Personal Protection

Personal Protection

Anthrax	Environmental Sampling PPE	Powered Air-Purifying Respirator with Full Facepiece and High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters The constant flow of clean air into the facepieces is an important feature of this respirator because contaminated air cannot enter gaps in the face-to-facepiece seal. These respirators also give wearers needed mobility and field of vision. Respirators should be used in accordance with a respiratory-protection program that complies with the OSHA respiratory-protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134). Respiratory facepieces for investigators should be assigned on the basis of results of quantitative fit testing. Wearing a properly functioning and powered air-purifying respirator with a full facepiece that is assigned to the wearer on the basis of quantitative fit testing will reduce inhalation exposures by 98% of what they would be without wearing this type of respirator. Disposable Protective Clothing with Integral Hood and Booties Wearing protective clothing not only protects the skin but also can eliminate the likelihood of transferring contaminated dust to places away from the work site. Wearing disposable rubber shoe coverings with ridged soles made of slip-resistant material over the booties of the disposable suit will reduce the likelihood of slipping on wet or dusty surfaces. All PPE should be decontaminated immediately after leaving a potentially contaminated area. Protective clothing should be removed and discarded before removing the respirator. Disposable Gloves Disposable gloves made of lightweight nitrile or vinyl protect hands from contact with potentially contaminated dusts without compromising needed dexterity. A thin cotton glove can be worn inside a disposable glove to protect against dermatitis, which can occur from prolonged exposure of the skin to moisture in gloves caused by perspiration.
	Health Care	• Standard precautions • Use PPE when in contact with any open wound • Gloves • Gowns • Not known to spread person to person

Botulism	Health Care	• Standard precautions • Decontamination with soapy water, sunlight (1-3 hours), chlorine, or heat (100C for several minutes)

Plague	Health Care	• Standard precautions • Pneumonic • Droplet Precautions with surgical mask • Decontamination with soap and water

Smallpox	Health Care	• Standard, contact and airborne precautions • N 95 or better mask, goggles, gloves and gown • If hospitalized negative pressure room • Vaccinated personnel • Contact precautions, surgical mask

Tularemia	Health Care	• Standard precautions • No known human - human transmission

Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers	Health Care	• Contact and droplet precautions for patients with lassa fever, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) or filovirus infection. • Increase to airborne isolation with negative pressure room with VHF patients who have prominent cough, diarrhea, hemorrhaging, or other serious symptoms • PPE, filtered respirators, battery powered air purifying respirator, or positive pressure supplied air respirator, eye protection. • Decontamination with hypochlorite or phenolic disinfectants.


Level A protection is required when the greatest potential for exposure to hazards exists, and when the greatest level of skin, respiratory, and eye protection is required. Examples of Level A clothing and equipment include positive-pressure, full face-piece self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or positive pressure supplied air respirator with escape SCBA, totally encapsulated chemical- and vapor-protective suit, inner and outer chemical-resistant gloves, and disposable protective suit, gloves, and boots.

Level B protection is required under circumstances requiring the highest level of respiratory protection, with lesser level of skin protection. At most abandoned outdoor hazardous waste sites, ambient atmospheric vapors or gas levels have not approached sufficiently high concentrations to warrant level A protection -- Level B protection is often adequate. Examples of Level B protection include positive-pressure, full face-piece self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or positive pressure supplied air respirator with escape SCBA, inner and outer chemical-resistant gloves, face shield, hooded chemical resistant clothing, coveralls, and outer chemical-resistant boots.

Level C protection is required when the concentration and type of airborne substances is known and the criteria for using air purifying respirators is met. Typical Level C equipment includes full-face air purifying respirators, inner and outer chemical-resistant gloves, hard hat, escape mask, and disposable chemical-resistant outer boots. The difference between Level C and Level B protection is the type of equipment used to protect the respiratory system, assuming the same type of chemical-resistant clothing is used. The main criterion for Level C is that atmospheric concentrations and other selection criteria permit wearing an air-purifying respirator.

Level D protection is the minimum protection required. Level D protection may be sufficient when no contaminants are present or work operations preclude splashes, immersion, or the potential for unexpected inhalation or contact with hazardous levels of chemicals. Appropriate Level D protective equipment may include gloves, coveralls, safety glasses, face shield, and chemical-resistant, steel-toe boots or shoes.
Interim Recommendations for the Selection and Use of Protective Clothing and Respirators Against Biological Agents	CDC

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