DECONTAMINATION

REGULATION OSHA 1910.120(q) Employer shall develop plans Operations level = basic implementation Technician = understand and implement Specialist = determine and implement IC = understand importance

DEFINITION The process of removing or neutralizing contaminants that have accumulated on personnel, property, and equipment

DECONTAMINATION PLAN Development Part of scene safety plan Person responsible

DECONTAMINATION PLANREASONS Number and layout of decon stations Equipment needs Appropriate decon methods Preventing contamination of clean areas Contaminant contact minimized Disposal of clothing and equipment

DECONTAMINATION PLAN FLEXIBILITY REVISE THE PLAN WHENEVER: Level of PPE changes Ambient or other conditions change Hazards are reassessed TRAIN ALL PERSONNEL ON THE PLAN

CONTAMINATION PREVENTION SAFE WORK PRACTICES DO NOT (if possible): Walk, sit, or stand, get splashed by, or come in contact with airborne or liquid materials Use contaminated equipment and instruments

CONTAMINATION PREVENTION DO: Use disposable garments and equipment when possible Cover equipment and tools when possible Use proper donning and doffing procedures Use remote sampling and handling equipment Encase the source of contamination with plastic sheeting or overpacks

CONTAMINATION PREVENTION PPE INSPECTION Ensure there are no cuts or punctures Close all flaps, zippers, buttons, and ties Tape openings of gloves, boots, and jackets Dress prior to entering work zone

CONTAMINATION LOCATION Surface only or permeated into PPE Sometimes easy to detect and remove on the surface Permeated material may be difficult or impossible to detect and remove Without removal, permeation continues until breakthrough occurs

FIVE MAJOR FACTORS OF PERMEATION Contact time Chemical concentration Temperature Ambient Chemical Size of chemical molecules and pore space of PPE material Physical state (solid, liquid, or gas)

THREE DECON METHODS 1. Physical removal Dislodging / displacing Washing / rinsing Wiping / brushing Evaporation High pressure (air or water) Disposal Vacuum (dry decon)

THREE DECON METHODS 2. Chemical removal Done only if recommended by a chemist, industrial hygienist, or qualified professional 3. Inactivation (rendering inert) Chemical detoxification Disinfection Sterilization

EPA RECOMMENDS ONLY SOAP AND WATER FOR ALL WET DECON CLEANING SOLUTIONS EPA RECOMMENDS ONLY SOAP AND WATER FOR ALL WET DECON Before using any other solution, contact the chemical manufacturer and check chemical compatibility and suit material compatibility

EXAMPLES OF CLEANING CHEMICALS

TESTING DECON EFFECTIVENESS Visual observation Natural light Discoloration or stains Material degradation and breakdown Ultraviolet light Some hydrocarbons become visible Colorimetric tube Individual chemical testing

TESTING DECON EFFECTIVENESS Wipe sampling Natural light Dry or wet cloth swab; send to lab Sample inner and outer surfaces Cleaning solution analysis Sample final rinse pH of final rinse Permeation testing Send sample pieces of suit to lab

HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS Compatibility of decon solution with PPE and hazardous substances Possible health hazard to workers Effective decon methods Decon line established before anyone enters the Hot Zone

DECON DESIGN Located in the Contamination Reduction Zone (CRZ) between the Hot and Cold Zones The level and type of decon are dependent on the material(s) found Should include emergency contingencies

CONTAMINATION REDUCTION ZONE Equipment Decontamination Hot Zone Hot Line Exit Path Wash and Rinse Wind Tank change Auxiliary access control path CRZ Emergency Decon Dirty Side Warm Zone Clean Side CRC Redress Cold Line Cold Zone Enter Path Support Staff

CONTAMINATION REDUCTION ZONE Recommended heavy equipment DECON

DECON PROCEDURES Place chemically impervious ground cover in decon area Follow a series of specific tasks Perform work at several separate stations to prevent cross contamination Perform work in order of decreasing contamination (dirty to clean)

DECON PROCEDURES Set up in a straight line when possible Size depends on: Number of work stations Scene layout and topography Usually 75' x 15' is adequate

Overall DECON

Entering the DECON corridor

Personnel DECON

Emergency Shower

19-STEP DECON LINE 7 Suit and boot wash 8 Suit and boot rinse 10 Tape removal Boot cover and glove wash Decon Layout Level A Protection Boot cover removal Segregated equipment drop Outer glove removal 5 4 3 2 Exclusion/ Hot Zone 1 6 BC and G rinse HOT LINE 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Suit and boot wash Suit and boot rinse Safety boot removal FES removal CBA backpack removal Inner glove wash Inner glove rinse Face piece removal Inner glove removal Inner clothing removal 9 Tank change Contamination Reduction or Warm Zone Contamination Reduction Corridor Field wash 18 COLD LINE Support or Cold Zone 19 Redress

Equipment Drop B drop all equipment except the information that goes to the Command Center

Gross wash and rinse done by the Entry Team personnel with assistance from DECON personnel

DECON personnel conduct the second wash and rinse

Final rinse

Decision: Change-out tank or remove suit?

