TREATMENT OF CHEMICAL AGENT CASUALTIES NOR NAVSURNLANT SHIPS

File: 082696_doc1_092.txt
Page: 092
Total Pages: 652
        U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,  1988.)


                                  PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIF~zNT


              Personal protective equipment (PPE) for emergency response situations
        involving extremely hazardous substances must be selected carefully and used
        properly.   The PPE should protect the respiratory system,  skin, eyes, face,
        hands,  feet and body from chemical, physical and biological hazards that may
        be encountered during an emergency response action.    Selection of the proper
        personal protective equipment must consider the specific hazards responders
        are likely to encounter at a particular site.    Selection is a complex task
        and should be performed only by individuals with proper training and
        experience.

              Re~ulatorv Requirements and Other Standards.   Selection, use, training
        and programs for PPE for emergency response situations may be covered by
        regulations and standards under the Occupational Safety and Health
        Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910,  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
        regulations and recommendations, Department of Transportation (DOT)
        regulations, or National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.

              Personal Protective Equi~ment for Emergencies.   During an emergency
        involving extremely hazardous substances,   a wide variety of conditions may
        occur.   Therefore, response personnel should wear maximum protection
        initially until actual conditions at the site are evaluated.    Maximum
        protection is designed to provide the highest available level of respiratory,
        skin and eye protection.   Recommended equipment consists of a positive
    )   pressure, pressure-demand full facepiece self-contained breathing apparatus
        (SCBA) or full facepiece supplied air respirator with escape SCBA and a
        fully-encapsulating chemical-resistant suit.    In addition, other equipment
        such as inner chemical-resistant gloves,   chemical-resistant safety
        boots/shoes,  and two-way radio communications, a cooling unit,  coveralls,
        long cotton underwear, hard hat, disposable gloves and boot covers may be
        worn as needed.


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              Rest,iratorv Protection. Positive pressure self-contained breathing
        apparatus  (SOBA) should be worn by employees engaged in emergency response
        and exposed to hazardous substances until it is determined that a decreased
        level of respiratory protection will not result in hazardous exposures to
        employees  (See OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency
        Response).

              Chemical Protective Clothin~ and Eoui~ment.   The selection of chemical
        protective clothing is a complex process and many factors must be considered
        such as:   the nature of the hazard; the potential route of exposure;  the
        tasks to be accomplished;  and the performance of the protective equipment
        materials in forming a barrier to the chemical substances encountered at a
        site.   No protective equipment material protects against all chemicals and
`~      combinations of chemicals.   In many cases,  the chemical substance may
        permeate or break through the protective equipment material, exposing the
        wearer to the chemical.   It is important to note that the information