THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

Executive Office of Public Safety

Department of Fire Services

Hazardous Materials Response

STANDARD

OPERATING

GUIDELINE

SOG #210.00 - Decon Branch Officer

OBJECTIVE:             The objective of this S.O.G. is to outline the roles and responsibilities of the Decon Branch Officer.

APPLICABILITY:                    • Department of Fire Services Divisions
                                                 • Regional Steering Committee
                                                 • Fire Chiefs
                                                 • Response Team Members
                                                 • MEMA

1.0    RESPONSIBILITIES

1.1 Decontamination Branch Officer (Decon officer) will be assigned by the Team Leader on all incidents involving entry operations or when personnel may be exposed to hazardous materials.

The Decon officer shall assume the responsibility for safe and acceptable methods of decontamination for the incident.

1.2 The Decon officer shall be a qualified Hazardous Materials Technician.

1.3 After receiving his/her assignment, the Decon officer will obtain an identification vest, portable radio, and a Decon Team Checklist packet.

1.4 The Decon officer will receive from the Science Branch Officer information concerning the materials involved and appropriate decontamination methods.

2.0    DECONTAMINATION LINE SETUP

2.1 The Decon officer will identify potential locations for the Decon corridor based on the terrain and close proximity to the Hot Zone work area. Attention should be focused on locations that are uphill, flat or slightly sloping towards the Hot Zone. The location must be as close as practical to the work area to limit travel distances by Entry personnel. Other considerations include accessibility, surface material, lighting, drains, waterways, water availability and location, and weather.

2.2 The Decon corridor will be clearly marked with traffic cones or barrier tape and be secured against entry by unauthorized personnel.

2.3 The Decon officer will receive from the Science officer the proper PPE selection for the Decon Team. The Decon Officer will then request sufficient quantities and types of the appropriate PPE from the Logistics officer.

2.4 To safely reduce the contamination of personnel and equipment, the Decon Officer will receive from the Science branch the appropriate solution (s) and methods.

2.5 The Decon corridor must be completed and all personnel in place prior to any work commencing in the hot zone. Emergency hand signals must be reviewed prior to entry in the hot zone.

3.0 DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES

3.1 The Decon corridor must consist of a minimum of a tool drop, an emergency corridor, one gross shower, one rinse station and a PPE drop. The corridor may be expanded with as many additional stations as may

be required by the nature of the incident.

3.2 The Decon officer must ensure proper procedures. The Decon procedure is outlined as follows:

3.2.1    If tools are to be reused by another entry team, they should be placed in a container or area designated as the tool drop prior to personnel entering the gross decontamination station.

3.2.2    If tools are not to be reused, they may be taken to the gross Decon station for cleaning prior to being left at the tool drop.

3.2.3    Gross Decon is accomplished by either brushing away or vacuuming dry materials, or by absorbing / adsorbing the material with some appropriate method or product. When the material is not a water reactive, water or another solution may be used to dilute the materials. The objective of gross Decon is to remove the bulk of the hazardous material from the surface of PPE and tools. Measures must be taken to retain decontamination water runoff.

3.2.4    The next step is the wash / rinse station, where residual contaminants are scrubbed away with brushes and a detergent solution. Contaminants are then rinsed away with a water spray.

3.2.5    After rinsing, PPE is carefully removed and set aside for disposal or testing. Once PPE is removed, the SCBA can be removed and set cleaning. Personnel will then be sent to Medical personnel.

3.2.6    The final step in the Decon process is personal showers, either on site or as soon as practical otherwise.

4.0       EMERGENCY DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES:

4.1 Emergency Decon may be needed for the following situations:

a)   When PPE fails due to an accidental breach or degradation or when personnel become accidentally contaminated.

b)   When personnel have been injured or are in immediate need of medical attention and have not been exposed to hazardous materials.

4.2       Emergency Decon where someone has been or is believed to have been contaminated:

4.2.1          Remove PPE from the victim and begin flushing affected body areas.

4.2.2          Remove as much contaminant as possible to prevent secondary contamination to Medical personnel.

4.2.3    Advance the injured/exposed member through the Decon line.

4.2.4          Dress the injured/exposed member in a Tyvek suit or other suitable clothing.

4.2.5          Move the injured/exposed person to a safe area for further evaluation and treatment.

4.3 Emergency Decon measures for an injury/ medical emergency where person has not been exposed or contaminated.

4.3.1    Assess the condition of the member in the suit. Does the emergency in the suit exceed the severity of the threat from exposure to the material?

4.3.2    Choose Decon line or emergency Decon corridor.

4.3.4    Follow standard decon procedures with care for injury.

4.3.5    Contact Medical Branch Officer to develop plan of care.

5.0 TERMINATION PROCEDURES

5.1 All tools must be cleaned prior to returning them to service.

5.2 All tools, equipment, and PPE contaminated beyond the Decon capabilities on site, will be inventoried and placed in containers, marked, and set aside for cleaning or disposal.

