How to Safely Put On and Take Off a Hazmat Suit
Introduction: The Role of Hazmat Suits in Worker Safety
Working in any environment requires the right equipment. But when it comes to hazardous environments ... the type of workplace settings where workers are interacting with dangerous, toxic, and even deadly materials... there is no piece of equipment more important than the hazmat suit (short hand for "HAZardous MATerials" suit).
But hazmat suits are't magic; they don't automatically repel everything poisonous and dangerous. One tiny mistake in putting on a suit or taping the gloves can leave you as exposed to contamination as ever. And even once you leave a contaminated hot zone, you are remain in danger of injury or sickness if you do not properly take it off. In this post, we’ll review the essential steps of putting on and taking off a hazmat suit safely, ensuring you’re protected from head to toe.
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Hazmat Physicals and Mask Fittings
Are There Different Types of Hazmat Suits?
A hazmat suit is a type of personalized protective equipment (PPE), outerwear designed to protect workers from exposure to foreign substances. The substances can be chemical, nuclear, and biological agents. There are four classifications for hazmat suits, each serving specific needs and offering different levels of protection:
Level A suits give the highest level of protection against hazardous materials, gases, and vapors.
Level B suits protect against chemical spills and splashes. They also provide respiratory protection with full-body coverage.
Level C suits are good when you know the type and amount of airborne substances. They offer less respiratory protection.
Level D is the lowest form of protection, not even having a respirator or specialized footwear. It involves coveralls, gloves, and goggles.
In short, each type of hazmat suit is for a different job; using any of the suits can make you feel safe... but the wrong suit for a situation leaves you as vulnerable as ever. We will further explore the differences between these hazmat suits in a future blog post. It is very important to understand the differences between these suits.
Pre-Donning Checklist
Double check that it is the right level of suit for the situation at hand, and if you require any additional equipment.
Assess your hazmat suit, make sure it is the correct size, has every necessary piece (ex: respirator), and that there are no rips or tears. NEVER use a suit that has not been tested and officially approved by your workplace.
Make sure you are in a clean, safe environment to put on the suit
If you are wearing pants, roll them into your socks
Apply the anti-fog of choice to your goggles or mask
Remove any jewelry around your wrists, neck, head, or ankle.
If you have long hair, tie it back in a way that it won't snag on anything.
If able, find a comfortable place to sit.
And, last but not least... go to the bathroom!
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How to Putt on a Hazmat Suit
If the hazmat suit fits and is appropriate for the circumstance, then it is much easier to put it on than it is to take it off:
Start with the Bottom: place your feet through the legs. Your suit may come with built in socks that you simply slide into.
Safety Boots: If your suit requires boots, there maybe silicone over socks that will make it easier for you to slide into the rubber boots. Put both of those on before folding the the legs over the boots. If your PPE is level D or lower, then just make sure the elastic in the pangs is tight enough.
Body and Arms: put on the suit like you would a pair of overalls; just roll it up, putting your arms down the sleeves until the suit is resting loosely on your shoulders.
1st Layer of Gloves: for the lowest level of hazmat suits, this is al you will need. But for most this is just one of two or three gloves.
Stretch Sleeve: You need the sleeves to be as "taught" as possible with the gloves. There should be an elastic band you can put over your thumbs or a hole in the PPE your thumb can slide through.
Zip if Up and Seal the Seam: for levels A-C, there should be either a sticky or velcro seal that will cover the zipper seam.
Apply Facial Protection: For some suits, this is just an N95 and goggles. For others it is a whole head respirator that requires assistance to get it on properly. Regardless, you want a
Plug in Respirator: If you are using a Level A or B hazmat suit, you need to plug the respirator into both the mask and the suit valve.
Add Outer Layer of Glove: put on the heavy duty gloves of your level of suit.
Tape Up: This step is arguably the most important, and is what separates a PPE from a hazmat suit. Every seam that isn't a continuous piece of clothing needs to be taped up. Every seam needs at least a single layer, but firefighters suggest 4 layers of tape on the mask. Chem tape is preferred, though duct tape works fine too.
Once you have donned the hazmat suit in its entirety, be sure to move around and do some stretches to make sure you have full range of motion and can operate comfortably in the hazmat suit. And, obviously, the more significant the hazmat protection level, the more assistance you will need from someone to get it on correctly.
