This practice presents those elements that constitute a chemical protective clothing (CPC) program and conditions to be used in establishing a program for the selection and use of CPC. Adherence to this practice requires that a written program be developed for any use of CPC.

Although much remains to be determined regarding the toxicity of vapor and liquid exposure to the skin, this practice outlines the essential information necessary and suggested methods for hazard assessment prior to the selection of CPC (see Practice F 1154).

This practice does not address the various methods for testing CPC or obtaining the data upon which CPC assessments are made. These test methods are listed in Section 2 of this practice.

This practice does not include recommendations that may apply to personal protection from nuclear radiation, radioactive contamination, or microbiological organisms, or to clothing that is worn to protect a particular environment from the entry of chemicals, particles, or living matter that may arise from the wearer.

CPC should be used when other means of control are not available. Its major uses should be limited to the following:

4.5.1 Maintenance operations;

4.5.2 Upset or emergency conditions;

4.5.3 Use in lieu of engineering controls when they are not feasible or are being installed;

4.5.4 Supplementing feasible engineering controls when they fail to control the hazard completely; and

4.5.5 Use in the event that engineering controls fail.

Engineering controls and substitution of materials should be stressed as the first line of defense in all control situations since effective use of CPC depends on worker compliance, proper selection, quality control, and other variables that may prove to be weak links in an overall control process.