PPE Flashcards
What does HPS stand for in Level A suits?
HPS stands for Hazard Protection Suit, offering high chemical and vapor protection for hazardous environments.
What does VPS stand for in Level A suits?
VPS stands for Vapor Protective Suit, designed for flash fire protection and chemical resistance.
What is the MT94 Multi-Threat suit?
A Level A suit that protects against chemical, biological, and thermal hazards.
What is the ONESUIT?
A fully encapsulating, lightweight chemical protection suit designed for maximum safety.
What are the steps to properly don PPE?
- Inspect all PPE for damage (suit, gloves, boots, SCBA).
- Put on inner protective garments (e.g., base layers).
- Step into the suit and pull it up to your waist.
- Put on boots and secure the suit legs over the boots.
- Don gloves and secure them under or over the suit (based on design).
- Put on SCBA, ensure proper fit, and check air supply.
- Pull the suit fully over shoulders, seal zippers, and check facepiece fit.
- Have a buddy check all seals and connections.
What are the steps to properly doff PPE?
- Decontaminate suit and gloves thoroughly.
- Remove gloves without touching the outside.
- Remove SCBA while keeping the mask on.
- Unzip the suit and step out carefully to avoid contact with outer surfaces.
- Remove inner gloves last.
- Dispose of or clean PPE per protocol.
What does breakthrough time mean in PPE?
The time it takes for a chemical to pass through PPE material, indicating its protective limits.
What are Butyl Rubber gloves used for?
Protection against gases, acids, alcohols, and highly corrosive substances.
Gloves for Protection against oils, fuels, solvents, and some chemicals.
Nitrile
Gloves for Protection against acids, oils, and greases in chemical exposure
Neoprene
What are PVC gloves used for?
Protection against water-based chemicals and low-hazard substances
Also grease, oils, some caustics
What is an APR, and when is it used?
An Air-Purifying Respirator filters harmful particles and gases but does not supply oxygen. Used when contaminants are known and oxygen is sufficient.
What is a PAPR, and when is it used?
A Powered Air-Purifying Respirator uses a battery-powered blower to filter air, suitable for extended use in low-to-moderate hazard environments.
What is an SCBA, and when is it used?
A Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus supplies its own air, used in oxygen-deficient or high-toxicity environments.
What should be included in a Level A entry checklist?
• Verify suit and SCBA functionality.
• Inspect PPE for damage.
• Review chemical compatibility of suit and gloves.
• Confirm emergency exit plan.
• Perform buddy check.
What are the responsibilities of an attendant?
• Monitor responders for safety and time limits.
• Maintain communication with the entry team.
• Manage decontamination process.
• Be prepared for emergency assistance or rescue.
What does Level A PPE protect against?
Vapors, gases, mists, and particles with full respiratory and skin protection.
What does Level B PPE protect against?
High respiratory risks with splash protection; less skin protection than Level A.
What does Level C PPE protect against?
Known chemical hazards with limited toxicity, requiring APRs and sufficient oxygen.
What is a buddy check, and why is it important?
A final verification of PPE seals, connections, and equipment by a partner to ensure safety before entry.
How do temperature extremes affect CBRNE canister performance?
High temps lower adsorption capacity; low temps condense chemicals, reducing effectiveness.
Why is SCBA duration often shorter than its rated time in hazmat environments?
Stress, exertion, and air resistance reduce usable air time.
What is the assigned protection factor APF of PAPRs compared to SCBAs?
PAPRs: 25-1000; SCBAs: 10,000 (better for IDLH).
How do Level A suits increase heat stress, and how is it mitigated?
Trapped heat and airflow restriction; mitigated with pre-cooling vests, vital checks, and time limits.
How do you calculate air consumption for SCBA entry teams?
Measure RMV under stress, multiply by tank capacity, and add safety margins.
How do organic vapor cartridges differ from CBRNE canisters?
Vapor cartridges filter hydrocarbons; CBRNE canisters filter multiple threats, including chemical agents.
What is permeation lag time, and why is it important for gloves?
The delay before chemicals pass through gloves; defines exposure risk timing.
Why does Viton outperform butyl for chlorinated solvents, and when is butyl preferred?
Viton resists chlorinated solvents; butyl is better for gases and acids.
Why are Silver Shield gloves unsuitable for high-mechanical tasks?
They tear easily and have poor dexterity.
What does the breakthrough detection threshold indicate in glove testing?
The lowest detectable chemical concentration inside the glove.
Why do boots require chem tape at the suit interface?
To block contaminants from wicking into gaps via capillary action.
When is a multi-layer glove system required?
When one layer resists chemicals and another provides mechanical strength.
Why is flame resistance critical for hazmat suits in industrial fires?
