JUSTIFICATION FOR SELECTING LEVEL A VS. LEVEL B PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO REMEDIATE A ROOM CONTAININGCONCENTRATED ACIDS, BASES AND RADIOLOGICAL CONSTITUENTS

摘要

Selecting the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is based on providing anrnadequate level of employee protection relative to the task-specific conditions and hazards.rnPPE is categorized into four ensembles, based on the degree of protection afforded; e.g.,rnLevels A (most restrictive), B, C, and D (least restrictive). What is often overlooked inrnpreparing an ensemble is that the PPE itself can create significant worker hazards; i.e., therngreater the level of PPE, the greater the associated risks. Furthermore, there is confusionrnas to whether a more “conservative approach” should always be taken since Level Brnprovides the same level of respiratory protection as Level A but less skin protection. Thisrnpaper summarizes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulationsrnaddressing Level A versus Level B, and provides justification for selecting Level B overrnLevel A without under-protecting the employee during a particular remediation scenario.rnThe scenario consisted of an entry team performing 1) an initial entry into a roomrncontaining concentrated acids (e.g., hydrofluoric acid), bases, and radiologicalrnconstituents; 2) sampling and characterizing container contents; and 3) retrievingrncharacterized containers. The invasive nature of the hydrofluoric acid sampling andrncharacterization scenario created a high potential for splash, immersion, and exposure tornhazardous vapors, requiring additional skin protection. The hazards associated with thisrnscenario and the chemical nature of hydrofluoric acid provided qualitative evidence tornjustify Level A. Once the hydrofluoric acid was removed from the room, PPErnperformance was evaluated against the remaining chemical inventory. If chemicalrnbreakthrough from direct contact was not expected to occur and instrument readings