| It is very important that anybody exposed to | | | | has many dyes in it that are soluble in chemical |
| hazardous material or chemical warfare agents | | | | warfare agents. If there is an appropriate change |
| should be decontaminated, as soon as possible so | | | | in the paper's colour, we may know that the area |
| that he/she remains safe and does not pass on | | | | is contaminated. Therefore, it will be necessary to |
| the contaminants to other people who might be | | | | decontaminate anybody present in the area or |
| harmed by it. | | | | who had visited the area earlier after the |
| Usually, we can determine whether a person | | | | contamination was suspected. It is a highly |
| needs decontamination or not by the nature of his | | | | dangerous situation and all efforts should be made |
| job. If the person in question comes into direct | | | | to ascertain that as many people suspected to be |
| contact of harmful material, then that person | | | | contaminated as possible should be |
| requires decontamination after every time he/she | | | | decontaminated. |
| is exposed to the harmful substance(s). | | | | The decontamination process will not only be |
| An employer can also take steps to reduce | | | | affected by the decontaminant present on a |
| exposure to dangerous substances by providing | | | | person, but also by its amount and nature. The |
| personal protection equipment like special clothing | | | | nature of a contaminant includes its potency in |
| etc. However, if it is necessary to come into | | | | inducing serious health problems and its ability to |
| contact with hazardous material, it will be required | | | | spread from one person to another. |
| by the company to install decontamination | | | | Once it has been spotted that a particular person |
| equipment. | | | | does require decontamination there are several |
| Then in other cases, decontamination may not be | | | | ways it can be carried out. The usual |
| a profession wise requirement, but rather a | | | | decontamination process occurs in three stages. |
| necessity after an unfortunate event such as the | | | | First the victims of contamination remove their |
| use of chemical warfare agents etc. For such | | | | clothing, followed by them washing and re-clothing. |
| incidents, detection is used to determine if | | | | It is always a good idea to take a proactive |
| someone requires decontamination and from what | | | | approach and prepare for decontamination in |
| sort of contaminant. Direct observation may help | | | | advance. Then, if an episode occurs where a |
| at times. At others, detection tickets or detection | | | | single person or many need to be |
| tubes may be used. These have enzymes that | | | | decontaminated, the procedure can be carried out |
| are exposed to the suspected contaminant. Then, | | | | without any problems. It is advisable to procure |
| the changes are studied on the ticket or the tube. | | | | clothing for victims since they would not be able |
| If they indicate the presence of a contaminant, | | | | to use any of the clothing they were wearing |
| the people exposed need to be decontaminated. | | | | after decontamination since that would also need |
| Then detection papers may also be used near | | | | to be destroyed to get rid of the contaminant on |
| people suspected to be contaminated. This paper | | | | it. |