Decontamination is an essential part of safeguarding worker health and safety while ensuring that no contaminants escape into clean areas, unintentionally exposing workers to harmful compounds.

1. Decontamination:
The Role Played in
Safeguarding
Worker Health and
Safety

2. What is Decontamination?
The removal or neutralization process of contaminants that have amassed on personal protective
equipment (PPC), chemical protective clothing (CPC), and other tools and equipment used in hazardous
waste sites or when working with hazardous substances is defined as decontamination.
Why is Decontamination Important?
Decontamination is commonly used to protect workers from the permeation of various hazardous
materials and chemicals through protective clothing and respiratory equipment to their bodies. When
workers undergo a decontamination process, it minimizes the transfer of contaminants into clean areas,
non-contaminated surfaces, and people who have not been otherwise exposed to these harmful
substances. The unrestrained transmission of poisonous and harmful materials to the community and the
environment is also prevented when decontamination takes place. Decontamination also prevents the
accidental mixing of incompatible chemicals further safeguarding the health of workers.

3. Any worker who is exposed to, or works with,
hazardous materials and chemicals must
undergo a decontamination process when they
leave the contamination zone.
Who is Eligible to Undergo the Decontamination Process?

4. What is a Decontamination Plan?
The employer must have in place a Decontamination Plan before work begins at a hazardous worksite. This
Decontamination Plan details all the elements as recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) to safeguard the health and safety of workers working at hazardous worksites. The Decontamination Plan will
help employers to identify the hazards at the worksite, evaluate methods to prevent worker exposure to hazards,
formalize procedures to prevent contamination of clean areas, understand the number and positioning of
decontamination stations that will be required, and determine the best way to dispose of contaminated PPE and other
equipment, among other aspects.
Thus, the Decontamination Plan helps employers to design and execute a decontamination facility that will adequately
address the needs of the decontamination process by considering the types of contamination, the factors affecting
permeation of contaminants in PPE and respirators, as well as ensuring adequate and proper supplies for
decontamination are always available.
As with all occupational-related safety and health aspects, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
regulates the process of decontamination on a worksite under the HAZWOPER regulation in 29 CFR 1910.120.
Remember, the Decontamination Plan must be reviewed and revised periodically as well as when there are changes to
hazards at the worksite, PPE, or equipment used to change, or when new information becomes available.

5. What are the Types of Decontamination Methods?
Effectively there are two main types of decontamination
methods, the third is the combination of both. These
are:
1. Physical decontamination
2. Chemical decontamination
3. Physical and chemical decontamination

6. 1. Physical Decontamination
When decontamination takes place using methods such as
scraping, brushing, rinsing, wiping, or any other means of
displacement, this is referred to as the physical
decontamination process. This type of decontamination
method is normally the first to be used and is often done
using water or heat. It is commonly used when hazardous
substances in the form of dust or vapor are loosely stuck to
and when glues, resins, and cement have adhered to PPE,
tools, or equipment. As physical decontamination also
includes ‘evaporation’, volatile liquids such as gasoline and
ethanol can also be removed using this method of
decontamination.
What are the Types of Decontamination Methods?

7. 2. Chemical Decontamination
Chemical decontamination involves neutralizing a
contaminant using a compatible chemical solution. This
involves dissolving, solidifying, rinsing, sterilizing, or
disinfecting the contaminant from the contaminated
surface, equipment, tool, or protective clothing to which it
is attached. Solvents, surfactants such as household
detergents and soaps, and other chemical cleaning and
disinfecting solutions are used in the chemical
decontamination process. The chemical decontamination
process is hence often a wash/rinse process.
What are the Types of Decontamination Methods?

8. 3. Combined Decontamination Process
There are instances when physical decontamination is
inadequate, in this case, chemical decontamination must be
done as well to ensure the complete removal of all
contaminants from a worker’s PPE, and other equipment
used at the hazardous worksite.
What are the Types of Decontamination Methods?

9. This article gives an overview for employers and employees
to understand the importance of decontamination in
safeguarding the health of workers in an occupational
setting, especially in hazardous worksites. To learn more
and gain an in-depth understanding, enroll today in our
40-Hour HAZWOPER Online Training Course. If
you are already certified, then you can refresh your training
with our 8-Hour HAZWOPER Refresher Training
Course. All our courses are updated regularly and use
modern teaching methods to make training effective.
Where Can You Learn More About Decontamination?

10. 1-866-429-6742
https://hazwoper-osha.com/
info@HAZWOPER-OSHA.com
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