SOP_NUMBER: 511.13
TITLE: Hazardous Materials/Contaminated Protective Clothing
REFERENCE_CODE: IVN08-0002
DIVISION: Facilities Division
TOPIC_AREA: 511 Policy-Fire Services
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2018-03-29
WORD_COUNT: 586
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/105863
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/511.13/

SUMMARY:
This policy establishes procedures for handling uniforms, protective clothing, and personal protective equipment that become contaminated by hazardous materials at incident scenes. It applies to all GDC-certified firefighters at State and County Prison Fire Departments who work in the Warm Zone or Hot Zone during hazardous materials incidents. The policy requires firefighters to pass through decontamination procedures, properly bag and tag contaminated items, and determines whether items can be salvaged or must be disposed of according to state and federal regulations.

KEY_TOPICS: hazardous materials, decontamination, contaminated clothing, protective equipment, hot zone, warm zone, cold zone, firefighter safety, PPE contamination, hazmat incident response, decontamination sector, NFPA standards

========================================================================
FULL TEXT:
========================================================================

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Hazardous Materials/Contaminated Protective Clothing|**Policy Name:**Hazardous Materials/Contaminated Protective Clothing|**Policy Name:**Hazardous Materials/Contaminated Protective Clothing|
|**Policy Number:** 511.13|**Effective Date:** 3/29/2018|**Page Number:** 1 of 2|
|**Authority:**<br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



**I.** **Introduction and Summary:**

This standard establishes guidelines to be followed when uniforms, protective
clothing, or items of personal protective equipment are Contaminated by known or
suspected hazardous materials. All Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)
certified firefighters at both State and County Prison Fire Departments who enter the
Warm Zone or the Hot Zone at a hazardous materials incident must adhere to this
policy.

**II.** **Authority:**

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards: 471, 1581, and 1500.

**III.** **Definitions:**

A. **Decontamination**    - The neutralization or removal of dangerous substances,

radioactivity, or germs from an area, object, or person.

B. **Hot Zone**     - Refers to a potentially Contaminated area. It generally entails the use

of special equipment to protect occupants, because there is a high risk of
contamination.

C. **Warm Zone**     - Refers to the area between the Hot Zone and the Cold Zone, where

decontamination occurs. Only specialized personnel who are appropriately dressed
are permitted in this location.

D. **Cold Zone**    - Refers to an area that is considered free from Contamination and that

may be safely used as a planning and staging area.

E. **Decontamination Sector**    - Refers to the Warm Zone and the area where the

decontamination process is completed.

F. **Contaminated**      - The presence of dangerous substances, radioactivity or infectious

materials in an area, on an object, or on a person.

**IV.** **Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:**

A. Anyone who enters the Warm Zone or Hot Zone at a hazardous materials incident,

run the risk of becoming Contaminated by hazardous materials.


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Hazardous Materials/Contaminated Protective Clothing|**Policy Name:**Hazardous Materials/Contaminated Protective Clothing|**Policy Name:**Hazardous Materials/Contaminated Protective Clothing|
|**Policy Number:** 511.13|**Effective Date:** 3/29/2018|**Page Number:** 2 of 2|
|**Authority:**<br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



1. Firefighters must pass through the Decontamination Sector prior to being

allowed to enter the Cold Zone.

2. Firefighters should discard any hand tools and equipment at the entrance of the

Decontamination Sector so they can be decontaminated.


3. After the firefighters have been rinsed off and decontaminated as much as

possible, they shall proceed to the final area where a decontamination worker
will assist them in removing protective clothing.

4. All articles of Contaminated protective clothing shall be placed in a bag, then

sealed and tagged. The tag should list the contaminant, the contents of the bag,
the firefighter’s name, the time and date.

5. If a firefighter’s work uniform has been Contaminated, he or she should

proceed to a showering station. After showering, he or she should dry off their
body and change into clean clothes. The firefighter shall be afforded all due
privacy.

6. Contaminated uniforms and articles of personal clothing should be bagged,

then sealed and tagged. Towels and other items used to dry off should also be
placed in a bag for decontamination or disposed.

B. The Station Chief will determine if contaminated items are salvageable. Items that

cannot be properly decontaminated shall be disposed of in accordance with state
and federal regulations.

C. Items that may be decontaminated shall be returned to the firefighter after being

properly decontaminated.

**V.** **Attachments:** None.

**VI.** **Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:** None.