Personal protective equipment is divided into four categories based on the degree of protection afforded.
- Level A protection should be worn when the highest level of respiratory, skin, eye and mucous membrane protection is needed. A typical Level A ensemble includes: Positive pressure (pressure demand), self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) (NIOSH approved), or positive-pressure supplied air respirator with escape SCBA.
- Fully encapsulating chemical protective suit.
- Gloves, inner, chemical resistant.
- Gloves, outer, chemical resistant.
- Boots, chemical resistant, steel toe and shank; (depending on suit boot construction, worn over or under suit boot.)
- Level B protection should be selected when the highest level of respiratory protection is needed, but a lesser level of skin and eye protection is needed. Level B protection is the minimum level recommended on initial site entries until the hazards have been further identified and defined by monitoring, sampling, and other reliable methods of analysis, and equipment corresponding with those findings utilized. A typical Level B ensemble includes:
- Positive-pressure (pressure-demand), self-contained breathing apparatus (NIOSH approved), or positive-pressure supplied air respirator with escape SCBA.
- Chemical resistant clothing (overalls and long-sleeved jacket, coveralls, hooded two-piece chemical splash suit, disposable chemical resistant coveralls.)
- Gloves, outer, chemical resistant.
- Gloves, inner, chemical resistant.
- Boots, outer, chemical resistant, steel toe and shank.
- Level C protection should be selected when the type of airborne substance is known, concentration measured, criteria for using air-purifying respirators met, and skin and eye exposure is unlikely. Periodic monitoring of the air must be performed. A typical Level C ensemble includes:
- Full-face or half-mask, air-purifying respirator (NIOSH approved).
- Chemical resistant clothing (one piece coverall, hooded two piece chemical splash suit, chemical resistant hood and apron, disposable chemical resistant coveralls.)
- Gloves, outer, chemical resistant.
- Gloves, inner, chemical resistant.
- Boots, steel toe and shank, chemical resistant.
- Level D protection is primarily a work uniform and is used for nuisance contamination only. It requires only coveralls and safety shoes/boots. Other PPE is based upon the situation (types of gloves, etc.). It should not be worn on any site where respiratory or skin hazards exist.