1. Hazardous Materials: Personal Protective Equipment
Chapter 27
Hazardous Materials: Personal Protective Equipment

2. Introduction PPE takes on many different shapes and versions
When dealing with hazardous materials, these configurations are endless
SCBA provides best respiratory protection
Firefighter turnout gear is not tested or approved for chemical spills
Persons trained to operations level may be required to don chemical protective clothing

3. Health Hazards Serious concern with hazardous materials emergencies
Can affect every responder
Protecting the body is easily accomplished

4. Toxicology The study of poisons and their effect on the body
Most industrial facilities have industrial hygienists on staff
Their primary focus is on chemical hazards existing within facility
They have extensive knowledge in toxicology and chemical exposures

5. Types of Exposures Exposure to a chemical may present a risk
Level defined in terms of potential hazard
Acute exposure
Chronic exposure
Acute exposure: body subjected to large dose in short time
May cause injuries from minimal to major
Chronic exposure: multiple exposures over a long period of time

6. Types of Hazards
Several methods used to identify possible hazards at a chemical release
TRACEMP:
Thermal
Radiation
Asphyxiation
Chemical
Etiological
Mechanical
Psychological harm

7. Categories of Health Hazards
Within TRACEMP, responders should understand these terms:
Carcinogen
Known
Suspected
Irritant
Sensitizer
Allergens
Convulsant

8. Table 27-2 Target Organs and Systems

9. Categories of Health Hazards (cont'd.)
Radiation has ability to cause a number of health problems
Absorbed dose
Radiation doses should be kept “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” (ALARA)
Four primary routes of exposure:
Respiratory, absorption, ingestion, and injection

10. Figure 27-2 Routes of exposure.

11. Figure 27-3 Respiratory system route of exposure.

12. Exposure Levels
In industry, monitoring is commonplace and is usually a preventive action
In emergency services, it can be an afterthought
Exposure values are based on an average male and are for an industrial application
8-hour day, 40-hour work week
Permissible exposure limit (PEL)

13. Figure 27-4 Explanation of units of measure.

14. Figure 27-5 Exposure values.

15. Exposure Levels (cont'd.)
Most common exposure values expressed in ppm
Values are generally defined for a period of time
PEL
TLV
REL’s
Ceiling levels
STEL
Lethal doses or lethal concentrations

16. Table 27-7 Exposure Values

17. Types of Personal Protective Equipment
Most common for the firefighter is FFPC
Helmet and hood
Coat
Pants
Boots
Gloves
PASS
SCBA

18. Figure The use of SCBA offers tremendous protection against heat and chemical hazards. Responders who enter any environment that may have a chemical present should always use SCBA.

19. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
With regard to chemical exposures, SCBA offers a protection factor of 10,000
Most common type of SCBA for chemical spills is a 60-minute type
Other types:
Supplied air respirators (SARs)
Air-purifying respirators (APRs)

20. Chemical Protective Clothing
Four basic levels of chemical protective clothing
Levels A, B, C, and D
Level A is the highest level
Since establishment of levels, many changes have been made to PPE styles and types
Chemical protective clothing must be checked prior to use for compatibility with spilled chemical
Based on permeation of chemical through the fabric

21. Figure This police officer is wearing an air purifying respirator (APR), which is filtering contaminants from the air.

22. Chemical Protective Clothing (cont’d.)
Level A ensemble: fully encapsulated suit
Level B ensemble: encapsulated and coverall
Many subvarieties
Level C ensemble: incorporates air-purifying respirator within the ensemble
Level D ensemble: regular work clothing
High-temperature clothing: proximity, fire entry
Low-temperature clothing: gloves, aprons, etc.

23. Figure When conducting a permeation test, the fabric splits a test container, and a measurement device is used to see if the chemical goes through the fabric.

24. Figure This Level A ensemble is a gas/vapor-tight garment that protects against most chemicals. Although the protection offered by this ensemble is very high, it is the most stressful to wear.

25. (A)
(B)
(C)
Figure The photos here all represent Level B suits: (A) a coverall style for law-enforcement officers; (B) an encapsulated style, which is not gastight; and (C) a military-designed two-piece garment worn by tactical officers. The respiratory protection is a rebreather style, which provides a four-hour air supply.

26. Figure This Level C ensemble protects against splash hazards and low toxicity materials. It is the use of the air purifying respirator that makes this ensemble Level C.

27. Figure The Level D ensemble is normal work clothing, this example includes Nomex coveralls, chemical gloves, safety glasses, and steel-toe shoes.

28. Limitations of Personal Protective Equipment
Four basic limitations to protective clothing:
Heat stress
Mobility
Visibility
Communications problems
Type of vapor barrier determines amount of heat stress
Be aware of progression of heat stress

29. Lessons Learned
Routes of entry and type of harm that chemicals present vary
Chemicals present multiple hazards
Most chemicals present chronic hazards, but acute hazards are also avoided
SCBA offers a high level of protection
Responders have a fear of radiation, but radiation is no different than other hazardous materials