SCBA

Use personal protective equipment Provide sufficient bottled air/SCBA Develop emergency response procedures Develop appropriate evacuation plans... 

Are emergency self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or escape air packs available in the work areas involved m the ABC Co. processing ... 

When the p>ertincnt factors have been considered and a decision has been reached to proceed with a rescue, all reasonable protective measures should be taken by rescuers. Response personnel should use positive pressure. Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and aveiilable protective clothing while working as quickly as possible to minimize their exposure to the toxic materials. 

Health Hazards Information - Recommended Personal Protective Equipment Chemical safety goggles and full face shield, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), positive pressure hose mask, airline mask rubber safety shoes, chemical protective clothing Symptoms Following Exposure Inhalation causes irritation of nose and throat, a feeling of pressure in the chest, and shortness of breath. Nausea... 

Fire Hazards - Flash Point Not flammable Flammable limits in Air (%) Not flammable Fire Extinguishing Agents Not pertinent Fire Extinguishing Agents Not To Be Used Not pertinent Special Hazards of Combustion Products Toxic arsenic fumes may form. The use of an SCBA is recommended Behavior in Fire Not pertinent Ignition Temperature Not pertinent Electrical Hazard Not pertinent Burning Rate Not pertinent. 

Figure 9-1 is an example of what a modern level A ensemble ean look like. Remember, level A suits are fully eneapsulated. The ensemble would eome with gloves and boots ineluded. An overboot and overgloves would be added to provide extra proteetion and add extra working life to the ensemble. An SCBA is worn with the air paek unit fully within the ensemble, and the worker wears a full faeepieee. Notiee the field of vision that the worker enjoys with the ensemble shown. Were the ensemble in Figure 9-1 not fully eneapsulated at the sleeves, feet, or seams, it would not be eonsidered level A. 

In Figure 9-2 we see a worker demonstrating a level A ensemble handling a drum. Notiee that his SCBA airlines and other apparatus are eovered and proteeted by a layer of elothing. 

Workers pictured in Figure 9-7 are wearing suits that cover and protect the components of their SCBAs. This can be important when carrying objects that can catch or obstruct or when working near stairways or ladders. Depending on whether or not these suits are fully encapsulated (checking how the sleeves and feet are made), these ensembles could be either level A or level B. 

Figure 9-23 shows what a typieal worker in Level B proteetion might look like while working. Quite often the SCBA that this worker is earrying on his baek is replaeed with an airline type as shown in Figure 9-22. Wlien workers are dressed out in this fashion, the weight of the...

SCBA, no matter how light it is, can cause the worker to become tired more quickly than workers using the airline type. 

Self-eontained breathing apparatus (SCBA) use requirements... 

SCBA use in emergency response 29 CER 1910.120 (qX3)(iv) requires that a positive-pressure SCBA be used while engaged in emergency response, until such time that the individual in charge of the ICS determines through the use of air monitoring that a decreased level of respiratory protection will not result in hazardous exposure to employees. If the incident commander believes that hazards are not adequately characterized, he or she must order the use of positive-pressure SCBAs. 

Approved cylinders 29 CER 1910.120 (qX3)(x) requires that approved SCBAs may be used with approved cylinders from other approved SCBAs provided such cylinders are of the same capacity and pressure rating. Interchangeable cylinders become important during emergencies. Eor respiratory protection during nonemergency situations the NIOSH approvals require that certain components are not mixed and matched or the approval may not be allowed. 

Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) levels are the ceiling limit for respirators other than SCBAs. Any exposures approaching the IDLH level should be regarded with extreme caution and the use of SCBAs for respiratory protection should be considered. 

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