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Chemical decontamination is crucial for managing chemical spills and treating those exposed to chemicals. Workers wear protective clothing and use detectors to identify the level of contamination. Decontamination involves chemical dilution or inactivation, using pressure washing and rinsing stations. Quick treatment is essential to prevent serious injuries.
Chemical decontamination is an integral part of managing and cleaning up a chemical spill. It is also used to treat people who are exposed to chemicals. Typically, chemical dilution and chemical inactivation are the methods used in a chemical decontamination procedure. In addition to preventing further harm to the patient, chemical decontamination cleans an environment exposed to a harmful chemical and makes it safe.
Workers involved in chemical decontamination wear specialized clothing to protect them from the hazardous materials they handle. Most emergency preparedness plans and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines require the use of personal protective equipment such as coveralls and respirators that are resistant to chemicals. Workers must be trained in the safe use of respirators. This equipment protects the worker from splashes and chemical fumes.
It is important to identify the chemicals involved in a particular incident so that response teams are adequately protected. Usually, response teams use detectors to identify the chemical agent they will encounter. This allows the response team to identify the level of contamination and don the corresponding equipment.
There are generally three levels of contamination, each requiring a specific set of equipment. Level A is the most severe type of chemical decontamination event, requiring a fully encapsulated or full protective suit with chemical resistance. This suit generally has its own full breathing apparatus attached. Level B equipment typically includes a full-face respirator and chemical resistant suit. The least severe contamination event is designated Level C, which requires resistant clothing and air-purifying respirator equipment.
Decontaminating an area usually involves chemical dilution, where large amounts of water are forcefully dumped onto contaminated surfaces. Adding soap to water helps remove some types of oil-based chemicals. Chemical dilution is also used to treat individuals exposed to chemicals. This usually involves a pressure shower to rinse the chemical off your skin or an eye wash to treat eye exposure.
Chemical inactivation is another method used to decontaminate an area. It involves using bleach and water to neutralize a particular chemical. This is also usually the method used to decontaminate an area exposed to biological agents.
Both chemical dilution and inactivation require the use of pressure hoses, sprays and physical washing to be effective. Response teams typically set up decontamination showers and rinse stations to treat people exposed to a chemical. The quicker the chemical exposure is treated, the less likely the injuries are to be serious. The clothing worn by the patients involved in the chemical accident must be handled with care and stored in the appropriate containment containers. Additionally, exposure to wastewater from decontamination areas should be avoided.