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How to Properly Take Off a Hazmat Suit
Understanding the Contamination Zones
Let's state the obvious: before you take off your hazmat suit, you need to get out of the dangerous environment and into a safe place. There are three types of zones you need to know about:
The hot zone is the most dangerous. This is the contaminated area, where a protective suit and personal protective equipment is required.
The warm zone acts as a space for decontamination procedures.
The cold zone is a clean area where workers can take off their protective equipment.
You don/put on your PPE in the cold zone, but you doff/ take off your PPE in the warm zone... you can't bring your contaminated suit into the cold zone to take off, as that would put people at risk of exposure.
Essential Steps Before Doffing Your Suit
First step... you leave the hot zone, the place where the hazardous materials are! But while the suit kept you, the person, from being contaminated, now the suit itself is contaminated.
So you enter the warm zone. If you are using a level A-C hazmat suit, then an assistant in a level C or D should be there to assist you. There should also be a chair or bench, some biohazard disposal bags, and some other bags to transport your reusable equipment to a place where they can be decontaminated.
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Step-by-Step Guide to Removing a Hazmat Suit (Doff Procedure)
Remove Tape from Seals: You can't take anything off if you are sealed shut. If the tape was properly applied, then each taped seal should come off with one or two sharp tugs
(OPTIONAL) Remove Your Outer Gloves: Take off the heavy duty gloves that would have directly interacted with any dangerous substances. If you followed this guide, then underneath should be a pair of inner gloves that have not come into contact with anything hazardous. (If you are wearing a level D suit and are only wearing the nitrile gloves, then you should immediately go wash your hands or apply hand sanitizer and don a new pair of clean gloves before resuming the removal of your coveralls
(OPTIONAL) Unclip and Remove Respirator Pack: Assistant will be required.
Unzip the Suit: Simply undo the covering and zipper. Going forward, while your hands are technically clean, you will be interacting with potentially contaminated pieces of your suit. Do not touch your skin or body at all.
Peel and Roll Back the Hood: That word choice is intentional. Do not just "pull off" your hood. Place your fingers in the inside of the hood and peel it back. The contaminated outside should roll in on itself, revealing the inside of the suit
Pull Your Arms Out: With the assitant holding the suit, pull your arm out of the sleeve, one at a time. Once you have an arm free, peel the sleeve off your other arm from the inside. If your outer gloves are a part of the suit, and you skipped step 2, then you are removing the gloves
Peel your Suit Off Like A Banana: Keep peeling the suit, having hte outside of the suit fold in on itself, with new parts of the inside being exposed as your roll (do not "push" your suit down).
Slide Out of the Safety Footwear: With the assistant holding your boots, simply slide your feet out. Carefully step away without touching any contaminated equipment.
Remove Facial Protection: If your hands have touched any part of the hazmat suit that was exposed to hazardous materials, wash them or change your gloves. Then carefully remove any mask or goggles.
Bathe: If possible take a shower immediately. If that is not an option, then wash your hands and then face thoroughly.
This careful way is important to protect you from hazardous materials.
PPE Disposal and Suit Maintenance
Some hazmat suits are single use only: most love level PPE must be thrown away in the garbage or a biohazard medical waste bag. Same for any basic nitrile gloves, N95 masks, or plastic shoe coverings. But bulkier suits, rubber boots, helmets, and breathing respirators are way, way too expensive and effective to be tossed after a single day.
After each time you use the suit, follow the steps to remove any hazardous materials. This will usually be performed by an assistant who themselves is wearing a lower level PPE. Each reusable component will need to be cleaned, decontaminated, and properly stored.
After each use, follow the manufacturer's instructions for decontamination. Make sure to store the suit in a clean, dry place away from sunlight or heat. Do not fold the suit, as this can cause damage and reduce its protection. Check the suit regularly for any signs of wear and tear. This will help ensure the suit works well when you need it again.
Conclusion
In summary, safely removing a hazmat suit is just as important to your health and well-being as correctly putting one on. Some of the steps may sound straightforward, or even redundant, but each one is there for a good reason, and put together they guarantee to protect you from any hazardous materials you interact with.
Remember, the steps in this blog post are general and meant to cover most hazmat suits. Follow up by talking to your occupational health and safety technician for both specific steps to your hazmat suit as well as proper company protocol.
