Module 5: Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) and
Decontamination
Objective
Upon the successful completion of this
module, participants will be able to
select the appropriate PPE for use in
incidents related to biodiesel
production. Participants will also be
able to effectively conduct
decontamination efforts on PPE after
an incident.
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Introduction
 Need to be aware of need for PPE
 Sometimes structural fire fighting
gear will serve needs
 Other times will need to don CPC
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
 Selection of PPE based on hazard to
responders
 All responders must at least be
trained to operations level of NFPA
472
 Important to define agency’s mission
& identify potential hazards through
preplanning facilities in jurisdiction
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
 Purpose of PPE
 Normal PPE for responders:
– SFPC with SCBA
 To provide intended level of
protection, SFPC must be:
– Well-fitting
– Regularly cleaned & maintained
– Donned & worn appropriately
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Structural Firefighter Protective
Clothing (SFPC)
 Designed to
provide limited
thermal protection
& protection from
toxic by-products
of combustion
 Not designed to
withstand contact
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Structural Firefighter Protective
Clothing (SFPC)
 No layers / components SFPC
designed to protect against
chemicals
 Quick “in-and-out” operation
 Limitations of SFPC
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Respiratory Protection
 Inhalation major route of chemical
exposure
 2 types of respirators:
– SCBA
– SAR
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Appropriate PPE Selection Planning Tip
 Determine action level of flammable
concern
 If temperature of material & / or
surface is greater than final
calculation, choose PPE with thermal
protection
Flash Point of the Material - Material Temperature = X
X÷2=Y
Y + Material Temperature = Action Level of Flammability Concern
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Inspecting Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
 Effective PPE inspection program
should include 5 different inspections
 Conduct SCBA inspections mandated
by law
 Damaged / Deteriorated PPE
assessed for either replacement /
repair
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Inspecting Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
 CPC:
– Arrive at incident without necessary
level of protection:
 Work toward controlling incident until
appropriate protective clothing arrives on
scene
– 4 levels
– Purpose
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Inspecting Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
 CPC:
– Level A protection:
 Highest level of
respiratory & skin
protection
 NFPA 1991
 Indicators for use of
Level A protection
 Level A advantages
 Level A limitations
Copyright 2008, TEEX/ESTI
12
Inspecting Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
 CPC:
– Level B protection:
 Same respiratory protection
as Level A but less skin
protection
 Never use when possibility of
contact with dangerous
vapor / gas
 NFPA 1992
 Indicators for use of Level B
protection
Copyright 2008, TEEX/ESTI
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Inspecting Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
 CPC:
– Level C protection:
 NFPA 1992
 EPA versus NFPA
requirements
 Indicators for use of
Level C protection
Copyright 2008, TEEX/ESTI
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Inspecting Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
 CPC:
– Level D protection:
 EPA & NFPA guidelines address normal
workplace protections
 More commonly used in industrial
operations than fire service
 No NFPA standard
 Features of Level D protection
 Indicators of Level D protection
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Emergency Decontamination
Procedures
 Physically remove contaminants
 Neutralize / Dilute contaminants
 Remove contaminants by
combination of both physical &
chemical means
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Emergency Decontamination
Procedures
 Decontamination strategies:
– Need to be applicable to wide variety of
environments
– Should be modifiable during inclement
weather
 SOPs & alternatives should be
developed & practiced
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Emergency Decontamination
Procedures
 Emergency showers where corrosive
materials are
 Secondary contamination:
– Contaminated clothing placed in plastic
bags for further decontamination &
disposal
– Decontamination staging area set up
away from scene
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Emergency Decontamination
Procedures
 Decontamination guidelines:
– Outer, more heavily contaminated items
be decontaminated & removed first
– Decontamination & removal of inner,
less contaminated items next
– All equipment must be decontaminated
– Important things to remember
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Activity 5.1 — Selection of Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE)
 Purpose:
– To enable participants to demonstrate
their understanding of the need for CPC
at biodiesel incidents.
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Summary
 Biodiesel is generally considered
nontoxic, ingredients for making it
extremely toxic
 Firefighters usually arrive on scene with
only bunker gear for protection
 Need to have idea of what kinds of CPC
to don
 ERG is useful tool for determining level
of need
 Effective decontamination required
following toxic incident
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