PPE: Operational Impact, Requirements, and Administrative Costs

First responders and first receivers wearing Level C PPE (or higher)
- Will have more difficulty than usual doing their assigned jobs
- Will consume more resources than usual to complete their duties
- Are at increased risk of adverse health outcomes

Operational Impact	Decreased dexterity (cumbersome garments and other equipment) Accelerated rates of mental, physical fatigue and overheating/hyperthermia Need for more frequent rest breaks
Requirements	Healthcare providers expected to perform limited decontamination as part of their duties Must receive 8-16 hours of specialized training annually1 Must be trained to perform anticipated job duties without endangering themselves or others Staff wearing PPE must Be medically screened and monitored (prior to and during PPE operations) Be properly fit-tested to wear respiratory protective equipment Take part in activity- and weather-dependent rehabilitation and rotation plan Be temporarily excused from regular functions (when responding to incidents)
Administrative Costs	PPE procurement, maintenance, and resupply Fit-testing of employees Medical monitoring prior to and during PPE operations Emergency plan development, training, and drills

References:

¹Stopford BM, Jevitt L, Ledgerwood M, Singleton C, Stolmack M. Development of Models for Emergency Preparedness, Personal Protective Equipment, Decontamination, Isolation/Quarantine, and Laboratory Capacity (PDF - 4.60 MB) Prepared by SAIC under contract No. 290-00-0023. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Publication No. 05-0099. Rockville, MD, August 2005. (HHS/AHRQ, August 2005)