EPA Levels of Protection
When response activities are conducted where atmospheric
contamination is known or suspected to exist, personal protective equipment must
be worn.
Personal protective equipment is designed to prevent/reduce skin and eye contact
as well as inhalation or ingestion of the chemical substance.
Protective equipment to protect the body against contact with known or
anticipated chemical hazards has been divided into four categories.
Level A protection should be worn when the highest level
of respiratory, skin, eye and mucous membrane protection is needed.
Personal Protective Equipment
- Positive pressure (pressure demand), self contained
breathing apparatus (NIOSH approved), or positive-pressure supplied air
respirator with escape SCBA.
- Fully encapsulating chemical protective suit.
- Gloves, inner, chemical resistant.
- Gloves, outer, chemical resistant.
- Boots, chemical resistant, steel toe and shank;
(depending on suit boot construction, worn over or under suit boot.)
- Underwear, cotton, long-john type.*
- Hard hat (under suit).*
- Coveralls (under suit).*
- Two-way radio communications (intrinsically
safe/non-sparking).*
* Optional
Level B protection should be selected when the highest
level of respiratory protection is needed, but a lesser level of skin and eye
protection. Level B protection is the minimum level recommended on initial site
entries until the hazards have been further identified and defined by
monitoring, sampling, and other reliable methods of analysis, and equipment
corresponding with those findings utilized.
Personal Protective Equipment
- Positive-pressure (pressure-demand), self-contained
breathing apparatus (NIOSH approved), or positive-pressure supplied air
respirator with escape SCBA.
- Chemical resistant clothing (overalls and long-sleeved
jacket, coveralls, hooded two-piece chemical splash suit, disposable chemical
resistant coveralls.)
- Coveralls (under splash suit).*
- Gloves, outer, chemical resistant.
- Gloves, inner, chemical resistant.
- Boots, outer, chemical resistant, steel toe and shank.
- Boot-covers, chemical resistant (disposable).*
- Two-way radio communications (intrinsically safe).*
- Hard hat. *
- Faceshield.*
* Optional
Level C protection should be selected when the type of
airborne substance is known, concentration measured, criteria for using
air-purifying respirators met, and skin and eye exposure is unlikely. Periodic
monitoring of the air must be performed.
Personal Protective Equipment
- Full-face or half-mask, air-purifying respirator (NIOSH
approved).
- Chemical resistant clothing (one piece coverall, hooded
two piece chemical splash suit, chemical resistant hood and apron, disposable
chemical resistant coveralls.)
- Gloves, outer, chemical resistant.
- Gloves, inner, chemical resistant.
- Boots, steel toe and shank, chemical resistant.
- Boot-covers, chemical resistant.*
- Cloth coveralls (inside chemical protective clothing).*
- Two-way radio communications (intrinsically safe).*
- Hard hat. *
- Escape mask. *
- Faceshield.*
* Optional
Level D is primarily a work uniform and is used for
nuisance contamination only. It requires only coveralls and safety shoes/boots.
Other PPE is based upon the situation (types of gloves, etc.). It should not be
worn on any site where respiratory or skin hazards exist. Refer to The Office of
Emergency and Remedial Response. Environmental Response, Division. See "Interim
Standard Operating Safety Procedures" for full details.
The type of environment and the overall level of
protection should be reevaluated periodically as the amount of information about
the site increases and as workers are required to perform different tasks.
Reasons to upgrade to a higher level
(D is lowest, A is highest)
- Known or suspected presence of dermal hazards
- Occurrence or likely occurrence of gas or vapor
emission
- Change in work task that will increase contact or
potential contact with hazardous materials
- Request of the individual performing the task
Reasons to downgrade:
- New information indicating that the situation is less
hazardous than was originally thought
- Change in site conditions that decreases the hazard
- Change in work task that will reduce contact with
hazardous materials