Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) and
Decontamination
Learning Objectives
By the end of this
section the participant
should be able to
Define PPE
Name the five levels of
PPE
Describe what the
contamination reduction
corridor is
What is PPE?
Personal Protective Equipment
All clothing and other work
accessories designed to create a
barrier against hazards
Different types provide respiratory,
skin and eye protection
Respiratory Protection
Garments and Barriers
Protective suits
Splash/droplet protection
(includes vapor)
Gloves
Boots
Eye protection
Levels of Personal Protective
Equipment
Level A
Level B
Level C
Level D
Bio-PPE
Level A
Highest Level of Protection
(Vapor and Splash)
Fully encapsulated
Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus or Supplied Airline
Chemical resistant
boots/gloves
Level B
Same respiratory protection
as Level A
SCBA worn on outside
of chemical resistant suit
Chemical resistant
boots/gloves
All seams are taped to seal
Level C
Air-Purifying Respirator
Uses Filter
Powered (PAPR), Cartridge
or Canister
Chemical resistant suit, boots,
and gloves
All seams are taped to seal
Level D
Standard protective work uniforms
Gown or Coat
Eye shield
Mask
Gloves
Bio-PPE
Contact and Respiratory Protection
Standard Precautions
N95 respirator and proper protection
of skin and eyes
PPE Level Selection
Level A/B only for specialized situations
Not for the lay person (hospital workers,
Public Health, EMS/Police)
Need much training
Create hazards for wearer
High cost
Require annual fit testing and maintenance
Level D for patient care after decon
PPE Level Selection
Except for rare cases, Level C will be
the best choice for a known element,
especially in healthcare
Highly contagious
medical care
Decontamination line
Open area assessment
for triage
What If I Am Caught
Without PPE?
Get out and get away as fast as
possible!
Double layer T-shirt over nose &
mouth
Types of Decontamination
Emergency
Respiratory
Primary
Secondary
Equipment
Mass Casualty
Incident Site
Hospital
Decontamination Process
1. Triage
2. Remove and bag clothes
3. Shower soak/flush
4. Detergent soap scrub with sponge
5. Shower rinse
6. Dry and dress
Factors that Affect
Decontamination Process
Physical & chemical properties of the
material
Amount & location of contaminant
Contact time & temperature
Level of protection & work function
Reason for leaving hazard site
Setting up the Contamination
Reduction Corridor
Resources:
Personnel
Water
Decon solutions
Air supplies
Protective clothing
Electricity/utilities
Miscellaneous tools
Setting up the Contamination
Reduction Corridor
Requirements:
Planning
Equipment
Site Identification
Coordinating
Training
Exercising
Documentation
Setting up the Contamination
Reduction Corridor
Determining Effectiveness of Decontamination:
Visual examination
Meters, instruments, test paper
Testing by qualified lab
Analysis of test swatches or samples
Consulting with appropriate health officials
Setting up the Contamination
Reduction Corridor
When the decontamination operation is over:
You must also have a formal system to terminate
your decontamination operations that will be part of
your operational plan.
Decontaminate the decon team
Decontaminate or dispose of equipment
Clean-up options
Debriefings
Record keeping
Setting up the Contamination
Reduction Corridor
Additional Concerns
Site security
Force protection
Evidence Collection
Must be “coordinated with law
enforcement”.