Technical Decon & PPE

• Review the PPE Section• Review the Level B&C Donning and Doffing • Review the Technical Decontamination

Technical Decon PPE

• When an Entry team is in Level A or B suits• Ops Level should be one level lower;– you will be required to don a non-encapsulating

Level B or C suit– SCBA worn on the outside

Snohomish Count HAZ/MAT Team Approach to PPE

• To provide protection in event of a chemical, biological, radiological, and/or nuclear (CBRN) event– Operations Level Fire Responders will be issued PPE

appropriate for job functions, i.e. decon, support, etc.

Who needs PPE and Training

• All First Responders designated as part of the emergency response to a chemical agent release

• All persons who anticipate being active in potentially hazardous environments

• Regular drills and training sessions designed to maintain familiarity with equipment should be incorporated into emergency response protocols

What is ppe?

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)– things worn to protect wearer from harmful contaminants

in the environment• Main function of PPE is to provide a shield– between worker and agent-contaminated environment– To be effective it must prevent the First Responder from

being contaminated by airborne or surface agents

4 levels of ppe

• Level A• Level B• Level C• Level D

Level A“Total Vapor Protection”

• The product involved has been identified as one whose properties require the highest level of protection for skin, eyes, and the respiratory system

• Operations and response functions involve high potential for splash, immersion or exposure to unexpected vapors, gases, or particulates of materials highly toxic to the skin

• Substances with a high degree of hazard to the skin are known or suspected to be present, and skin contact is possible

• Operations must be conducted in confined, poorly ventilated areas until the absence of substances requiring level A protection is determined

• Unknown substance release

• The type and atmospheric concentration of toxic substance has been identified and requires a high level of respiratory protection, but less skin protection than Level A. These would be atmospheres with concentrations that exceed their IDLH, but does not represent a severe skin hazard

• The atmosphere contains less then 19.5% oxygen

• It is highly unlikely that response activities will generate high concentrations of vapors, or splashes of material that will affect the skin of response personal

Level B“High Level of Respiratory Protection Needed”

Level C“Keep Clean and use your PAPR”

• The atmospheric contaminants, liquid splashes, or other direct contact may adversely affect or be absorbed through any exposed skin

• The types of air contaminants have been identified, concentrations measured, and an air-purifying respirator is available that can remove the contaminants

• All criteria for the use of PAPR are met

Level D“Bunker Gear”

• Selected when the atmosphere contains no known hazards

• Work functions preclude splashes, immersion, or the potential for unexpected inhalation of or contact with hazardous levels of any chemicals

• Structural firefighting gear or uniform

SC HAZ/MAT - Level B PPE

• SCBA• Level “B” Suit• Boots• Inner gloves• Outer Gloves• Yellow Chem-Tape

Remove Watches, Jewelry, etc

• Remove items that restrict movement

• Remove items that may puncture the suit

• Remove items that you don’t want decontaminated.

Hydrate

• Suits get very warm• You can over heat even

on cooler days• Drink Water• No soda, sport drinks or

caffeine

De-Hydrate

• As possible, as necessary,with delaying efforts

Donning level B- non encapsulated

STEP 1• Pre-entry briefing• Medical monitoring• Meter Cockpit

Donning level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suit

STEP 2• While seated, pull on

the suit to waist level• Pull on the over boots• Pull the suit legs over

the boots

Donning level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suit

STEP 3• Don the gloves

Donning level b & C Non-Encapsulated Suit

STEP 4• With assistance,

complete donning the suit by placing both arms in the suit and pulling the suit over shoulders

• Instruct the assistant to close the suit by closing the zipper and sealing the splash flap

Donning level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suit

STEP 5• Don the SCBA and face

piece, do not connect the regulator to the face piece

• With assistance, pull the hood over the head and face piece

Donning level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suit

STEP 6• Don outer gloves and pull the sleeves over the

gloves• Instruct the assistant to tape sleeves and

gloves at the wrists• Instruct the assistant to connect the regulator

to the face piece

COMPLETED LEVEL B & C ENSEMBLE

Doffing level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suit

STEP 1• After completing

decontamination, proceed to the clean area for suit doffing

• Stand and doff the SCBA while keeping the face piece in place

Doffing level B& C Non-Encapsulated Suit

STEP 2• Use gloved hands to

unzip suit and remove from shoulders

• Gently shake to release suit

• Keep the outer gloves on “Outer” suit

Doffing level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suit

STEP 3• Remove hand from

outer glove• Gently shake hand to

free glove• Use inner gloves on

“inner” suit• Peel down like a banana

Doffing level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suit

STEP 4• Sit down and instruct the

assistant to complete rolling down the suit to the ankles

• Step out of the boots and the suit

Doffing level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suit

STEP 5• Stand and doff the SCBA

face piece last

Doffing level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suit

STEP 6• Carefully peel the inner

gloves away from the clean area

• Go to the rehab area for medical monitoring, rehydration, and personal decon shower

