CHAPTER 7
CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, AND
RADIOLOGICAL DEFENSE/DAMAGE
CONTROL
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this chapter, you
1. Describe the use of chemical, biological, and
radiological (CBR) protective clothing and
equipment for each level of Mission Oriented
Protective Posture (MOPP).
2. List the procedures for instructing personnel
in the correct use of CBR protective clothing
and equipment for each level of MOPP.
should be able to do the following:
3.
4.
5.
Explain the types of risk assessments used to
evaluate the appropriate levels of MOPP.
Describe the four levels of MOPP and the
associated countermeasures.
Describe the duties of the duty division damage
control petty officer (DCPO).
In this chapter we will discuss the use of
chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR)
protective clothing and equipment for each level
of Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP)
and the types of risk assessments used to evaluate
the appropriate levels of MOPP. In addition we
will discuss the duties of the division damage
control petty officer (DCPO).
MISSION ORIENTED
PROTECTIVE POSTURE
MOPP procedures are used to establish levels
of readiness for a chemical agent attack. The
procedures are flexible. They allow the com-
manding officer (CO) to adapt the requirements
for protective clothing and equipment to the
degree of the threat and working conditions at any
given time. As an example, personnel doing heavy
work in hot weather may suffer heat exhaustion
in heavy protective clothing and gas masks.
Therefore, unless an attack is actually under way,
the CO may relax the protective clothing require-
ments to prevent certain injury or sickness from
heat. Other examples include personnel who
cannot do their work wearing protective gear,
those who need to eat or attend to body functions,
and those who must meet other requirements not
possible in protective clothing. The command
decision to implement each level of MOPP must
be the result of a risk assessment.
RISK ASSESSMENT
Risk is defined as the assessed difference
between the threat level and the activation of
appropriate levels of shipboard countermeasures.
The risk of casualties and contamination must be
evaluated and weighed against the ability of
personnel to perform their duties while being
hindered by individual protective equipment and
the effects of heat stress.
MOPP LEVELS AND
ASSOCIATED COUNTERMEASURES
The risk of a CBR threat can be categorized
into four levels of probability:
1. SUSPECTED. An adversary who has
CBR-capable delivery systems within the opera-
tions area (OPAREA) presents a suspected threat.
Implementation of MOPP- 1 countermeasures is
indicated.
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