1. Chapter 11 Decontamination
Textbook Page
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2. Objectives Define The Following Terms Area Of safe Refuge Area
Contaminant
Contamination
Decontamination
Decontamination Corridor
Decontamination Officer
Decontamination Team
Degradation
Disinfection
Emergency Decontamination

3. Objectives
Exposure
Mass Decontamination
Gross Decontamination
Technical Decontamination
Sterilization
Describe The Difference Between Contamination And Exposure, And Their Significance In Decontamination Operations.
Describe The Difference Between Surface Contamination And Permeation Contamination, And Their Significance In Decontamination Operations.

4. Objectives
Describe The Difference Between Direct Contamination And Cross Contamination, And Their Significance In Site Safety Operations.
Define The Following Terms And Describe Their Potential Harmful Effects To The Human Body Relating To Contamination:
Highly Acute Toxicity Contaminants
Moderate To Highly Chronic Toxicity Contaminants
Embryo toxic Contaminants
Allergenic Contaminants
Flammable Contaminants

5. Objectives
Highly Reactive Or Explosive Contaminants
Water Reactive Contaminants
Etiologic Contaminants
Radioactive Contaminants
Describe The Phases Of The Decontamination Process And Their Significance In DECON Operations
Gross DECON
Secondary DECON

6. Objectives
Describe The Following Types Of Decontamination Operations, And Their Application And Implementation At A Hazardous Materials Incident.
Emergency DECON
Technical DECON
Mass DECON

7. Objectives
Identify The Advantages And Limitations, And Describe An Example Where Each Of The Following Decontamination Methods Would Be Used: [NFPA (1)]
Absorption
Adsorption
Brushing And Scraping
Chemical Degradation
Dilution
Disinfection

8. Objectives Sterilization Evaporation Heating And Freezing
Isolation And Disposal (I.E., “Dry DECON”)
Neutralization
Pressurized Air
Solidification
Vacuuming
Washing

9. Objectives
Identify Three Sources Of Technical Information For Selecting Decontamination Procedures And Identify How To Contact Those Sources In An Emergency. [NFPA (2)]
Identify Considerations Associated With The Placement, Set-up And Operation Of The Decontamination Area. [NFPA ]

10. Objectives
List Three Types Of Fixed Or Engineered Safety Systems Which May Be Used To Assist Emergency Responders In Implementing DECON Operations Within Special Hazmat Facilities.
Define The Term "Clean-up" And Its Coordination With Decontamination Operations.
Describe Four General Clean-up Concerns When Decontaminating Equipment.

11. Introduction
Proper DECON Is Essential To Ensure The Safety Of Emergency Responders And The Public.
In This Text, We Have Adopted The Decon Terminology Referenced In NFPA 471, 472 And 473.
The Simplicity Of Decontamination Has Been Compared To Changing An Infant’s Diaper
Remove It From Others
Keep It Off Yourself
Don’t Spread It Around!
DECON Needs To Be An Adaptive And Flexible Procedure

12. Basic Principles Of Decontamination
The Process Of Decontamination Basically Involves The Physical Removal Or Neutralization Of Contaminants From Personnel And Equipment.
The Entire Process Of Decontamination Should Be Directed Toward Confinement Of The Contaminant Within The Hot Zone And Neutralizing It Within The DECON Corridor To Maintain The Safety And Health Of Response Personnel, And The General Public.
The Best Method Of Decontamination Is To Avoid Contamination.
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13. Terminology And Definitions
Contaminant
Contamination
Exposure
Decontamination
DECON
Contamination Reduction
Degradation
Disinfection
Sterilization

14. Terminology And Definitions
Safe Refuge Area
Decontamination Team
Decontamination Corridor
Phase and Methods of DECON
Gross Decontamination
Secondary Decontamination
Emergency Decontamination
Technical Decontamination
Mass Decontamination

