Structural Firefighting Gear Decon (OPS)

Section 1 - ADMINISTRATIVE

130.14 Structural Firefighting Gear Decon

PURPOSE:

Cancer is one of the leading causes of occupational illness in the fire service. The purpose of this document is to provide a guideline for personnel decontamination and the decontamination of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and firefighting equipment to reduce the risk of exposure to cancer-causing or hazardous agents. Each member is expected to know, understand and follow this guideline.

RESPONSIBILITY

• All officers are responsible to train firefighting personnel and ensure proper compliance with this guideline.
• All members have the responsibility to adequately learn this guideline.
• It is the responsibility of the designated Officer to ensure that any necessary and appropriate type of decontamination of firefighters, PPE and equipment be completed before personnel and equipment return to service. This is agency specific as the responsibility may be tasked to a Safety Officer, Battalion Chief, etc.…

DECONTAMINATION GUIDELINES

• Degree of Contamination:
  • “Exposure to hazardous substance” is the key to decontamination needs. Products of combustion including smoke are considered hazardous. If firefighters enter an IDLH environment and / or come into contact with burned materials or runoff from suppression agents, they should be evaluated for decontamination. These include, but are not limited to personnel, uniforms, PPE, SCBA, and equipment.
    • Training fires in accordance to NFPA 1403 should be evaluated to determine Degree of Contamination from products of combustion. The evaluation should identify if and what degree decontamination of personnel, uniforms, PPE, SCBA, and equipment will take place.
• Decontamination:
  • Decontamination should take place at the scene (primary) and at the fire station (secondary). There are several different methods of decontamination that can take place at the scene, depending on the type of incident. These can range from brushing off contaminants with a whisk type broom to complete rinsing of PPE with a hose line. It is the responsibility of the designated Officer to determine what level of decontamination takes place.

PRIMARY DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES

• Fire Scene Decontamination:
  • Firefighters who have actively participated within an IDLH environment should follow the procedure for personal decontamination. Immediately upon removal of PPE at an incident: Firefighters should remain on “air” with SCBA mask during the removal of grossly contaminated PPE.
    • Using a moistened towelette the firefighter should wipe the areas of the body, face, hands, neck, and any exposed skin. This should be completed every time the firefighter comes out of an IDLH atmosphere.
    • If available, a clean Nomex Hood should be issued to the Firefighter and the contaminated hood should be decontaminated.
  • Prior to leaving the fire scene the following procedure for decontamination of PPE should be followed:
    • Contaminated gear that can be brushed off using a whisk type broom will be handled in this manner.
    • Grossly contaminated gear should be hosed off using a garden hose or charged hand line at low pressure.
    • Gear that cannot be decontaminated sufficiently on scene to remain serviceable should be isolated and returned to the fire station.
    • Prior to leaving the fire scene all tools and equipment used including SCBA should be cleaned before being placed back on the vehicle.
    • All used (contaminated) fire hose should be rolled and placed on apparatus for transport to fire station for cleaning.

SECONDARY DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES ON RETURN TO FIRE STATION

• Turnout Gear:
  • Grossly contaminated turnout gear that has not already been decontaminated should be sprayed off outside using the garden hose, and then be cleaned by an approved extractor.
  • Helmets deemed to be contaminated, should be cleaned with a damp cloth, soap and a mild detergent solution. The liner of the helmet should also be cleaned. Ear flaps should be removed if applicable and cleaned.
• Vehicles:
  • All vehicles should be parked outside and decontaminated.
  • The inside surfaces should be wiped down using soap and water.
  • The floor should be brushed and cleaned with soap and water.
  • All seat bottoms and seat backs should be cleaned using soap and water if applicable.
  • All compartments that had tools or equipment in them from the incident should be emptied and cleaned out.
  • The vehicle should be cleaned before pulling it back in station.
  • All above items should be completed while wearing department approved decon gloves.
• Equipment:
  • All equipment should be cleaned outside weather permitting.
  • Any equipment used should be cleaned with soap and water prior to being placed back in service on the truck.
  • SCBA bottles should be decontaminated and cleaned according to manufacturer specifications.
  • SCBA harnesses should be decontaminated and cleaned according to manufacturer specifications.
• Hose
  • All contaminated hose should be cleaned outside in accordance to manufacturer specifications.
• Personnel
  • Firefighters should clean their hands prior to going to the restroom or eating.
  • Any personnel who entered the IDLH in their duty boots for any reason should decontaminate their boots before entering the fire station.
  • Upon returning to the station firefighters should stay out of the main living area of the fire station until showered.
  • Immediately upon completion of the decontamination process all personnel that were exposed in any capacity should shower and change into clean uniform.
  • When showering, the firefighter should rinse their entire body with hot water before soaping.
  • All uniform items should be cleaned immediately.
  • At no time should uniform items that were worn during an incident be stored in a firefighter’s locker while waiting to be cleaned.
  • Uniform items that were used during an incident should be cleaned at the fire station and not taken home to be cleaned.

TURNOUT GEAR CLEANING PROCEDURE

• Preparing the gear for cleaning:
  • All turnout gear should be cleaned in accordance to manufacture specifications.