Tank change-out done by the “rinser”

Removal of the chemical suit

SCBA Removal

Field wash and rinse, or shower, or DECON trailer

DECON shower with privacy curtain

Shower B PVC pipe and a 200-gal. catch basin

Shower and final rinse

Shower for cooling personnel

DECON trailer

Stools for members of the Entry Team remaining in their suits B medical monitoring and debriefing

Medical monitoring and debriefing for out-of-suit personnel

Air-inflatable tent used for medical monitoring and debriefing

DECON line diagrammed onto a clear polyethylene sheet

F.S.O.P. No. 7 MINIMUM A AND B DECON 201 Wind direction Decon solution Water 201 Support Zone Decon outer garments Equipment drop Remove boot covers and outer gloves Remove boots/gloves and outer garments (For disposal and offsite decontamination) Tank changeover point Plastic sheet Hot Line Can (10 gallon) Exclusion zone Can (32 gallon) Contamination Reduction Zone Remove SCBA

EPA's 7-STEP DECON LINE Exclusion or Hot Zone Support or Cold Zone Decon Layout Level A and B Protection Exclusion or Hot Zone 1 Segregated equipment drop HOT LINE 2 Outer boot, glove, FES wash and rinse 3 Outer boot and glove removal Tank change 4 Contamination Reduction or Warm Zone 5 Boot, glove, and FES removal 6 SCBA removal Contamination Reduction Corridor COLD LINE Field wash 7 Support or Cold Zone

7-step Decontamination Line

DECON COMPLETE LAYOUT Sta. #2 Sta. #1 Sta. #4 Sta. #3 Sta. #5 Sta. #6 Station # 1 - Gross Wash and Rinse Station # 2 - Second Wash and Rinse Station # 4 - Tank Change / Cartridge Station # 6 - Field Wash or Shower AA. Vacuum B. Bucket with brush F. Stools D. Trash can BB. Extra pads C. Plastic pool K. Cylinders G. Shower ( if used ) A. Equipment drop E. Wash solution L. Supply of outer gloves O. Table B. Bucket with brush H. Drums for spent solution M. Outer boot covers P. Bucket of soap and water C. Plastic pool I. Garden hose with spray wand Q. Bucket of water D. Bucket for trash J. Stabilizing device Station # 5 - Equipment Removal R. Supply of inner suits E. Wash solution D. Trash can F. Stool Station # 3 - Final Rinse F. Stools Station # 7 - Medical Monitoring / Debriefing G. Shower (if used) C. Plastic pool H. Drums for trash F. Stools H. Drums for spent solution G. Shower (if used) N. Trash bags O. Table H. Drums for spent solution O. Table S. Blood pressure cuff and thermometer I. Garden hose with spray wand P. Bucket of soap and water J. Stabilizing device Q. Bucket of water K I ENTRY EXIT CLEAN SIDE N Sta. 7 H S O D B E C J G Q P R A DIRTY SIDE HOT ZONE WARM ZONE COLD ZONE Area Emergency Decon L M F RETURN TO HOT ZONE Sta. #2 Sta. #1 Sta. #4 Sta. #3 Sta. #5 Sta. #6

PERSONAL PROTECTION Decon workers can set up the decontamination reduction corridor in level D protection Once the warm zone has been activated, the minimum level of protection is one level less or the same as the entry team's The first position in decon may require a greater level than the rest

DISPOSAL METHODS All equipment used must be disposed of or decontaminated properly All spent solutions must be collected and disposed of properly Clothing and solid materials must be placed in plastic bags pending further testing, decon, and/or disposal according to local, state, or federal standards

DECON workers must clean up their area, restock, then DECON themselves

Basic emergency DECON set-ups

EMERGENCY DECONTAMINATION The primary concern is for response personnel, then the public Prevent loss of life Prevent severe injury Plan for medical emergencies Decon victim(s) Protect medical personnel

EMERGENCY DECONTAMINATION Decision to decon victim is based on: Type and severity of contamination or injury Immediate life-saving and first aid needs Aggravation of the injury or delay of life-saving treatment

EMERGENCY DECONTAMINATION Alert medical personnel of potential contamination; protect medic unit Send chemical information with the victim Send response personnel familiar with the incident with victim if possible

Dispose of contaminated PPE

Wash, rinse, and/or cut off PPE or clothing