Heat stress factors

• PPE restricts heat loss mechanisms because of low permeability to water vapor

• Amount of heat accumulation depends upon– amount of physical activity– level of hydration– clothing worn– load carried– state of heat acclimatization– Fatigue– terrain and Weather

Psychological factors

• Wearing full PPE reduces ability to see and hear clearly

• Makes it more difficult to recognize and communicate with others

• Creates or increases feelings of isolation and confusion

• Causes frustration in many, and claustrophobia in others

• Experience in wearing and exercising in PPE can reduce these factors

Performance in PPE

• Firefighters wearing PPE will take about 1.5 times longer to perform most tasks

• Performance is affected by stress in a variety of ways:– reaction and decision times are longer– routine tasks are completed more slowly– errors of omission are more common

• Use the buddy system, a buddy can check for signs of stress and fatigue

• Critical jobs should be shared and work should be double-checked

Cold Stress factors

• Can directly affect an individual’s health and performance while wearing PPE

• Can lower body temperature, resulting in cold injuries and impaired performance

• Often accompanied by wind, rain, snow and ice, which can worsen the effects of cold

• Cold weather clothing and PPE may be difficult to integrate

Technical decon

• The Technical Decon unit will arrive on your scene and they will need your assistance in setting up and operating the Decon line. If the Entry team is in Level A or B suits you will be required to don a Non-Encapsulating (SCBA worn on the outside) Level B or C suit .

Technical Decon

• Technical Decontamination – This is the highest level of decontamination available in the field. Technical decontamination is under the direction of the Haz-Mat Group Supervisor (Radio call: Haz-Mat Group Supervisor) and Decon Officer (Radio call: Tech Decon)

• Three-stage operation consisting of:– Gross decontamination shower– Primary decontamination – Secondary decontamination.

• The second stage must be established as a minimum before any entry into the hot zone can commence.

Technical Decon corridor

LAYOUT GUIDELINES

First and foremost – Obtain the Technical Decon Layout diagram from the Haz-Mat unit(s) on scene.

GENERAL LAYOUT GUIDELINES Two (2) large ground tarps are placed on end to form the Decon

Corridor. Working from the Exclusion Zone “Hot” toward the Support Zone

“Cold” Erect two (2) decon basins with step grids inside, 8 feet apart. First basin closest to the hot zone shall have a collapsible shower

assembled with water hose attached. This is the first stage aka: Gross Decontamination Shower

Second basin has buckets of soap/solution, brushes, and hand sprayers. Be sure to turn off water when not needed to conserve run-off.

Gross Decon Shower and BASIN

GENERAL LAYOUT GUIDELINES Cont.

Following the basins shall be a doffing area. Chairs or benches, two (2) trash cans and bucket for hand washing.

Establish water supply 2-1/2” supply from apparatus or hydrant Utilize the multi-port manifold to supply garden hoses.

Personal Shower Setup: Zumro inflatable tent with water heater for personal showering. This shall be setup at the discretion of Tech Decon or Haz-Mat Group

Supervisor.

Zumro set up Final destination for Decon

Corridor. Placed at entry to the Support

“Cold” Zone. Decon Personnel shall inflate

Zumro tent from SCBA cylinder or air pump.

Zumro shower and dress

GROSS DECON SHOWER PROCEDURES

Have member fully rinse off while rotating under the shower a full 360 degrees.

Special attention given to the hands, under arms and soles of the boots.

Assistance may be needed while the technician walks to the next basin. Try to minimize contact with the technician if possible.

PRIMARY DECON (Scrub and Rinse)

After the technician has finished the gross shower he/she will enter the Primary Decon basin.

Decon Personnel will now scrub and rinse the Technician with prescribed solution(s).

Begin washing at the top of the head working downward. Special attention given to the hands, under arms and soles of the boots. If a Technician knows they have been contaminated they will point to a

specific location which means to wash this area extra thoroughly. Technicians are trained to follow Decon Personnel’s instructions…they

will follow your directions such as, "raise your arms or lift your foot”.

DOFFING AND SCBA drop Assist Technician with suit removal.

Decon Personnel shall only touch the outside of the suit and the Technician shall only touch the inside.

Decon Personnel will fully open suit closures and remove hood toward the back. Technician will pull arms out of suit with gloves still attached to the suit. Decon Personnel will fold the suit to the ankles folding the suit toward the outside

(inside out). Technician will step out of suit and then the suit is disposed of into trash can. Decon Personnel will assist with removing of the regulator and complete SCBA and

placed on the tarp. Remove SCBA mask and inner gloves by rolling inside out and dispose.

Technician will now enter Zumro or designated dressing area. Tyvek coveralls and towels shall be given to Technicians at this point. Technicians will bag clothing and personal artifacts then proceed to Medical.

End of the line

• After decontamination of the entry team(s) personnel staffing Technical Decon MUST decontaminate themselves by proceeding through the decontamination corridor.

Company Level Training Opportunity!!!

• Find out what your dept. SOPs are for HazMat/Spill Response

• Find a Level B “training” suit• Practice Donning, performing a simple task

and then appropriately doffing the suit.

THEEND

Presentation shared by Snohomish County Fire District 1