Annex 5 - Body Protection

Volume 2 Start Annex 1 First Response Annex 2 Chem. Resist. Annex 3 Case Histories Annex 4 Classification Annex 5 Body Protection Annex 6 Labelling Annex 7 Units Annex 8 References
 
Body protection levels
 

When response activities are conducted where atmospheric contamination is known or suspected to exist, personal protective equipment must be worn.
 

Personal protective equipment is designed to prevent/reduce skin and eye contact as well as inhalation or ingestion of the chemical substance.

Protective equipment to protect the body against contact with known or anticipated chemical hazards has been divided into the four categories Level A-D.
 
 

Level A

 

Level A protection should be worn when the highest level of respiratory, skin, eye and mucous membrane protection is needed.

 

Personal Protective Equipment

 

●

Positive pressure (pressure demand), self contained breathing apparatus, or positive-pressure supplied air respirator with escape SCBA.

 

●

Fully encapsulating chemical protective suit.

 

●

Gloves, inner, chemical resistant.

 

●

Gloves, outer, chemical resistant.

 

●

Boots, chemical resistant, steel toe and shank; (depending on suit boot construction, worn over or under suit boot.)

 

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Underwear, cotton, long-john type.*

 

●

Hard hat (under suit).*

 

●

Coveralls (under suit).*

 

●

Two-way radio communications (intrinsically safe/non-sparking).*

 

 

* Optional 

 
 

Level B

 

Level B protection should be selected when the highest level of respiratory protection is needed. Personnel under Level B are easier to secure by rescue lines. Level B protection is the minimum level recommended on initial site entries until the hazards have been further identified and defined by monitoring, sampling, and other reliable methods of analysis, and equipment corresponding with those findings utilized.

 

Personal Protective Equipment

 

●

Positive-pressure (pressure-demand), self-contained breathing apparatus, or positive-pressure supplied air respirator with escape SCBA. The breathing apparatus is worn outside the suit (which is the main difference from Level A).

 

●

Chemical resistant suit.

 

●

Gloves, outer, chemical resistant.

 

●

Gloves, inner, chemical resistant.

 

●

Boots, outer, chemical resistant, steel toe and shank.

 

●

Boot-covers, chemical resistant (disposable).*

 

●

Two-way radio communications (intrinsically safe, non-sparking).*

 

●

Hard hat.*

 

●

Face shield.*

 

 

* Optional
 
 

Level C

 

Level C protection should be selected when the type of airborne substance is known, concentration measured, criteria for using air-purifying respirators met, and skin and eye exposure is unlikely. Periodic monitoring of the air must be performed.

 

Personal Protective Equipment

 

●

Full-face mask, air-purifying respirator.

 

●

Chemical resistant clothing (one piece coverall, hooded two piece chemical splash suit, chemical resistant hood and apron, disposable chemical resistant coveralls.)

 

●

Gloves, outer, chemical resistant.

 

●

Gloves, inner, chemical resistant.

 

●

Boots, steel toe and shank, chemical resistant.

 

●

Boot-covers, chemical resistant.*

 

●

Cloth coveralls (inside chemical protective clothing).*

 

●

Two-way radio communications (intrinsically safe, non-sparking).*

 

●

Hard hat. *

 

●

Escape mask. *

 

●

Face shield.*

 

 

* Optional
 
 

Level D

 

Level D is primarily a work uniform and is used for nuisance contamination only. It requires only coveralls and safety shoes/boots. Other PPE is based upon the situation (types of gloves, etc.). It should not be worn on any site where respiratory or skin hazards exist.

 

The type of environment and the overall level of protection should be revaluated periodically as the amount of information about the site increases and as workers are required to perform different tasks.

 

 

 

Level upgrading or downgrading

 

Reasons to upgrade to a higher level (D is lowest, A is highest):

 

●

Known or suspected presence of dermal hazards
 

●

Occurrence or likely occurrence of gas or vapour emission
 

●

Change in work task that will increase contact or potential contact with hazardous materials
 

●

Request of the individual performing the task
 
 

Reasons to downgrade:
 

●

New information indicating that the situation is less hazardous than was originally thought
 

●

Change in site conditions that decreases the hazard
 

●

Change in work task that will reduce contact with hazardous materials
 
 

Examples of European protective suits

 

 

 

 

Level A

 

 

 

 

Picture source: MSA

 

Picture source: Swedish Rescue Services Agency
(Lars Gylldorff)

 

Picture source: Draeger

 

Figure A5 - 1

 

Figure A5 - 2

 

Figure A5 - 3

 

 

 

 

Level B

 

 

 

 
Picture source: Draeger

 

Picture source: Vautex

 

Picture source: Swedish Rescue Services Agency
(Lars Gylldorff)

 

Figure A5 - 4

 

Figure A5 - 5

Figure A5 - 6

 

 

 

 

Level C

Picture source: Draeger
 

Figure A5 - 7