15. Understanding The Basics Of Contamination
The Level Of DECON Will Always Be Based Upon The Level Of Contamination.
Four Basic Concepts Of Contamination Are:
How To Prevent Contamination
Surface Vs. Permeation Contamination
Direct Vs. Cross Contamination
Types Of Contaminants

16. Preventing Contamination
Contamination Is Any Form Of Hazardous Material (Solid, Liquid, Or Gas) That Physically Remains On People, Animals, Or Objects.
Exposure Means That A Person Has Been Subjected To A Toxic Substance Or Harmful Physical Agent Through Any Route Of Entry Into The Body (E.G., Inhalation, Ingestion, Injection, Or By Direct Contact (Skin Absorption).
A Responder Who Has Been “Contaminated” When Wearing PPE Has Not Necessarily Been “Exposed.”

17. Preventing Contamination
Exposures Can Occur Through A Breach Or Failure Of PPE, The Exposure Can Occur If The PPE Is Accidentally Breached During An Operation, But PPE Failures Rarely Happen.
The Most Common Cause Of Contamination Comes From Poor Decontamination And Clean-up Operations.
Consider The Following Basic Principles To Prevent Contamination:
Stress Work Practices That Minimize Contact With Hazardous Substances.

18. Preventing Contamination
If Contact Is Made With A Contaminant, Move Contaminated ERP Personnel To An Area Of safe Refuge Area Within The Hot Zone Until They Can Be Decontaminated.
Keep Your Respiratory Protection SCBA Or Air Purifying Respirator (Apr) On As Long As Possible During The DECON Process.
Use Of Limited- Use / Disposable Protective Clothing Or Over-garments Can Significantly “Lighten” Your DECON Requirements.
Use A Systematic Approach To DECON. Don’t “Wing It.”

19. Surface Vs. Permeation Contamination
Surface Contaminants Are Found On The Outer Surface Of A Material But Have Not Been Absorbed Into The Material.

20. Surface Vs. Permeation Contamination
Permeation Contaminants Are Absorbed Into A Material At The Molecular Level. Permeated Contaminants Are Often Difficult Or Impossible To Detect And Remove.

21. Surface Vs. Permeation Contamination
Factors That Influence Permeation Include:
Contact Time
Concentration
Temperature
Physical State

22. Direct Vs. Cross Contamination
Direct Contamination Occurs When A Person Comes In Direct Physical Contact With A Contaminant. Direct Contamination Can Also Happen , Or When A Person Comes Into Contact With Any Object That Has The Contaminant On It
Cross Contamination (A.K.A. Secondary Contamination) Occurs When A Person Who Is Already Contaminated Makes Contact With A Person Or Object That Is Not Contaminated.

23. Direct Vs. Cross Contamination
Once The Contaminated Individual Person Physically Contacts The Uncontaminated Person, The Contaminant Is Transferred And Both Individuals Are Now Contaminated To The Other Person, And They Are Now Also Contaminated.
This Process Of Cross Contamination Can Go On And On, And Spread From One Person To The Next As They Touch More People And Objects.

24. Types Of Contaminants
The Types Of Contaminants Can Be Divided Into Eight Different Categories Based On Their Primary Hazards. These Include:
Highly Acute Toxicity Contaminants
Moderate To High Chronic Toxicity Contaminants
Embryotoxic Contaminants
Allergenic Contaminants
Flammable Contaminants
Highly Reactive Or Explosive Contaminants
Water Reactive Contaminants

25. Types Of Contaminants Etiologic Contaminants Radioactive Contaminants
Virulence
Dose
Physical Environment
Personal Health Status
Radioactive Contaminants
Alpha Emmiters
Beta Emmiters
Gamma Emitters
All Three Hazards May Present

