This document discusses personal protective equipment (PPE) for first responders. It describes the typical components of PPE including respiratory equipment and protective clothing. Structural fire-fighting clothing provides limited protection from hazardous materials while chemical-protective clothing offers more protection but requires additional training. Positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus is commonly used but has advantages and disadvantages. The appropriate level of PPE depends on the specific hazardous materials incident and risks involved.

1. Awareness-Level
Lesson 4 Presentation
Hazardous Materials for
First Responders, 3rd Ed.

2. Awareness Level
4–2
Typical Components of PPE
• Respiratory equipment
• Protective clothing
– Structural fire-fighting protective clothing
– High-temperature protective clothing
– Chemical protective clothing

3. Awareness Level
4–3
What Appropriate PPE Protects
• Skin
• Eyes
• Face
• Hands
• Feet
• Body
• Head
• Respiratory system
(1 of 2)

4. Awareness Level
4–4
What Appropriate PPE Protects
(2 of 2)

5. Awareness Level
4–5
PPE and Hazardous Materials
• Structural fire-fighting and high-temperature
protective clothing — Offer limited protection
against chemical hazards
• Chemical-protective clothing — Offers
protection against hazardous materials
– Requires training above the first responder
Awareness Level

6. Awareness Level
4–6
Requirements of PPE
• NFPA standards state requirements for
personal protective equipment
– Design
– Certification
– Testing

7. Awareness Level
4–7
Structural Fire-Fighting
Protective Clothing
• Provides protection from:
– Heat
– Moisture
– Ordinary hazards associated with structural fire
fighting

8. Awareness Level
4–8
Components of Structural Fire-
Fighting Protective Clothing
• Helmet
• Coat
• Pants
• Boots
• Gloves
• Personal alert safety
system (PASS)
device
• Hood

9. Awareness Level
4–9
Limitations of Structural
Fire-Fighting Clothing
• Limited protection against hazardous materials
– Neither corrosive-resistant nor vapor-tight
– Gaps occur in clothing
– Chemicals can be absorbed into the equipment
– Rubber or neoprene in boots, gloves, and SCBA
facepieces can become permeated by chemicals
and rendered unsafe for use

10. Awareness Level
4–10
Structural Fire-Fighting Protective
Clothing at Haz Mat Incidents
• Structural fire-fighting protective clothing is
commonly used at haz mat incidents when the
following conditions are met:
– Contact with splashes of extremely hazardous
materials is unlikely
– Total atmospheric concentrations do not contain
high levels of chemicals that are toxic by way of
skin contact
– There is a chance of fire or there is a fire

11. Awareness Level
4–11
Purpose of Chemical-Protective
Clothing and Equipment
• To shield or isolate individuals from the
chemical, physical, and biological hazards that
may be encountered during haz mat operations

12. Awareness Level
4–12
Types of CPC
• Liquid-splash protective clothing
• Vapor-protective clothing

13. Awareness Level
4–13
CPC Combinations
• Single or multipiece garment
• Encapsulating
• Nonencapsulating

14. Awareness Level
4–14
Selection of CPC
• Depends on specific chemical and on specific
tasks
• Selection considerations:
– Most CPC is impermeable to moisture
– Garment’s permeation, degradation, and
penetration abilities
– Service life

15. Awareness Level
4–15
CPC Permeation
• Permeation — Occurs when a chemical passes
through the CPC fabric on a molecular level
Chemical spill

16. Awareness Level
4–16
CPC Degradation
• Degradation — Occurs when the
characteristics of the material in use are altered
through contact with chemical substances
(1 of 2)

17. Awareness Level
4–17
CPC Degradation
An acid eating away the outer layers of structural
fire-fighting protective clothing is an example of
chemical degradation.
(2 of 2)

18. Awareness Level
4–18
CPC Penetration
• Penetration — Occurs when there is an
opening or a puncture in the protective material
(1 of 2)

19. Awareness Level
4–19
CPC Penetration
Chemicals can penetrate PPE through gaps,
tears, punctures, or other openings. (2 of 2)

20. Awareness Level
4–20
CPC Service Life
• Reusable
• Limited use
• Disposable

21. Awareness Level
4–21
CPC Written
Management Program
• All emergency responders and organizations
who routinely select and use CPC should
establish a written CPC management program.

22. Awareness Level
4–22
Positive-Pressure SCBA
Components
• Facepiece
• Pressure regulator
• Compressed air cylinder
• Harness assembly
• End-of-service-time indicators

23. Awareness Level
4–23
Advantages of
Positive-Pressure SCBA
• Maintains air pressure inside the facepiece
slightly higher than normal atmospheric
pressure outside
• Independence
• Maneuverability

24. Awareness Level
4–24
Disadvantages of
Positive-Pressure SCBA
• Heavy weight of the units
• Limited air supply duration
• Change in profile that may hinder mobility
• Limited vision caused by facepiece fogging
• Limited communications if not equipped with a
microphone or speaking diaphragm

25. Awareness Level
4–25
Level D Ensembles
• Used for nuisance contamination and used only
when no atmospheric hazards exist
• Provide no respiratory protection and minimal
skin protection
• May not be worn in the hot zone

26. Awareness Level
4–26
Level D Ensemble Components
• Consist of typical work uniforms, street clothing,
or coveralls
• Includes items such as:
– Gloves
– Safety glasses
– Boots
– Hardhats

27. Awareness Level
4–27
Level D Ensemble Use
• Atmosphere contains no hazard
• Work functions preclude splashes, immersion,
or the potential for unexpected inhalation of or
contact with hazardous levels of any chemicals

28. Awareness Level
4–28
PPE Care and Inspection
• The user must take all steps to ensure that the
protective ensemble performs as expected
• All PPE and respiratory equipment must be
inspected on a routine basis
• Records must be kept of all inspection
procedures

29. Awareness Level
4–29
Summary
• Personal protective equipment is essential in
emergency response. The type of PPE used
depends on the specific incident. Typical PPE
consists of respiratory equipment and either
structural fire-fighting, high-temperature, or
chemical-protective clothing.
• Structural fire-fighting clothing provides very
limited protection against hazardous materials.
(1 of 3)

30. Awareness Level
4–30
Summary
• Chemical-protective clothing provides
protection against hazardous materials. No one
type of CPC protects against all hazards.
• Positive-pressure SCBA is often used at
incidents and has both advantages and
disadvantages.
(2 of 3)

31. Awareness Level
4–31
Summary
• Level D ensembles are typical work uniforms,
street clothes, or coveralls and are only
appropriate for nuisance contamination.
• PPE care and inspection is an important
component in ensuring that PPE is properly
maintained and safe for the user.
(3 of 3)

32. Awareness-Level
Lesson 4 Presentation
Hazardous Materials for
First Responders, 3rd Ed.