Laserfiche WebLink
hazard data, health hazards, reactivity data, spill or leak procedures, <br />special precautions, and special protection information. <br />Local governments should institute a medical surveillance program for all <br />emergency workers who are or may be exposed to hazardous substances <br />or health hazards above the established recommended exposure limits <br />(RELs) for 30 or more days in a 12 -month period, or who wear respirators <br />30 days or more a year. Medical examinations must be available for all <br />emergency workers who may have been exposed to concentrations of <br />hazardous substances above the recommended exposure limits. An <br />accurate record of medical surveillance must be retained. <br />9.2.1 EPA Levels of Protection <br />Based on the results of the preliminary evaluation, personal <br />protective equipment must be selected and used. The <br />selection process is aided by consulting the Department of <br />Transportation's Hazardous Materials Emergency Response <br />Guidebook and CHEMTREC. No single combination of <br />protective equipment and clothing is capable of protecting <br />against all hazards. Generally, the greater the level of <br />personal protective equipment used, the greater the risk to <br />the worker from such hazards as heat stress, physical and <br />psychological stress, impaired vision, mobility and <br />communication. Therefore, equipment should be selected <br />that provides an adequate level of protection, but not <br />over -protection. <br />The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has <br />identified four levels of protection of emergency workers. <br />Level A (Chemical Protective Clothing and Equipment) will <br />protect the wearer against the specific hazard for which it <br />was designed. The special clothing may afford protection <br />only for certain chemicals and may be penetrated by <br />chemicals for which it was not designed. <br />Do not assume any protective clothing is fire resistant unless <br />it is specifically stated by the manufacturer. <br />Full -encapsulated protective clothing (cocoons) can be used <br />for no fire spills and leaks requiring evacuation of people, <br />but offer little or no thermal protection. <br />Indian River County Emergency Plan for Hazardous Materials Page 62 <br />