Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to the protective use of articles of clothing and respiratory equipment by response or medical personnel. This use of PPE serves as a vital barrier to protect individuals from harmful biological, chemical, or radioactive materials. Hence, the overarching goal is to prevent the transfer of hazardous materials, whether they come from another individual or the environment itself.
Medical personnel or response teams use various types of PPE depending on the situation at hand. Here’s more information on when to use level C personal protection equipment.
How Exposure Typically Occurs
Hazards vary based on the conditions of a particular scene. Many particulates, gases, chemicals, and biological agents pose a hazardous risk to workers. Exposure is likely to occur through inhalation, ingestion, or direct contact with the eyes or skin.
Careful selection and use of the proper protective equipment are key to protecting individuals from the above hazards. PPE is divided into four separate categories (levels A-D), with criteria contingent upon the type of airborne substance and concentration level. However, keep in mind that no gear is singlehandedly capable of protecting individuals against all potential hazards. Workers must use adequate PPE supplementarily to other protective measures and procedures.
Level C: Protection From Airborne Substances
Are you still wondering about when to use level C personal protection equipment? Again, levels A through D are based upon the overall degree of protection provided. Level C is the second-highest level of protection to meet respiratory standards. Level C protects workers from a known agent, as the type and concentration level of a substance is already environmentally known. This is in contrast to level B, in which airborne agents are unknown.
Common Level C Protection Equipment
To purify the air, personnel use specific respiratory system tools and protective garments for level C protection purposes. Common equipment includes air purifying masks or full-face respirators, biochemical resistance gear with a hood, two-piece splash suits or coveralls, chemical-resistant gloves, hard hats, and biochemical-resistant boots.
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