Protective suits

Because of the low operating temperature and ease of fabrication for low power units, PFFCs are the most likely fuel cell to be introduced in portable power packs. PFFCs in sizes of 300—500 W are being considered as a power source, eg, 4-h duration, 300 W, 1.2 kW, for the modem soldier operating in the enclosed environment of a self-contained protective suit, which has faciUties for air conditioning, radio communication, etc. Analytic Power Corp. (Boston) is assessing the use of PFFCs for this appHcation. 

NFPA 1991 Standard on Vapor-Protective Suits for Flazardous Chemical Emergencies, 1994 edition. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. 

Depending on scale of operation, use impervious rubber gloves, eye protection (glasses/goggles/face shield), rubber aprons, boots, armlets, protective suits Provide respiratory protection against gases/dusts/fumes Provide shower and eyewash facilities... 

Chemical PPE In a fire or thermal energy hazard, PPE worn by responders should meet, at a minimum, the criteria in 29 CER 1910.156 (e), Eire Brigade Standard, requiring turnout gear. In conditions where skin absorption of a hazardous substance may result in substantial possibility of immediate death, serious illness, or injury or impaired ability to escape, totally encapsulated chemical protective suits should be used. It is vital to keep heat resistance of the totally encapsulated suits and the heat resistance of any PPE used underneath or in conjunction with the totally encapsulated suits in mind any time there is a thermal hazard. 

Are totally encapsulating chemical protective suits (Level A) used in conditions where skin absorption of a hazardous substance may result in a substantial possibility of immediate death, immediate serious illness or injury, or impair the ability to escape ... 

Are totally encapsulating chemical protective suits [OSHA Reference. 120(g)(4)]... 

Skin protection may necessitate use of full protective suits. When catalysts are dumped from reactors at the end of a process they may prove to be extremely dusty as a result of reduction in particle size during the reaction process. Again, depending upon the nature of the hazard, ventilation, personal protection, and use of temporary enclosures to prevent contamination of the general work area should be considered. Some catalysts are pyrophoric and some catalyst beds are inerted with the added possibility of fire, or release of inerting gas into the workplace which may cause asphyxiation. 

All input parameters, scenario definitions and results are stored in a database for easy access and retrieval. Analysis of individual scenario results and statistical analysis over all scenarios (or any subset) is possible. Typical individual scenario results are deposition, dosage and casualty level on the attacked target. Typical statistical analysis results are dosage and deposition threat spectra, and casualty spectra. The casualty levels and spectra can be obtained for various health effect levels (eye effect, incapacitation, lethal) and protection levels (no protection, suit only, mask only, mask and suit, collective protection). This model thus largely eliminates the subjectivity involved in scenario studies, protective and detector equipment procurement. 

The toxic effects model translates the exposure profiles into casualty probabilities for the personnel, assuming a probabilistic dose-effect relationship. The casualty levels and spectra can be obtained for various type of health effects, e.g. eye effects, inhalation, percutane, subdivided in two levels (incapacitating and lethal), and various protection levels, e.g. no protection, suit only, mask only, mask and suit, and collective protection. Table 1 gives a typical result for one scenario. In case no protection is used, 63% of the population dies due to inhalation of sarin and 25% dies due to percutaneous exposure. Clearly, when both mask and suit are worn, the casualty levels are dropping drastically. 

Breathing apparatus (BA) and full chemical protection suits... 

Protective suit of rescuer is split or damaged and a rescuer is injured... 

Responders should use NIOSH-approved, pressure-demand SCBA in conjunction with Level A protective suit in responding to a suspected biological incident where any of the following information is unknown or the event is uncontrolled ... 

Responders may use Level B protective suit with an exposed or enclosed NIOSH-approved pressure-demand SCBA if the situation can be defined in which ... 

Personal Protective Equipment Phosgene is a severe respiratory tract and skin irritant, and contact with the liquid will cause frostbite. Respiratory protection requires positive-pressure-demand, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), while skin protection requires chemical-protective clothing since phosgene gas can cause skin irritation and burns. NIOSH recommends protective suits from Responder (Kappler Co.), Tychem 10000 TM (DuPont Co.) or Teflon (DuPont Co.). 

Chemical Protective Suit A single or multi-piece garment constructed of chemical protective clothing materials designed and configured to protect the wearer s torso, head, arms, legs, hands, and feet. 

Fully Encapsulating Suits Chemical protective suits that are designed to offer full body protection, including SCBA, are gas tight, and meet the design criteria as outlined in NFPA Standard 1991. 

Level A Vapor protective suit for hazardous chemical emergencies. 

Evacuate danger area immediately Consult an expert Ventilation. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent and remove to safe place. Do NOT wash away into sewer. NEVER direct water jet on liquid. Prevent from entering confined spaces. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment (extra personal protection gas-tight chemical protection suit including self-contained breathing apparatus). 

Liquid Splash-Protective Suits for Hazardous Chemical Emergencies - NFPA 1992. Quincy, MA National Fire Protection Association, 1994. 

These early weapons forced armies to defend themselves by using gas masks and protective suits, which severely impacted their ability to fight. By the end of World War I, more than 110,000 tons of chemical weapons were used by both sides. The number of injured measured over a million, and deaths numbered about... 

Personal protective equipment is clothing and/or respiratory equipment worn to protect the body against various forms of contamination. Some of the most common forms of personal protective equipment include dust masks, air purifying respirators, protective suits made from particulates or chemically resistant materials such as Tyvek (E.I. Du Pont de Nemours Company, Inc., Wilmington, DE) and/or other fabrics, and lightweight protective rubber gloves or chemical-resistant gloves. 

When the U.S. was preparing to invade Iraq, there was great concern that our soldiers would be exposed to nerve agents. They were required not only to mask, but also to wear full body protective suits despite scorching temperatures. To me, this is overkill. The suits are extremely uncomfortable, and studies have shown that they hinder military performance by 40-50%. 

Figure 6.13 Workers wearing protective suits and masks at the Fukushima power plant.

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