Integrated body and respiratory protection

1. Integrated body and respiratory protection A practical demonstration

2. Background In this test, we want to: • Examine how to provide effective protection using various types of PPE • Gloves • Suits • Compare the protection efficiency of two very different protective suits • Explore the importance of pressurisation • Identify the issues associated with decontamination & safe removal of contaminated PPE

3. A Word on PPE • High standard of protection expected • Simple to use • Recognise limitations • Training to match hazards • Last line of defence • Sometimes PPE is only option

4. Important: This is not a scientific experiment — rather an informal way of exploring some basic aspects of personal protection equipment against hazardous substances

5. Equipment

6. Gloves Used • Standard disposable gloves • Best nitrile

7. Safe Glove Removal • Grasp glove below cuff • Peel down • Insert finger under other cuff • Peel 2nd glove off • "Dirty to Dirty - Clean to Clean"

8. Simple, off-the-rack handyman’s suit Tyvek® material Welded seams Negative pressure respirator Not taped Not pressurised Disposable Pressurised suit Double hoods Tyvek F® material Welded seams Positive pressure respirator Taped Pressurised Disposable Integrated (i.e. respirator and suit designed to be used together) Suits used

9. Contamination chamber • Simple upright tent, designed as shower tent at camping grounds • Plastic pool for collection of waste water

10. Contaminant & detection agent • Fluoresceine — a common substance with many uses, e.g. in plumbing to detect leaks • Glows under UV light • Dispensed as aerosol from 4 nozzles inside the tent

11. Tests

12. Gloves • Don gloves • Clean small liquid spill using a sponge • Remove gloves • Test for contamination using black light

13. The test begins A white inner suit is used for easy detection of any contaminant leaking through outer suit

14. Don mask & outer suit Simple suit with negative pressure respirator Pressurised suit with positive pressure respirator

15. Taping (Pressurised suit only)

16. Single hood Double hood Negative pressure Positive pressure No taping All joints taped Not pressurised Pressurised Loose gloves Integrated gloves Suit in bootleg Protective skirt over bootleg Socks & boots Integrated inner booties Major differences

17. How pressurisation works • When user does not need air (e.g. when breathing out), clean air is channelled into the suit instead of the respirator • The suit inflates at every exhalation • A slight positive pressure is maintained within the suit at all times

18. Test procedure The test procedure is exactly the same for both types of suit:

19. Enter chamber

20. Seal chamber

21. Switch on contaminant

22. Start exercise • Duration: 5 minutes • Movements: squatting, straightening, twisting • Follows part of NFPA approved exercises for protective suits • Designed to stretch, pull, inflate, deflate suit

23. End of exposure

24. Decontamination

25. Examination • The protective suit is carefully removed • Inner suit is examined in a darkened room under UV light • Any trace of contaminant on the inner suit glows bright yellow-green

26. See for yourself Now let’s go and do some real-life, practical exercises!

27. Results (of this test only)

28. Simple suit Pressurised suit (Click on each image for larger picture) Results Conclusion…

29. Results Back

30. Results Back

31. Results Back

32. Results Back

33. Conclusion ?