Page 22 - OHS, April/May 2025

P P E : R E S P I R A T O R Y P R O T E C T I O N
After Tragedy Strikes: Ensuring Exposure Protection for Post-
Disaster Clean-up Workers
From wildfi res to fl oods, clean-up crews face serious respiratory and skin exposure risks.
What lessons can be learned from the Lahaina and California fi res and applied to PPE and
respiratory protection programs?
BY DENNIS TERPIN
“When disaster strikes, confusion and indecision
oft en take place when we react instead of Proact.”
gram is to prevent exposure from unknown and rec-
The objective of any PPE and respiratory protection pro-
ognized hazards such as biological, fi bers, particulates,
crystals, harmful dust, fumes, mists, gases, smoke, vapors,
by-products, or sprays, and thus to prevent occupational illness.
How do we know if the hazards are harmful?
Th e best way is to conduct an exposure assessment. An expo-
sure assessment is the process of estimating (past monitoring) or
measuring the magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure to
any agent, along with the number, work activity and characteristics
of the worker population exposed. Do not forget to have a heat
stress response plan.
Preplanning PPE and respiratory protection for disaster clean-
ups can also be accomplished by reviewing a previous disaster’s
aft er-action reports. Th e exposure potential is based on the type,
sources, pathways, routes of exposure and the variables in the as-
sessment. Th e dose is dependent upon environmental concentra-
tion, properties of the toxicant, frequency of exposure and the in-
dividual.
Wildfi res
Hazards associated with fi re ash include Respirable Fibers, Par-
ticulate Matter, VOCs, and other agents. Respirable fi bers are
those fi bers that can be inhaled into the lower lung and usually
only fi bers with diameters of <3. µm are considered respirable in
humans. Components like calcium, potassium, magnesium, phos-
phorus, and silicon are also exposure concerns. Construction ma-
terials may include asbestos, silica, arsenic, and mercury. Hazards
of Wildfi re Soot include carbons and carcinogens such as arsenic,
cadmium, and chromium. Other chemicals include sulfur dioxide,
carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, methane, metals, and acids.
Floods Waters
Exposure concerns from fl ood waters can include sludge waste,
bacteria, mold, spores, fungi, viruses, and contaminated sand-
bags. Following the devastating F5 tornado that struck Joplin,
Missouri in 2011, a cluster of cases of a rare fungal infection
called “mucormycosis” emerged among the injured, primar-
ily caused by a fungus named “Apophysomyces” which is com-
monly found in soil and decaying organic matter; this infection
occurred due to the traumatic implantation of fungal spores
from debris picked up by the tornado, leading to potentially fatal
soft -tissue infections in some victims, even those with otherwise
healthy immune systems.
Chemical Exposures
Are there any mandatory or recommended occupational exposure
levels for the contaminants that are present? Personal exposure
monitoring is the “platinum standard” for determining employee
exposures because it is the most reliable approach for assessing
how much and what type of respiratory protection is required in
each circumstance. Sampling should utilize methods appropriate
for contaminants(s). Sampling should present the worst-case ex-
posures, or sampling should represent enough shift s and opera-
tions to determine the range of exposures covering all work activi-
ties through the clean-up.
Exposure Pathways
Specifi c characteristics of the potential hazards must be estab-
lished to select appropriate PPE and respiratory protection. Is the
airborne contaminant a particulate (dust, fumes, mist, aerosol) or
a gas/vapor? Asbestos was used in the construction of the North
Tower of the WTC. When the building was attacked, hundreds of
tons of asbestos were released into the atmosphere. Over 75% of
the fi rst responders’ fi refi ghters, police offi cers, EMTs, paramedics,
construction workers, volunteers, and clean-up crews who worked
in the rubble at Ground Zero have developed some type of respira-
tory illness.
At disaster sites, potential skin toxic materials include chemi-
cals from industrial spills (like solvents, pesticides, and heavy met-
als), hazardous materials from damaged containers, asbestos fi bers
from building debris, certain types of fuel, and even contaminated
fl oodwater which can all cause skin irritation, burns, allergic reac-
tions, and systemic toxicity if absorbed through the skin depend-
ing on the specifi c substance involved.
Acute and chronic exposures to skin toxic materials such as
aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, xylene, and acetone can
cause irritation, and dermatitis. Heavy metals, such as lead, mer-
cury, and arsenic can accumulate in the body and cause long-term
health issues. pesticides and herbicides can be highly irritating to
the skin and potentially toxic if absorbed. Caustic chemicals like
strong acids and bases can cause severe burns on contact. Asbes-
tos fi bers can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin, leading
to lung diseases like mesothelioma. Petroleum products such as
diesel and gasoline can cause skin irritation and dermatitis. In-
dustrial chemicals: Depending on the location of the disaster and
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