Asbestos NESHAPInspection and SafetyProcedures Workshop

Section 12

Protective Clothing

October 2008

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PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FOR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FOR BUILDING INSPECTIONSBUILDING INSPECTIONS

Purpose: Keep Off Gross Contamination Purpose: Keep Off Gross Contamination from Suspect ACM/Debrisfrom Suspect ACM/Debris

May be Necessary: Crawl Spaces, May be Necessary: Crawl Spaces, Mechanical Rooms, Significantly DamagedMechanical Rooms, Significantly Damaged

e.g., Disposable Coveralls Over Street e.g., Disposable Coveralls Over Street ClothesClothes

Exercise Care: Isolation, Decontamination, Exercise Care: Isolation, Decontamination, DisposalDisposal

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

RespiratorRespirator Safety GlassesSafety Glasses Disposable ClothingDisposable Clothing OthersOthers

• Hearing protection, gloves, safety shoes and Hearing protection, gloves, safety shoes and hard hats as neededhard hats as needed

Always be sure to know what is required on Always be sure to know what is required on the site where you’re workingthe site where you’re working

Commercial/industrial sites have very Commercial/industrial sites have very specific safety requirementsspecific safety requirements

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Examples of Typical CoverallsExamples of Typical Coveralls

Tyvek® Coverall

Non-breathable fabric

Kleenguard® Coverall

Breathable fabric

Notice AttachedFoot and

Headcovers

Breathable fabrics reduce heat stress; “Tyvek” better for chemical protection

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing Non-breathable fabrics such as TyvekNon-breathable fabrics such as Tyvek® are ® are

very useful for splash protection when working very useful for splash protection when working with chemicals…but they are extremely hot to with chemicals…but they are extremely hot to wear in the warm weather months wear in the warm weather months increasing increasing worker heat stressworker heat stress..

Breathable fabrics such as Kleenguard® feel Breathable fabrics such as Kleenguard® feel more like natural fabric to the skin and feel more like natural fabric to the skin and feel cooler to the wearercooler to the wearer

Because of the heat stress issue it is Because of the heat stress issue it is recommended that recommended that breathable breathable fabrics be fabrics be chosen provided that chemical protection is not chosen provided that chemical protection is not necessarynecessary

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing Protective clothing Protective clothing does not includedoes not include street street

clothing!!clothing!! This means when entering an asbestos This means when entering an asbestos

containment: No T-shirts, blue jeans, socks containment: No T-shirts, blue jeans, socks or undergarmentsor undergarments

It is best to provide either disposable It is best to provide either disposable undergarments (such as Tyvek etc.) or nylon undergarments (such as Tyvek etc.) or nylon swim trunksswim trunks• Nylon swim trunks can be easily cleaned off while Nylon swim trunks can be easily cleaned off while

showeringshowering

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing Disposable protective garments do not keep Disposable protective garments do not keep

you “asbestos free.” It is to keep gross debris you “asbestos free.” It is to keep gross debris off the body and not transported out of the off the body and not transported out of the work areawork area

Even when you seal closures (neck, wrists) with Even when you seal closures (neck, wrists) with tape, there is no guarantee that asbestos will tape, there is no guarantee that asbestos will not get on the clothing underneathnot get on the clothing underneath

Any street clothing that is worn into an Any street clothing that is worn into an asbestos work can become contaminated asbestos work can become contaminated

For demo sites or other non-contained For demo sites or other non-contained inspection areas; often 2 protective garments inspection areas; often 2 protective garments are worn over minimized street clothingare worn over minimized street clothing

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing Other items includeOther items include

• Gloves; cotton is sufficient unless there are cutting, Gloves; cotton is sufficient unless there are cutting, puncture or abrasion hazards to the hands – then puncture or abrasion hazards to the hands – then leather palm-type gloves or Kevlar would be requiredleather palm-type gloves or Kevlar would be required

Rubber gloves are only recommended when there are Rubber gloves are only recommended when there are chemical hazards; make sure they are the correct type for chemical hazards; make sure they are the correct type for the chemical presentthe chemical present

• Boots; most contractors use inexpensive rubber boots Boots; most contractors use inexpensive rubber boots over the suit foot coverings. They can be cleaned and over the suit foot coverings. They can be cleaned and reused between jobs. Steel toes as required!reused between jobs. Steel toes as required!

• Hardhats as required by OSHA for hazards from falling Hardhats as required by OSHA for hazards from falling objectsobjects

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing

Simple Cotton Work Gloves Work In Many Situations And Are Inexpensive. Grip-type Cotton Gloves Add Safety

Leather Palm Gloves For Puncture & Abrasion Protection

Kevlar Gloves For Slice/Cut Protection

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing

Basic Rubber Or PVC Boots Are Economical And Can Be Reused After Cleaning

“The employer shall ensure that each affected employee

uses protective footwear when working in areas

where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or

rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where

such employee's feet are exposed to electrical hazards.” 1910.136

Rubber Boots With Steel Toes And Shanks Are An OSHA And Often A Client Safety Requirement

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Decontamination Units - Plan ViewDecontamination Units - Plan View

Clean Room Shower Equipment Room

(Dirty Room)

Load Out Room

Wash Down Room

Air Flow

Air Flow

Work

AreaShower Water Filtration UnitWorker Decon Unit

Waste Load Out Unit

For waste bags etc. - NOT workers

Orange denotes contaminated area

Airlock

3-5’Airlock

3-5’

PolyDoorFlaps

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing Putting Protective Clothing OnPutting Protective Clothing On

• All street clothes are removed and stored in All street clothes are removed and stored in a clean area (often decon clean room). a clean area (often decon clean room).

