Rendering Trauma Cleaning Services; A Focus On PPE

Everyone who renders trauma cleaning services or any services relating to crime scenes cleanup understands perfectly how important it is to be self-aware. They know that their line of duty is fraught with a lot of risks and as such take utmost care in keeping themselves safe. This is also the reason they never joke with their PPE. What is PPE?

PPE Defined

This is not so much a definition as it is full meaning to the acronym PPE which stands for Personal Protective Equipment.

What constitutes PPE?

A completely worn PPE completely protects the wearer from most of the biohazardous risks that might be present on any crime or trauma scene.

For the head and face

PPE features respirators that prevent the cleaner from inhaling harmful airborne particles.

Respirators are of several types and serve different functions.  While there are surgical masks that mainly protect a wearer’s mouth from splashes, it doesn’t necessarily filter air. The N-95 respirator on the other hand protects the face from dust and other small airborne particles.

There are other respirators such as the half-mask and full-face respirators, all serving their different purposes.

For the eye

The eyes, like every other part of the body, deserve protection as well, if not more.

For the eyes, the PPE features two kinds of goggles; basic safety goggles to chemical splash goggles. The former protects the eyes from projectiles while the latter protects it from debris and chemical splashes.

A face shield can also be used and this protects the entire face from all the invaders listed above. A face shield is usually used together with a chemical splash goggles

For the hands

When it comes to rendering trauma cleaning services, the hands are no doubt a very useful tool, and as such, must be protected. This makes the use of gloves imperative, and they are of different kinds; disposable latex gloves, disposable nitrile gloves, and rubber latex gloves.

For the skin

While some might choose to wear overalls or lab coats, for more serious trauma cleanup services, it is best that cleaners put on a full-body suit.

The overalls and bodysuits come in different types as well and serve different functions. While the cotton/ polyester blend is suitable for general chemical/biological and physical hazards, the flame-resistant version is better suited for working with explosive or corrosive chemicals.

The 4 levels of PPE

Depending on the severity of the situation at hand, the PPE can be used in 4 different protection levels. These 4 PPE levels are outlined by OSHA and the centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To be clear, they are as follows

• Level A: the highest level of protection
• Level B: a high level of protection
• Level C: mid-level protection.
• Level D: minimal protection.

Although it isn’t advisable to undertake a trauma cleanup yourself for reasons more than one, if you must, you must first familiarize yourself with PPE and their use and then decide which level of PPE is suiting for the cleanup you are about to perform.