Project CHASM

Chemical Awareness and Scene Management course

Decontamination
 Definitions

Decontamination
‘is the method employed to destroy, remove or
reduce a substance to an acceptable level’

Sidell, F. R. 2001, Text Book of Military Medicine Part 1:Warfare, Weaponry,

and the casualty. Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare,
Washington, DC: Borden Institute, Walter Reed Army Medical Centre.)
Decontamination

May be performed by chemical (oxidising agents,

strong bases and microemulsions) or physical means
(water, Fuller’s Earth, heat and air), and is dependant
on the type of agent and its
characteristics.

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 Personnel Decontamination

• Has to be non-toxic to
humans
• May NOT necessarily be
able to destroy to
contaminant but WILL
effectively remove or
reduce the contaminant
• Hypochlorite is not
recommended for use on
human skin
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 Types of Personnel Decontamination

• Mass or emergency
decontamination
• Casualty/ non ambulatory
decontamination Non-ambulatory decon line
• VIP decontamination
• Specialist CBR
decontamination
• Evidence
decontamination
 Wet Decontamination
• Use of water which can
be contained or
drained.
• Contained water may
be treated* at a later
stage
• Wet decontamination
may be one step in the
process

* 0.5 % available Sodium hypochlorite solution

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Wet Decon of Level A

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 Dry Decontamination

• Can be used for particulate contamination

(particles such as biological radiological powders)
• May include a light spray of soapy water to fix the
particles to the suit prior to removal

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 Equipment

• Detectors and scientific

instruments
• Soap and water wash
• 0.5% Hypochlorite
solution (equipment)
– Consider an
equipment drop on
WARM Zone
Basic equipment for evidence and
• Sponges and brushes personnel

• Rinse buckets
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 Tactical Decontamination

• Label both the tactical

operative and his firearms/
ammo with the same
unique number
• Done immediately prior to
entering decon line
• Firearm may be evidence
as well
Personnel Decontamination
Station (PDS)
Dependent on:
1. Terrain
2. Wind direction and
speed
3. Location of population
centers
4. Location of waterways

Must establish before

team goes downrange
 Evidence Decontamination

• This is the removal of contaminants from the

tertiary packaging that has exited the crime
scene through the decontamination line.

• It will not decontaminate the actual evidence

or items inside.

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 Evidence decontamination

Requirements
• Recording of items as they exit the crime
scene (water proof camera, or note sheets)
• Packaging of items into a clean drum/or other
for transport with appropriate chain of
custody forms

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 Evidence Decontamination

• Involves the recording, washing and packaging of

evidence samples and items from the contaminated
crime scene
– Washing of outer packaging (plastic bags) with soap and water
– Line-of-sight of evidence as it passes through the decon
line
• Detectors for Chem and Rad may be used by Fire
Brigade or Police to determine if decon has been
successful. (not possible for Bio)
• Items are then packaged into a clean (not cleaned) over
pack such as a drum for transport 15
Simple Evidence Decon Line
• Record
• Wash
• Detect (Chem, Rad)
• Line-of-sight (Police
officer)
• Over pack for transport
• All people in decon line
need to be in Level C PPE
for a biological event.

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 Implications
Crime scene

Scene control

Time is critical

Toxicity

Number of victims

Resource surge
requirement

Legal authority
 Secure the Scene
&
Isolate the Casualties
FIRE & Rescue
Service (FRS)

Emergency
Decontamination
FRS

Mass Decontamination
Public Health
Public Health
Public Health
Military
Fullers Earth
Detoxification
 Victim Register and Medical
Monitoring
• In COLD ZONE
• Record people exiting
the HOT Zone, victims
and response personnel
• Ensure each person
receives medical
monitoring
• Re-hydrate and rest
after completing
personnel
decontamination
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 Project CHASM

Chemical Awareness and Scene Management course