Module 5: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Decontamination

2 Objective Upon the successful completion of this module, participants will be able to select the appropriate PPE for use in incidents related to biodiesel production. Participants will also be able to effectively conduct decontamination efforts on PPE after an incident.

3 Introduction  Need to be aware of need for PPE  Sometimes structural fire fighting gear will serve needs  Other times will need to don CPC

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  Selection of PPE based on hazard to responders  All responders must at least be trained to operations level of NFPA 472  Important to define agency’s mission & identify potential hazards through preplanning facilities in jurisdiction 4

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  Purpose of PPE  Normal PPE for responders: –SFPC with SCBA  To provide intended level of protection, SFPC must be: –Well-fitting –Regularly cleaned & maintained –Donned & worn appropriately 5

Structural Firefighter Protective Clothing (SFPC)  Designed to provide limited thermal protection & protection from toxic by-products of combustion  Not designed to withstand contact 6 Copyright 2008, TEEX/ESTI

Structural Firefighter Protective Clothing (SFPC)  No layers / components SFPC designed to protect against chemicals  Quick “in-and-out” operation  Limitations of SFPC 7

Respiratory Protection  Inhalation major route of chemical exposure  2 types of respirators: –SCBA –SAR 8

Appropriate PPE Selection Planning Tip  Determine action level of flammable concern  If temperature of material & / or surface is greater than final calculation, choose PPE with thermal protection 9 Flash Point of the Material - Material Temperature = X X ÷ 2 = Y Y + Material Temperature = Action Level of Flammability Concern

Inspecting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  Effective PPE inspection program should include 5 different inspections  Conduct SCBA inspections mandated by law  Damaged / Deteriorated PPE assessed for either replacement / repair 10

Inspecting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  CPC: –Arrive at incident without necessary level of protection:  Work toward controlling incident until appropriate protective clothing arrives on scene –4 levels –Purpose 11

Inspecting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  CPC: –Level A protection:  Highest level of respiratory & skin protection  NFPA 1991  Indicators for use of Level A protection  Level A advantages  Level A limitations 12 Copyright 2008, TEEX/ESTI

Inspecting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  CPC: –Level B protection:  Same respiratory protection as Level A but less skin protection  Never use when possibility of contact with dangerous vapor / gas  NFPA 1992  Indicators for use of Level B protection 13 Copyright 2008, TEEX/ESTI

Inspecting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  CPC: –Level C protection:  NFPA 1992  EPA versus NFPA requirements  Indicators for use of Level C protection 14 Copyright 2008, TEEX/ESTI

Inspecting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  CPC: –Level D protection:  EPA & NFPA guidelines address normal workplace protections  More commonly used in industrial operations than fire service  No NFPA standard  Features of Level D protection  Indicators of Level D protection 15

Emergency Decontamination Procedures  Physically remove contaminants  Neutralize / Dilute contaminants  Remove contaminants by combination of both physical & chemical means 16

Emergency Decontamination Procedures  Decontamination strategies: –Need to be applicable to wide variety of environments –Should be modifiable during inclement weather  SOPs & alternatives should be developed & practiced 17

Emergency Decontamination Procedures  Emergency showers where corrosive materials are  Secondary contamination: –Contaminated clothing placed in plastic bags for further decontamination & disposal –Decontamination staging area set up away from scene 18

Emergency Decontamination Procedures  Decontamination guidelines: –Outer, more heavily contaminated items be decontaminated & removed first –Decontamination & removal of inner, less contaminated items next –All equipment must be decontaminated –Important things to remember 19

Activity 5.1 — Selection of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  Purpose: –To enable participants to demonstrate their understanding of the need for CPC at biodiesel incidents. 20

Summary  Biodiesel is generally considered nontoxic, ingredients for making it extremely toxic  Firefighters usually arrive on scene with only bunker gear for protection  Need to have idea of what kinds of CPC to don  ERG is useful tool for determining level of need  Effective decontamination required following toxic incident 21