26. Decontamination Methods
Decontamination Methods Can Be Divided Into Two Basic Categories: Physical And Chemical.
Physical Methods Generally Involve “Physically” Removing The Contaminant From The Contaminated Person Or Object.
Chemical Methods Generally Involve Removing The Contaminant Through Some Type Of Chemical Process.
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27. Examples of Physical Methods
Absorption
Absorbent Works By “Soaking Up” The Contaminant
Adsorption
Adsorbent Adds Itself Or “Sticks To” The Contaminant.
Brushing Or Scraping
Freezing

28. Examples of Physical Methods
Dilution / Washing
Isolation And Disposal
Heating
Pressurized Air
Vacuuming
Evaporation

29. Examples of Chemical Methods
Chemical Degradation
Commonly Used Degradation Agents Include Calcium Hypochlorite Bleach, Sodium Hypochlorite Bleach, Sodium Hydroxide As A Saturated Solution (Household Drain Cleaner), Sodium Carbonate Slurry (Washing Soda), Calcium Oxide
Degradation Chemicals Should Never Be Applied Directly To The Skin!
Note: The Use Of Sodium Hypochlorite Or Bleach Solutions Can Have Adverse Effects On Any Firefighting Protective Clothing Or Equipment Using Kevlar Or Kevlar Blends

30. Examples of Chemical Methods …
Neutralization
Solidification
Disinfection
There Are Two Major Categories Of Disinfectants:
Chemical Disinfectants
Antiseptic Disinfectants
Sterilization

31. Effectiveness Of Decon Operations
The Effectiveness Of Any DECON Method Should Be Assessed At The Beginning And Periodically Throughout The Operation.
Criteria For Evaluating DECON Effectiveness:
No Personnel Are Exposed To Concentrations Above The TLV/TWA.
Personnel Are Not Exposed To Skin Contact With Materials Presenting A Skin Hazard.
Contamination Levels Are Reduced As Personnel Move Through The DECON Corridor.

32. Effectiveness Of Decontamination
Contamination Is Confined To The Hot Zone And DECON Corridor.
Contamination Is Reduced To A Level That Is As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA).
Methods for Assessing Effectiveness of DECON
Visual Observation
Monitoring Devices
Wipe Sampling
Note: It Should Be Noted That There Is Currently No Practical Way To Determine The Effectiveness Of Decontamination In The Field For Most Etiologic Hazards.

33. DECON Site Selection And Management
Before Initiating Decontamination, The IC And The DECON Officer Must Decide
How Much And What DECON Method Is Required
To What Extent DECON Will Be Accomplished In The Field.
These Decisions Should Be Based On The Answers To The Following Questions:
Can DECON Be Conducted Safely?
Are Existing Resources Immediately Available To DECON Personnel And Equipment?
Can The Equipment Used Be Decontaminated?
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34. The Decontamination Team
DECON Team Functions Include:
Research And Development Of The DECON Plan
Set-up And Operation Of An Effective Decontamination Area
Capable Of Handling All Potential Exposures
Entry Personnel
Contaminated Patients
And Equipment.
The DECON Team Is Managed By The DECON Officer, Who Reports To The Hazmat Branch Supervisor.

35. The Decontamination Team …
The DECON Officer Performs The Following Activities:
Determine The Appropriate Level Of Decontamination To Be Provided.
Ensure That Proper DECON Procedures Are Used By The DECON Team, Including DECON Area Set-up, DECON Methods And Procedures, Staffing, And Protective Clothing Requirements.
Coordinate DECON Operations With The Entry Officer And Other Personnel Within The Hazmat Branch.

36. The Decontamination Team …
Coordinate The Transfer Of Decontaminated Patients Requiring Medical Treatment And Transportation With The Hazmat Medical Group.
Ensure That The DECON Area Is Established Before Any Entry Personnel Are Allowed To Enter The Hot Zone, Whenever Possible.
Monitor The Effectiveness Of DECON Operations.
Appoint Or Act As An Accountability Officer To Limit Access To Personnel Entering And Operating Within The DECON Area.

