Contamination and Decontamination

City of P igeon Forge F i re DepartmentD i v i s i o n o f Tr a i n i n g a n d C o n ti n u i n g E d u c a ti o n


Contamination and Decontamination

• Contamination– The transfer of a hazardous material in

greater than acceptable quantities to• People• Equipment• Environment



• Decontamination – Decon– Contamination Reduction• The process of removing hazardous materials to

prevent the spread of contaminants beyond a specific area• Reduce contamination to levels that are no longer

harmful



• Types of Contamination– Primary (Direct)– Secondary– Surface– Permeation



• Types of Contamination– Primary (Direct)• Simply referred to as contamination• Occurs in the hot zone

– Direct contact with a hazardous material– Direct transfer of a hazardous material to

» People» Animals» Equipment» Environment

• Easiest way to avoid contamination– Avoid contact with the hazardous material



• Types of Contamination– Secondary• Sometimes called cross contamination• Occurs outside the hot zone carried by

– Personnel's clothing– Tools– Air Currents– Runoff Water

• Personnel, equipment, etc. must be decontaminated prior to leaving the hot zone



• Types of Contamination– Surface• Limited to the surface of a material• Doesn’t penetrate, permeate, or soak into

materials– Dry solids– Chemical powders– Chemical dusts

• Unlikely to contaminate anything except the outer surfaces they contact



• Types of Contamination– Permeation• Penetrate below the surface of a material• Particularly if chemicals are liquids or gases

– Contact material is porous



• Decontamination Methods– Must determine the type and method of

decon before personnel enter the hot zone– Methods• Wet or dry• Physical or chemical

– Before initiating decon consider?• Is it safe to conduct decon?• What are the alternatives?• Are there adequate resources to conduct the

operation?



• Decontamination Methods– Wet• Involve washing the contaminated surface with

solutions• Flushing with a hose stream or safety shower

– Usually necessitate the collection of runoff water» Wading pools» Liquid retaining devices



• Decontamination Methods– Dry• Methods such as scraping, brushing & absorption • Removing contaminated clothing• Allowing an aerosol to evaporate• Removing contaminated dust

– Vacuuming– Sticky tape

• Do not create large amounts of contaminated liquid runoff



• Decontamination Methods– Physical• Contaminated removed without changing the

material chemically• Contaminant is then contained for disposal

– Absorption – Adsorption– Brushing– Scraping– Dilution– Evaporation– Washing



• Decontamination Methods– Chemical• Used to make the contaminant less harmful

– Changes it through some kind of chemical process• Using bleach to kill a potentially harmful

etiological agent– Chemical degradation– Sanitization– Disinfection– Sterilization– Neutralization– Solidification



• Decontamination Types and Procedures– Can be performed by operational level

responders• Operations Plus

– Must be given appropriate training



• Decontamination Types and Procedures– Gross Decon• Aimed at getting the worst contaminate parts off

the victim quickly• Usually by flushing with water

– Hose stream– Safety shower– Other water source

• Performed before technical decon– Entry team personnel– Victims during emergency decon– Persons requiring mass decon



• Decontamination Types and Procedures– Emergency Decon• Removing the threatening contaminant from the

victim as quickly as possible• No regard for the environment or property• May be necessary for both victims and rescuers

– Failure of protective clothing– Accidental contamination of first responders– Heat illness or other injury suffered by first responders– Immediate medical attention required for other victims



• Decontamination Types and Procedures– Emergency Decon• Considered a quick fix• Removal of all contaminants may not occur• A more thorough decontamination must follow• Creates contaminated runoff that can be harmful

to the environment– Benefit outweighs the risk



• Decontamination Types and Procedures– Technical (Formal) Decon• Uses chemicals or physical methods to thoroughly

remove contaminants from responders– Primarily entry team personnel and their equipment

• May also be used on incident victims in non-life-threatening situations• Usually conducted after gross decon



• Decontamination Types and Procedures– Technical (Formal) Decon• Uses chemicals or physical methods to thoroughly

remove contaminants from responders– Primarily entry team personnel and their equipment

• May also be used on incident victims in non-life-threatening situations• Usually conducted after gross decon



• Decontamination Types and Procedures– Mass Decon• Process of conducting gross decontamination of

multiple people at one time in emergency situations• May be conducted with or without formal decon• High volume low pressure nozzles

– Ideally, a soap and water solution is more effective• Using building features

– Fire sprinklers– Public fountains– Swimming pools



• Decontamination Types and Procedures– Patient Decon• Necessary whenever victims have been

contaminated yet need medical attention• Uses the same techniques as

– Gross– Emergency– Technical


Contamination and Decontamination• Decontamination Types and Procedures– Decontamination Implementation

• Site Selection– Accessibility

» Adjacent to the hot zone– Terrain and surface material

» Site ideally slopes towards the hot zone– Lighting (electrical supply)

» Should have adequate lighting– Drains and waterways

» Protect all environmentally sensitive areas– Water supply

» Water must be available– Weather

» Up wind of the hot zone



• Decontamination Types and Procedures– Decontamination Corridor• Should be visually identifiable

– Barrier tape– Safety cones

• Ensure privacy• Bag and tag contaminated clothing / effects



• Decontamination Types and Procedures– Evidence Collection• Haz mat incidents may also be crime scenes• Minimize the amount of disturbance

– Life safety must always be a top priority • Dead victims may contain evidence on or in their

bodies– Still must go through decon before transporting– Personal effects become evidence



• Decontamination Types and Procedures– Termination• NFPA 471

– A debriefing needs to be held for those involved» As soon as practical» Provide as much information as possible» Delayed health effects» Schedule follow-up examinations



Works CitedN.F.P.A. 472 “Standard for Competence of responders to Hazardous

Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents” 2008 EditionN.F.P.A 1001 “Standard for Professional Firefighter Qualifications” 2008 EditionN.F.P.A. 1561 “Standard on Emergency Services Incident Management System” 2008

EditionO.S.H.A 29 CFR 1910.120 “Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response” U.S. DOT “Emergency Response Guidebook” 2008 Edition

Documents

Contamination and Decontamination