Protection of Decontamination Workers

A JHA should be conducted and hazards associated with the decontamination process should be identified to determine the appropriate types of PPE for decontamination workers. This information should be incorporated in the safety plan. 

For many operations, workers are assigned to assist in conducting decontamination of workers wearing Level A or B PPE during the decontamination process. Decontamination workers stationed at the front end of the decontamination line may require more protection from chemical and radiological contaminants than decontamination workers assigned to the latter stages of decontamination. 

In some cases, decontamination workers wear the same level of PPE as workers entering the controlled area or exclusion zone. In others, decontamination workers are sufficiently protected by wearing a lower level of PPE. In many instances, level D protection is not acceptable in the CRZ. In addition, all decontamination workers should be decontaminated before entering the support zone. Appropriate equipment and clothing for protecting decontamination workers should be planned by the project team [2]. 

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