Reduces ignition risk from flashover or vapor fires.
How does fit testing differ for particulate vs. vapor hazards in Level C APRs?
Vapor: irritant smoke/banana oil; particulate: particle counter tests.
What must be considered when reusing decontaminated PPE?
Material degradation, residual contamination, and structural integrity.
What is the adsorption saturation point for activated carbon filters?
The point where the filter fails to absorb more contaminants, risking breakthrough.
Why is chem tape unsuitable for cryogenic environments?
It becomes brittle and loses adhesion in extreme cold.
Why are PFA-lined suits superior for hydrofluoric acid?
PFA resists HF, unlike standard Level A materials that degrade rapidly.
A Level A suit is a __________ suit that provides the highest protection.
Fully encapsulated
Level A suits are designed to protect against the most hazardous materials.
Level A suits are preferred protection when dealing with __________.
Gases
These suits are essential for operations involving toxic gases.
Level A suits could be used with a __________ jumpsuit for flame resistance.
Blue Nomex
Nomex is a fire-resistant material often used in hazardous environments.
One Suit Flash 2, Trellchem VPS Flash are examples of
Two examples of rated flash suits for Level A
These suits are specifically designed to meet Level A standards.
Level A suits have a __________ year shelf life.
15
Proper storage is essential to maintain their protective capabilities.
During the pressure test, Level A suits must hold 5” H2O for __________ minute(s).
1
This test ensures the integrity of the suit under pressure.
After reducing to 4” H2O, Level A suits must hold pressure for __________ minutes.
4
This step is crucial for verifying the suit’s performance.
Cleaning Level A suits requires __________ ounces of Dawn per gallon of water.
1
Proper cleaning procedures are vital for maintaining the suit’s functionality.
A Level B suit is primarily a __________ protection suit.
Splash
This type of suit is used to protect against liquid hazards.
Chem tape is used on Level B suits to close up seams around __________, __________, and __________.
Facepiece, gloves, booties
Secure sealing is necessary to prevent contamination.
__________ are worn over the Level B suit for additional protection.
Booties
Booties add an extra layer of safety during hazardous operations.
Level C suits, differ from B how?
Respiratory protection
PAPRs are used with __________ filters, which only filter particulates.
HEPA
HEPA filters are effective for particulate matter but do not protect against gases.
PAPRs are used during __________ operational periods when SCBA is not practical.
Long
They are beneficial for extended use in environments with low oxygen.
PAPRs are typically used in conjunction with __________ PPE level.
Level C
This combination is effective for certain types of exposure.
CBRNE canisters are only used when __________ hazards are present.
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive (CBRNE)
These canisters provide specific protection against multiple threat types.
Multi-threat suits, such as Lion Nomex suits, are used for __________ incidents.
CBRNE
These suits are versatile for various hazardous scenarios.
Multi-threat suits have a __________ year shelf life or __________ wears and __________ washes or _____ wears and ____ washes
10
10,2
5,5
## Footnote
Maintenance is key to ensuring longevity and effectiveness.
Multi-threat suits can also have __________ wears and __________ washes as a replacement.
10; 2
Or
5, 5
## Footnote
This alternative provides flexibility in usage.
Multi-threat suits are machine washed in __________ water and rinsed in __________ water.
Warm; cold
Proper washing techniques are essential for maintaining suit integrity.
__________ gloves provide protection against hydraulic fluids, gasoline, alcohols, acids, and alkalis.
Neoprene
Neoprene gloves are commonly used in various industrial applications.
__________ gloves provide protection from chlorinated solvents.
Nitrile and Viton
Nitrile is known for its resistance to punctures and chemicals.
__________ gloves provide protection from nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, sulfuric acid, and peroxides.
Butyl
Butyl gloves are essential for handling highly corrosive substances.
__________ gloves are resistant to chlorinated and aromatic solutions and can be used in water-based environments.
Viton
Viton offers excellent chemical resistance for various applications.
__________ gloves are good for handling grease, oils, acids, and caustics.
PVC
PVC gloves are widely used in the automotive and manufacturing industries.
__________ gloves provide protection against cryogenic liquids and gases but have low dexterity.
Cryo
These gloves are crucial for working with extremely cold materials.
__________ gloves provide protection against many toxic and hazardous chemicals and are made of laminate material.
Silver Shield
Silver Shield gloves are designed for specialized chemical protection.
When should Tychem suits be used?
Only when the threat matrix is minimal.
Tychem suits are not suitable for high-risk environments.
What is the main limitation of PAPRs?
They do not supply oxygen.
Users must ensure they are in an oxygen-rich environment.
How often should Level A suits be pressure tested?
Annually.
Regular testing is essential for maintaining safety standards.
