1. DECONTAMINATION

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

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

4. DECONTAMINATION PLAN Development Part of scene safety plan
Person responsible

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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)

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. EXAMPLES OF CLEANING CHEMICALS

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. CONTAMINATION REDUCTION ZONE
Recommended heavy equipment DECON

22. 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)

23. 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

24. Overall DECON

25. Entering the DECON corridor

26. Personnel DECON

27. Emergency Shower

28. 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

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

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

31. DECON personnel conduct the second wash and rinse

32. Final rinse

33. Decision: Change-out tank or remove suit?

34. Tank change-out done by the “rinser”

35. Removal of the chemical suit

36. SCBA Removal

37. Field wash and rinse, or shower,
or DECON trailer

38. DECON shower with privacy curtain

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

40. Shower and final rinse

41. Shower for cooling personnel

42. DECON trailer

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

44. Medical monitoring and debriefing for out-of-suit personnel

45. Air-inflatable tent used for medical monitoring and debriefing

46. DECON line diagrammed onto a clear polyethylene sheet

47. 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

48. 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

49. 7-step Decontamination Line

50. 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

51. 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

52. 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

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

54. Basic emergency
DECON
set-ups

55. 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

56. 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

57. 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

58. Dispose of contaminated PPE

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