures

• Provided an overview of personal decontamination

26

Personal Protective Equipment

(PPE)

Questions/Discussion