HAZWOPER

1
HAZWOPER

• Decontamination

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HAZWOPER

• WHY???
• Critical to worker health and safety at hazardous
  waste sites
• By protecting worker from continued exposure
  (which may eventually permeate clothing or be
  contacted by using equipment)
• Protects other site personnel in clean areas
• Protects the community

3
HAZWOPER

• Decontamination Plana fluid plan
• Number/layout of decon. stations
• Equipment needed
• Appropriate methods
• Contamination prevention procedures
• Methods to minimize worker contact with
  contaminants during decon.
• Means for disposal of clothing/equipment not
  completely decontaminated

4
HAZWOPER

• Prevention of Contamination
• Establish SOPs, e.g.,
• Avoid contact with hazardous substances as
  possible
• Use remote sampling/handling as possible
• Bag equipment for protection as possible
• Wear disposable outer garments, etc.
• Encase source of contamination with
  sheeting/overpacking
• Proper dress for exclusion zone work
• PPE checked for cuts or punctures

5
HAZWOPER

• Factors Affecting Permeation
• Contact time
• Concentration of contaminant
• Temperature
• Size of molecules and pore space
• Physical state (gases, vapors, low-viscosity
  liquids have greater permeation rate than
  high-viscosity liquids or solids)

6
HAZWOPER

• Decontamination Methods
• Physical removal, e.g., dust/debris removed by
  water, and, perhaps, anti-static additives e.g.,
  glues/cements removed by scraping, brushing,
  wiping, and, perhaps, via dry-ice freezing e.g.,
  volatile liquids removed by evaporation and then
  water-rinsing (maybe steam jets)

7
HAZWOPER

• Chemical removal, e.g., dissolving contaminants
  with appropriate solvents, BUT use care as with
  halogenated solvents (with equipment and because
  of toxicity) e.g., surfactants e.g., with
  multiple rinses e.g., with disinfection /
  sterilization, unless disposable PPE are used

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HAZWOPER

• How effective is the decontamination?
• Visual Observation
• Natural light
• Ultraviolet light

9
HAZWOPER

• Wipe sampling (requires some detection means, as
  laboratory special equipment)
• Analysis of cleaning solutions
• Tests for permeation (lab analysis of protective
  garments)

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HAZWOPER

• CRZ Design
• Design should allow for an organized process
• Separate stations for various stages should be
  set up to prevent cross-contamination
• See diagram

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HAZWOPER

• Disposal Methods
• Be aware that decontamination supplies /
  equipment will likely become contaminated!
• These need to be discarded or further processed
  themselves.

12
HAZWOPER

• Personal Protection
• The decontaminator must be protected, maybe to
  the same level as the Exclusion Zone worker.
• And, the decontaminator must be decontaminated,
  as well, before entering Support Zone.

13
HAZWOPER

• Emergency Decontamination
• If immediate medical treatment is needed to save
  a life, decon should be delayed until victim is
  stabilized.
• If decon can be performed without interfering
  with life-saving techniques, it should be
  performed immediately.

14
HAZWOPER

• If worker is contaminated with extremely toxic or
  corrosive material that could cause injury to
  others, decon must be immediate.
• Provisions must be made for medical personnel and
  disposal of contaminated clothing and equipment.