5.3 All Decon pool water must be tested to determine the presence of contaminants. If contaminated, it must be secured for disposal.

5.4 All Decon Team members must decontaminate each other or themselves.

5.5 All materials used by the Decon branch during decontamination operations must be documented by the Decon officer.

5.6               Notify all branch personnel to report to the debriefing as scheduled by the Team Leader.

DECON SOLUTIONS

DECON CHECKLIST

PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENTS

DECON SITE SETUP (continued)

BRANCH OFFICERS BRIEFING

ENTRY/ DECON OPERATIONS

TERMINATION

Practical Decon Procedures

STEP 1: Entry point is established and marked to guide contaminated personnel into the Decon Area. Any tools which may be needed by other personnel in the Hot Zone should be left at this point. This isolates “dirty” tools and makes them available to replacement workers or personnel who are only decontaminating enough to safely change SCBA units (see Step 4).

STEP 2: Remove as much solid, liquid or gas from contaminated personnel. If hose lines are used, overspray and splashing should be minimized by lowering water pressure. Runoff water should be contained to prevent environmental contamination. Divert water to a safe area for collection, treatment and disposal. As much distance as possible should be placed between contaminated personnel and Decon workers. When high risk hazardous materials such as Class B poisons are involved, everyone working at Step 2 should be in SCBA and have a level of protection equal to the person being decontaminated, however never more than one(1) level below the entry worker. Workers conducting Decon will have to undergo Decon when their shift has been completed.

STEP 3: Protective clothing is removed and isolated. This is especially important if personnel are using standard protective clothing which is porous and will absorb most materials. Remember that many contaminants cannot be seen or smelled by workers.

Contaminated coats, helmets, etc. shall be placed in containers to isolate contaminants. Plastic bags may provide sufficient temporary protection for most contaminated clothing. Bagged clothing should be taped closed for transportation to a facility for laundering. If disposal is required, bagged materials should be placed inside a recovery drum and properly marked.

There are no practical detoxification techniques for many pesticides. Incineration or burial may be required in a specially designated landfill.

STEP 4: Removal of SCBA. Highly contaminated SCBA should be removed and isolated for complete decontamination at a later time. All contaminated facepieces, bottles, etc. shall be placed in individual plastic bags or wrapped in a tarp. This is especially important if units are contaminated with poisons.

Replacement of SCBA. If workers are reentering the hot zone, primary Decon must have been completed at Step 2. When low risk hazardous materials are involved, this may simply mean changing air bottles. If personnel have been contaminated with hazardous materials which present serious respiratory hazards, they should reenter the hazard area in a clean unit.

This can be safely accomplished by passing a clean SCBA unit across the isolation line from the clean side to the contaminated side. The procedure of exchanging the entire SCBA unit rather than just the bottles, ensures a higher level of safety for personnel reentering the area.

STEP 5: Complete removal of clothing. This may include all outer clothing and undergarments. Provisions should be made to bag personal property separately from clothing to aid in recovery after decontamination.

Personal property such as rings, watches, wallets and jewelry shall be removed before entering contaminated areas (per Safety SOG).

STEP 6: Body washing. An overhead shower produces better results than a hose line. Liquid surgical soaps dispensed from plastic squeeze bottles are best. Small brushes and sponges should be available for cleaning. Special attention should be given to areas with hair (head and groin), and the ears.

Contact lenses should be removed and the eyes flushed to remove any contaminants that may have collected under the lenses. This may be done immediately at Step 2 during an emergency Decon situation.

When materials do not present acute hazards, showers can be taken at a location more suitable for washing. Before permanent structures are approved for routine Decon, drainage systems should be checked by the jurisdiction having responsibility for waste water treatment. A memorandum of understanding between the sewage treatment facility and the fire service should be in place to avoid problems.

STEP 7: Drying off. Disposable stretcher sheets make good towels. Towels shall be placed in bags for disposal with other contaminated equipment.

Clean clothes should be put on next. Disposable coveralls or hospital gowns and slippers are inexpensive and easy to use.

STEP 8: Medical evaluation. Any open wounds or breaks in the skin of any type should be reported to medical personnel. Any wounds shall be cleaned.

The Medical Officer will brief medical units assigned to the Decon, and will advise of the health hazards, signs and symptoms of exposure and emergency treatment. Notice should be given to hospital emergency staff to prepare for additional treatment.

STEP 9: Forwarding point to another location for medical treatment, or special decontamination procedures.

         NINE STEP DECON PROCEDURE

Note: Steps 5-9 may be done off-site.

LEVEL A - DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURE

.

At this point, there are two options

OPTION 1

And

OPTION 2

LEVEL B and C - DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURE

At this point, there are two options

OPTION I

and

OPTION 2

.

DECON OF THE SICK AND INJURED