Be sure to leave all valuables in a locked location Be sure to leave all valuables in a locked location (your car!)…this includes wallets, rings, watches or (your car!)…this includes wallets, rings, watches or other jewelry. Jewelry items can become other jewelry. Jewelry items can become contaminated! contaminated!

• Nylon swim suit is put onNylon swim suit is put on• Disposable coveralls are put onDisposable coveralls are put on• Ankles are taped as needed to reduce Ankles are taped as needed to reduce

chances of trippingchances of tripping• If sleeve ends are loose, tape these to assist If sleeve ends are loose, tape these to assist

in minimizing body contamination in minimizing body contamination

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing

Tape Ankles to Prevent Tripping

Tape On Crotch Area Helps Prevent Tearing, Tape on Sleeves Keeps Gross Debris Out Of The Suit When Working

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing

Respiratory protection is inspected, put on Respiratory protection is inspected, put on and +/- fit checkedand +/- fit checked

Hood is put Hood is put OVEROVER the respirator straps the respirator straps Worker passes through the airlocks and Worker passes through the airlocks and

shower into the equipment room where shower into the equipment room where reusable foot coverings, hard hats etc. are reusable foot coverings, hard hats etc. are put onput on

Gloves; new, clean gloves are put on in the Gloves; new, clean gloves are put on in the clean room…previously used contaminated clean room…previously used contaminated gloves are put on in the equipment roomgloves are put on in the equipment room

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing

Once in the contaminated work area workers Once in the contaminated work area workers can only leave after fully decontaminating can only leave after fully decontaminating except in extreme emergencies (injuries, fire, except in extreme emergencies (injuries, fire, etc.)etc.)

This means the respirator seal does not get This means the respirator seal does not get broken until the worker is completely wetted in broken until the worker is completely wetted in the shower…this means for bathroom breaks, the shower…this means for bathroom breaks, smoke breaks or any normal reason to leave smoke breaks or any normal reason to leave the work area…the work area…ANYONE leavingANYONE leaving the work area the work area MUST decontaminate first!!MUST decontaminate first!!

This is a must for all Class I work areas!!This is a must for all Class I work areas!!

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing

Taking Protective Clothing OffTaking Protective Clothing Off• Remove and clean reusable items such as Remove and clean reusable items such as

boots and hardhatsboots and hardhats• Remove all protective garments and Remove all protective garments and

equipment EXCEPT RESPIRATORS in an area equipment EXCEPT RESPIRATORS in an area outside of the shower (equipment room)outside of the shower (equipment room)

• All contaminated clothing should be placed in All contaminated clothing should be placed in a labeled asbestos disposal bag that is taped a labeled asbestos disposal bag that is taped to the wall or in a drum to prevent trippingto the wall or in a drum to prevent tripping

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing

Used Suits etc.

Put In WasteBag

Enter Shower

With

Only

Respira

tor

& Trunks

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Protective ClothingProtective Clothing Taking Protective Clothing Off (cont.)Taking Protective Clothing Off (cont.)

• Proceed to the shower wearing only Proceed to the shower wearing only the respirator (and swim trunks if the respirator (and swim trunks if used) used)

• Step into water flow and completely Step into water flow and completely wet the head, body and respiratorwet the head, body and respirator

• After completely wet, the respirator After completely wet, the respirator can be removed. Rinse the can be removed. Rinse the respirator in the shower flowrespirator in the shower flow

• Completely shower with body Completely shower with body cleansing agentscleansing agents

• Proceed to the clean room, dry off Proceed to the clean room, dry off and redress. and redress.

• Clean and inspect the respirator and Clean and inspect the respirator and replace any wet cartridges after replace any wet cartridges after drying the respiratordrying the respirator

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Decontamination Decontamination Demo or non-contained areasDemo or non-contained areas

If employing a “double suit” procedure:If employing a “double suit” procedure:• When leaving the contaminated area; proceed to the When leaving the contaminated area; proceed to the

extent of the contaminated siteextent of the contaminated site• If possible use a water mist to moisten the outer suit If possible use a water mist to moisten the outer suit

then carefully remove the outer suit, rolling inwardthen carefully remove the outer suit, rolling inward• Then step away from the contaminated area; Then step away from the contaminated area;

remove the inner suit in the same manner before remove the inner suit in the same manner before removing the respiratorremoving the respirator

• The contaminated garments will need to be The contaminated garments will need to be disposed of as asbestos waste; if possible by the disposed of as asbestos waste; if possible by the owner/operator or taken from the site in a sealed owner/operator or taken from the site in a sealed bag for later disposalbag for later disposal

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OTHER PROTECTIVE ACTIONSOTHER PROTECTIVE ACTIONS

Isolate Area - Time, Distance, BothIsolate Area - Time, Distance, Both Drop ClothsDrop Cloths Spray With WaterSpray With Water Clean UpClean Up DisposalDisposal

Small HEPA vacs

can be useful!

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THE ENDTHE END

Questions?Questions?