37. The Decontamination Team …
Coordinate The Transfer Of Decontaminated Patients Requiring Medical Treatment And Transportation With The Hazmat Medical Group.
Ensure That The DECON Area Is Established Before Any Entry Personnel Are Allowed To Enter The Hot Zone, Whenever Possible.
Monitor The Effectiveness Of DECON Operations.
Appoint Or Act As An Accountability Officer To Limit Access To Personnel Entering And Operating Within The DECON Area.

38. DECON Site Selection
Outside The DECON Site Should Be Accessible Form A Hard Surface Road
Ideal Outdoor DECON Site Is Upwind And Uphill From The Incident
Attention Should Be Paid To Drains, Manholes And Waterways
Decon Indoors Consideration Should Be Given To Hallways, Slope Of The Floor, Drains And Ventilation Air Flow

39. DECON Site Selection
Complete DECON May Be Impractical To Achieve At A Single Location, So A Combination Of On-site And Off-site Contingencies May Be Necessary.
The DECON Corridor Is Simply A Pathway From The Hot Zone Into The DECON Area
Some Scenarios Will Require Multiple DECON Corridors.
Response Scenarios In Which The DECON Area Is Physically Separated From The “Problem” By A Large Distance Can Pose Additional Challenges For Responders.

40. DECON Corridor

41. Staffing And Personal Protection
The DECON Officer Should Be Trained To The Hazardous Materials Technician Level (Or Equivalent).
Each Staffed DECON Station Should Have At Least One DECON Member Assigned
Those Stations Which Require Entry Personnel To Be Scrubbed Or To Remove Their PPE Should Be Staffed With Two DECON Members, If Possible.

42. Staffing And Personal Protection
The Level Of Skin And Respiratory Protection Required By DECON Team Members Will Be Dependent Upon:
The Type Of Contaminants Involved
The Level Of Contamination Encountered By Entry Personnel
Where Individuals Are Working Along The DECON Line.

43. Tactical And Safety Considerations
The DECON Team Should Be Dressed In Chemical Protective Clothing And Equipment Based On The Hazards And Risks Of The Contaminants They Will Be Decontaminating.
The Most Common Level Of Protection For The DECON Team Is Chemical Splash Protective Clothing
Extended Entry Operations Will Require That The DECON Team Be Provided With An Uninterrupted Air Supply.

44. Tactical And Safety Considerations
Respiratory Protection For DECON Team Members May Be Downgraded To PAPR's Or APR's Providing That Air Monitoring Is Conducted And Filter Cartridges Are Compatible With The Concentration Of Contaminants Present.
All DECON Team Personnel Must Be Decontaminated Before Leaving The DECON Area

45. Types Of Decontamination
Field DECON
While There Are A Variety Of Different Approaches To DECON, The Better Standard Operating Procedures Are Built Around Several Basic Principles:
Contaminated People And Equipment Generally Flow From The Dirty End (Area Of Highest Contamination) To The Clean End (Area Of Least Contamination).
Just Like The Car Wash, Decontamination Requires A Multiple-step Process To Reduce Contaminants To An Acceptable Level.
Conducting All Of The Cleaning Process At One Station Concentrates All Of The Contamination In One Area.
Multiple Decontamination Stations Make You Cleaner.
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46. Types Of Decontamination
Multi-step DECON Operations Can Be Broken Into Two Broad Phases:
Gross Decontamination —The Initial Phase Of The Decontamination Process During Which The Amount Of Surface Contaminant Is Significantly Reduced. In Simple Terms, It Is Designed To Remove Most Of The “Big Stuff.”
Secondary Decontamination –The Second Phase Of The Decontamination Process Designed To Physically Or Chemically Remove Surface Contaminants To A Safe And Acceptable Level.
Depending On The Scope And Nature Of The Incident, Multiple Secondary DECON Steps May Be Implemented.
Technical DECON Incorporates Both Gross And Secondary Phases.

