Technical Decon & PPE

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

3. Ops Technical Decon PPE • When an Entry team is in Level A or B suits • Ops Level personnel should be in equal or one level lower PPE • You will be required to don a non-encapsulating Level B or C suit • SCBA are worn on the outside of these suits

4. SnoCo 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; e.g. decon, support, etc.

5. 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

6. What is PPE? • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Protective clothing, helmets, goggles, other garments, or equipment designed to protect the wearer from injury, contamination, or infection. • Main function of PPE • Act as shield between worker and agent-contaminated environment • Prevent the first responder from being contaminated by airborne or surface agents

7. 4 levels of PPE • Level A • Level B • Level C • Level D

8. Level A“Total Vapor Protection” • The product involved has been identified as one whose hazardous properties require the highest level of protection for skin, eyes, respiratory system, and mucus membranes. • Response functions expected to involve high potential for splash, immersion, or exposure to unexpected vapors, gases, or particulates of hazardous material. • Substances with a high degree of hazard to the skin are known or suspected to be present, especially corrosive gases.

9. Level B“High Level of Respiratory Protection Needed” • The type and atmospheric concentration of the toxic substance has been identified and requires a high level of respiratory protection, but less skin protection than Level A • Atmospheres with hazardous respiratory concentrations that exceed their IDLH, but does not represent a severe skin hazard • Minimum PPE when the atmosphere contains less than 19.5% oxygen or unknown respiratory hazard.

10. Level C“Keep Clean and use your PAPR” • Respirator cartridge MUST be matched to the airborne contaminate and it’s concentration. • No suitable when the hazard is at or above it’s IDLH • Main benefit is reduced weight and longer stay time than Level B PPE

11. Level D“Bunker Gear (w/o SCBA)” • Selected when the atmosphere contains no known hazards • Work functions preclude splashes, immersion, or the potential for unexpected inhalation or contact with hazardous levels of any chemicals • Structural firefighting gear or uniform

12. Suiting Up!

13. SnoCo HAZ/MAT - Level B PPE • Level “B” Suit • SCBA • Rubber boots • Inner gloves • Outer gloves • Yellow Chem-Tape for cuff seals

14. Items to leave in the Rig • Remove items that restrict movement or that may puncture the suit. • Remove items that you don’t want decontaminated. • Watches, wallets, glasses, keys, pocket knives, badges etc.

15. Hydrate • Suits get very warm and retain body heat • You can over heat even on cooler days • Drink plenty of water • No soda, sport drinks, or caffeine

16. De-Hydrate • Whenever possible, without delaying efforts • Think ahead and make every effort to use the restroom prior to suiting up, as long as the incident allows

17. Donning level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suits STEP 1 • Pre-entry briefing, ensuring you understand the mission • Medical monitoring, establishing a baseline • Meter Cockpit, reviewing the tools you’re taking with you

18. Donning level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suits STEP 2 • While seated, pull on the suit to waist level • Pull on the over boots • Pull the suit legs over the boots

19. Donning level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suits STEP 3 • Don the inner and outer gloves then apply Chem-Tape seal

20. Donning level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suits 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

21. Donning level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suits STEP 5 • Don the SCBA or PAPR face piece, do not connect the regulator/cartridge to the face piece yet • With assistance, pull the hood over the head and face piece

22. Donning level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suits STEP 6 • Instruct assistant to apply Chem-Tape seal around face piece. • Instruct the assistant to connect the regulator/cartridge to the face piece just prior to entry.

23. COMPLETED LEVEL B & C ENSEMBLE

24. Doffing level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suits 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

25. Doffing level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suits STEP 2 • Use gloved hands to unzip suit and remove from shoulders • Gently shake to release suit • Keep the outer gloves on “Outer” suit, try not to touch the inside of suit.

26. Doffing level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suits STEP 3 • Remove hand from outer glove • Gently shake hand to free glove • Use inner gloves on “inner” suit • Peel down like a banana

27. Doffing level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suits 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

28. Doffing level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suits STEP 5 • Stand and doff the SCBA face piece last

29. Doffing level B & C Non-Encapsulated Suits 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

30. 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

31. PPE Psychological Factors • Wearing full PPE reduces ability to see and hear clearly • Can be more difficult to recognize and communicate with others • Creates or increases feelings of isolation and confusion • Can cause frustration and claustrophobia • Experience with wearing and working in PPE can reduce these factors

32. 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 and watch your partner for signs of stress and fatigue • Critical jobs should be shared and work should be double-checked

33. Cold Stress Factors • Can directly affect an individual’s health and performance while wearing PPE • Can lower body temperature, resulting in hypothermic injuries • Wind, rain, snow and ice can exacerbate the effects of cold • Cold weather clothing and PPE may be difficult to integrate into standard hazmat PPE

35. Technical Decon When the Technical Decon unit arrives on scene they will need your assistance in setting up and operating the Decon equipment. 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 to assist in decon.

36. 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) • Technical Decon is a three-stage operation consisting of: • Gross decontamination shower • Primary decontamination • Secondary decontamination. • At MINIMUM the first two stages must be established before any entry into the hot zone can commence.

37. Technical Decon Corridor

38. LAYOUT GUIDELINES • First and Foremost – Obtain the Technical Decon Layout diagram from the Haz-Mat unit(s) on scene.

39. 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.

40. Gross Decon Shower and Basin

41. GENERAL LAYOUT GUIDELINES Cont. Following the basins, set up 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.

42. Zumro Showers Final stop in the Decon Corridor. • Placed at the liminal space between “Warm” Zone and Support “Cold” Zone. Decon Personnel shall inflate Zumro tent from SCBA cylinder or air pump.

43. Zumro shower and dress

44. 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.

45. 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 decon 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”.

46. DOFFING/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 back and down, inside out, to the ankles. • 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.

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

48. Company Level Training Opportunity • Review your dept. SOPs for HazMat/Spill Response • Find a Level B training suit • Practice donning, performing a simple task, and then appropriately doffing the suit.

49. THE END Presentation shared by Snohomish County Fire District 1