DECONTAMINATION

REGULATION OSHA 1910.120(q)

Employer shall develop plans

• Operations level = basic implementation

• Technician = understand and implement

• Specialist = determine and implement

• IC = understand importance

DEFINITION

The process of removing or neutralizing

contaminants that have accumulated on

personnel, property, and equipment

DECONTAMINATION PLAN

• Development

• Part of scene safety plan

• Person responsible

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

TRAIN ALL PERSONNEL ON THE PLAN

DECONTAMINATION PLANFLEXIBILITY

REVISE THE PLAN WHENEVER:

• Level of PPE changes

• Ambient or other conditions change

• Hazards are reassessed

SAFE WORK PRACTICES

DO NOT (if possible):

CONTAMINATION PREVENTION

• Walk, sit, or stand, get splashed by, or come in contact with airborne or liquid materials

• Use contaminated equipment and instruments

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

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

CONTAMINATION PREVENTION

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

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)

THREE DECON METHODS

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

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

EPA RECOMMENDS ONLY SOAP AND WATER FOR ALL WET DECON

CLEANING SOLUTIONS

Before using any other solution, contact

the chemical manufacturer and check

chemical compatibility and suit material

compatibility

EXAMPLES OF CLEANING CHEMICALS

• Visual observation

– Natural light

– Discoloration or stains

– Material degradation and breakdown

• Ultraviolet light

– Some hydrocarbons become visible

• Colorimetric tube

– Individual chemical testing

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

TESTING DECON EFFECTIVENESS

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

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

Redress

CRC

Support Staff

Tank

change

Cle

an

Sid

e

Dir

ty S

ide

Auxiliary access

control path

Equipment Decontamination

Em

erge

ncy

Dec

on

Cold Line

Cold Zone

Hot Zone

Hot Line

Enter Path

Exit Path

Warm Zone

CRZ

Wind

Wash and

Rinse

CONTAMINATION REDUCTION ZONE

Recommended heavy equipment DECON

CONTAMINATION REDUCTION ZONE

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)

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

Overall DECON

Entering the DECON corridor

Personnel DECON

Emergency Shower

Suit and boot washSuit and boot rinseSafety boot removalFES removalCBA backpack removalInner glove washInner glove rinseFace piece removalInner glove removalInner clothing removal

7 81011121314151617

9

Tank change

5

1

Outer glove removal

Boot cover removal

Tape removal

Boot cover and glove wash

Segregated equipment drop4 3 2

COLD LINE

BC and G rinse HOT LINE6

19

18Field wash

Redress

Decon LayoutLevel A Protection

Contamination Reduction or Warm Zone

Support or Cold Zone

Exclusion/ Hot Zone

Contamination Reduction Corridor

19-STEP DECON LINE

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

Center

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

DECON personnel conduct the second wash and rinse

Final rinse

Decision: Change-out tank or remove suit?

Tank change-out done by the “rinser”

Removal of the chemical suit

SCBA Removal

Field wash and rinse, or shower,or DECON trailer

DECON shower with privacy curtain

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

Shower and final rinse

Shower for cooling personnel

DECON trailer

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

Medical monitoring and debriefingfor out-of-suit personnel

Air-inflatable tent used for medical monitoring and

debriefing

DECON line diagrammed ontoa clear polyethylene sheet

Wind direction

Decon solutionWater

Equipment drop

Exclusion zone

Plastic sheet

Can (10 gallon) Can

(32 gallon)

Decon outer garments Remove

boot covers and outer gloves

Tank changeover

point

Contamination Reduction Zone

Remove SCBA

201

201

Ho

t L

ine

Sup

port

Zon

e

Remove boots/gloves

and outer garments

(For disposal and offsite decontamination)

F.S.O.P. No. 7 MINIMUM A AND B DECON

Segregated equipment drop1

COLD LINE

HOT LINE

Decon LayoutLevel A and B Protection

Contamination Reduction or Warm Zone

Support or Cold Zone

Exclusion or Hot Zone

3

Tank change

Contamination Reduction Corridor

EPA's 7-STEP DECON LINE

2

4

5

6

7

Outer boot, glove, FES wash and rinse

Outer boot and glove removal

Boot, glove, and FES removal

SCBA removal

Field wash

7-step Decontamination Line

Station # 1 - Gross Wash and RinseAA. VacuumBB. Extra pads

A. Equipment dropB. Bucket with brushC. Plastic pool

D. Bucket for trashE. Wash solutionF. StoolG. Shower (if used)H. Drums for spent solution

Station # 2 - Second Wash and RinseB. Bucket with brushC. Plastic poolE. Wash solutionH. Drums for spent solutionI. Garden hose with spray wand

J. Stabilizing device

Station # 3 - Final Rinse C. Plastic poolG. Shower (if used)H. Drums for spent solution I. Garden hose with spray wand

J. Stabilizing device

Station # 4 - Tank Change / CartridgeF. StoolsK. CylindersL. Supply of outer glovesM. Outer boot covers

Station # 5 - Equipment RemovalD. Trash canF. StoolsH. Drums for trashN. Trash bagsO. Table

P. Bucket of soap and waterQ. Bucket of water

Station # 6 - Field Wash or ShowerD. Trash canG. Shower ( if used )O. Table

P. Bucket of soap and waterQ. Bucket of water R. Supply of inner suits

Station # 7 - Medical Monitoring / DebriefingF. StoolsO. Table

S. Blood pressure cuff and thermometer

K

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EX

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CLEAN SIDE

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CLEAN SIDE

DIRTY SIDE

HO

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Area

Emergency

Decon

BBA

A

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DECON COMPLETE LAYOUT

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

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

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

Basic emergency

DECONset-ups

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

• 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

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

EMERGENCY DECONTAMINATION

Dispose of contaminated PPE

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