47. DECON Information Sources
Sources For Determining The Appropriate DECON Methods And Related Information Can Include:
Product Specialists
Technical Information Specialists
Technical Information Centers,
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Emergency Response Guidebooks
Some Online Computer Databases Now Incorporate DECON Information.

48. DECON Information Sources – Bottom Line
Bottom Line: There Is No One Single Best Resource For Acquiring Field Decontamination Information.
Remember The “Rule Of Three’s”
Failure To Consult With “Live, Talking Technical Information Sources” At Working Hazmat Incidents With High Technical Or Political Risks Will Increase The Potential For An Unacceptable Outcome

49. Types of DECON
Different Type of Decontamination may be required based on the nature of the Problem, urgency of the situation, the number of people contaminated, and the scope of contamination.
The Three Types of Decontamination
Emergency Decon
Technical Decon
Mass Decon

50. Types of DECON
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51. Emergency Decontamination
Emergency Decontamination is The Physical Process Of Immediately Reducing Contamination Of Individuals In Potentially Life-threatening Situations With Or Without The Formal Establishment Of A Decontamination Corridor. This Is Not A Controlled Situation.
Some Key Points To Remember:
Establish An Area Of Refuge As Soon As Possible.
Establish A Gross DECON Area Using Some Form Of Water.
Provide Emergency Medical Care For The Victims Within The Available Resources On Hand.
Remember The Basics – Flush – Strip – Flush.

52. Technical DECON
Technical Decontamination Is The Planned And Systematic Process Of Reducing Contamination To A Level That Is As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA).
Technical DECON Is A Multi-step Process In Which Contaminated Individuals Are Cleansed With The Assistance Of Trained Personnel.
Technical DECON Is Similar To A Car Wash
There Is An Entry Point And An Exit Point (I.E., The DECON Corridor).

53. Technical DECON …
In Between The Entry Point (I.E., Hot Zone) And The Exit Point (I.E., Warm Zone / Cold Zone Interface), Several Progressive Cleaning Steps Takes Place To Remove The Dirt (Same As The Contaminants).
Most Of The Dirt Is Removed In The Initial Stage Of The Car Wash (I.E., Gross DECON)
The Car Becomes Cleaner As It Moves Through The Various Cleaning Stages (I.E., Secondary DECON).

54. The Technical DECON Process
There Are Nine Basic Steps In Technical DECON:
Tool Drop
Overglove / Overboot Drop
Gross DECON
Secondary DECON
PPE Removal
Respiratory Protection Removal
Clothing Removal
Body Wash
Medical Evaluation

55. DECON Flow- Clean / Dirty

56. MASS Decontamination
Mass Decontamination Is Established When Large Numbers Of People (I.E., Civilians Or Responders) Need To Be Decontaminated At The Scene Of A Hazmat Emergency
Mass DECON Operations Are Based Upon The Following Basic Principles:
Removing Clothing Is A Form Of DECON Which Can Remove The Majority Of The Contaminants.
Once Clothing Has Been Removed, Flushing A Victim With A Low Pressure / High Volume Shower Of Water Will Remove Additional Amounts Of The Contaminant.
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57. MASS Decontamination …
Water Flushing Can Be Delivered In A Variety Of Methods Including:
Establishment Of Mass DECON Corridors Using Either Hand Lines
Use Of Portable Shower Set-ups
The Use Of Sprinkler Heads In A Building.
Multiple Bathroom Showers

58. It’s All About People
The Greatest Challenge In A Mass DECON Operation Will Be The Management And Control Of People.
Timing Is Everything!
Law Enforcement Will Play A Key Role In Assisting With Mass DECON.
The Ability To Establish A Safe Refuge Area And Maintain Effective Site Management And Control Will Be Critical Until The Mass DECON Corridor Is Established.

59. It’s All About People
Psychology Will Play A Major Factor In A Mass DECON Scenario
Majority Of The Victims May Not Be Contaminated And Are “Worried.”
When Dealing With Large Numbers Of Victims, Quick Air Monitoring And Detection Is Crucial..

60. The Mass DECON Process
The Following Tasks And Factors Should Be Incorporated Into The Mass DECON Procedure Including:
Protective Clothing
DECON Prioritization
Ambulatory Vs. Non-ambulatory Victims
Cold Weather Operations
Mass DECON Operations Using Fire Apparatus
Single Engine Company Response Procedure
Multiple Engine Company Response Procedure
Multiple Engine / Ladder Apparatus Response Procedure

61. DECON Operations Inside Special Buildings
High Hazard Research And Manufacturing Facilities Are Often Designed And Engineered For Specific Emergency Response Scenarios.
The Following Factors Should Be Considered When Evaluating Fixed Facilities For DECON Operations DECON Rooms:
Ventilation Systems
Positive And Negative Pressure Atmospheres
Safety Showers & Emergency Eyewash Fountains
Fixed Air Supply Systems
Personal Protective Clothing And Equipment

62. Clean-up Operations
The Term “Clean-up” Means Different Things To Different Emergency Response Personnel.
For Our Purposes, Clean-up Activities Consist Of Any Work Performed At The Emergency Scene By Emergency Responders, Which Is Directed Toward Removing Contaminated Protective Clothing, Tools, Dirt, Water, Etc.
General Clean-up Options
Conduct A Limited-scale Clean-up Of Key Emergency Response Equipment Such As Fire Apparatus
Conduct Clean-up Using A Qualified And Authorized Outside Contractor.
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63. Clean-up Operations
Once Responders Are Decontaminated, The Rules Of The Game Shift From One Of Being An “Emergency Responder” To “Hazardous Waste Generator.”
Agencies Which Should Be Consulted In The Development Of Equipment DECON Plans Can Include:
Water/Sewage Treatment Facilities.
Pollution Control (State Environmental Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Or U.S. Coast Guard)
Product Specialists

64. Equipment General Guidelines
Consult Product Specialists Before Initiating DECON And Clean-up Operations.
Small And Portable Equipment Clean-up
The Following Issues And Concerns Should Be Considered:
Hand Tools
Monitoring Instruments
Fire Hose
Motor Vehicle And Heavy Equipment Clean-up
Establish A DECON Pad As A Primary Wash Station.
Completely Wash And Rinse Vehicles Several Times
Engines Exposed To Toxic Dusts Or Vapors Should Have Their Air Filters Replaced

65. Post Incident DECON Concerns
General Concerns
Debriefing
A Debriefing Should Be Held For Those Involved In Decontamination And Clean-up As Soon As Practical.
Site Security And Custody.
Take Appropriate Security Measures
Make Sure Appropriate Warning Signs Are Posted And Labels Are Attached To Containers
Make Sure Containers Are Properly Sealed

66. Hazardous Waste Handling And Disposal
Regulatory Compliance
Local, State, And Federal Regulations Require That Hazardous Wastes Be Disposed In A Specific Manner
All Personnel Involved In The Disposal Of Hazardous Waste Must Be Trained In The Provisions Of The Federal Resource Conservation And Recovery Act (RCRA)
Hazardous Waste Containers
All Containers With Materials Designated As Hazardous Waste Should Be Visibly Identified With The Proper Markings
Only Approved Chemically Compatible Containers Of Sufficient Strength Should Be Used For Hazardous Waste

67. Summary
Decontamination Is The Process Of Making People, Equipment, And The Environment Safe From Hazardous Materials Contaminants.
The Basic Concepts Of Decontamination Are Relatively Simple. If Contact With The Contaminant Can Be Controlled And Minimized, The Need For Decontamination Can Be Reduced.

68. Summary
The Safety And Health Hazards Of The Contaminants At Any Incident Will Define How Complex DECON Operations Will Be.
Regardless Of The Number Of Decontamination Steps Required, Decontamination Is Most Effective When It Is Carried Out By A Trained Decontamination Team Using Multiple Cleaning Stations

69. O.T. and The Kid