Q3. What MOPP level provides the most protection? Q4. At what MOPP level is material condition ZEBRA (modified) set? DECONTAMINATION Learning Objectives: When you finish this chapter, you will be able to— Recall the procedures for area decontamination afloat. Identify  the  purpose  of  the  decontamination station. There  are  four  levels  of  decontamination— emergency  personnel  decontamination,  limited operational  decontamination,  operationally  complete decontamination, and complete decontamination. LEVELS OF DECONTAMINATION Level 1—Emergency personnel decontamina- tion. Emergency personnel decontamination is decontamination necessary to save your life. It is your responsibility.  The  primary  purpose  of  emergency personnel  decontamination  is  to  safeguard  you  in protective gear that includes the following items: Mask Protective overgarment Boots Gloves However,  if  a  chemical  attack  takes  place  before you don all of the protective gear, you need to destroy, neutralize, or remove the chemical agents from inside your  protective  gear  and  from  exposed  skin  area. Personnel  decontamination  kits  (M291)  give  you  the ability   to   decontaminate   skin   surfaces.   The cleansing/decontamination  stations  used  for  entering and leaving the ship’s interior provide soap, detergent, and shower facilities. Level 2—Limited operational decontamination. Limited operational decontamination is decontamination  necessary  to  let  you,  while  in protective  clothing  and/or  masks,  do  your  job  with  a minimum  risk  of  contact,  pickup,  and  transfer  of chemical agent contamination. Initial contamination is most  likely  to  be  on  the  upper-outer  surfaces  of structures and equipment. Further contamination may be  picked  up  and/or  transferred  to  noncontaminated areas. The two types of contamination hazards are— 1.   Pickup hazards. A chemical agent on a surface that is touched by an individual, contaminating himself/herself. 2.   Transfer hazards. A chemical agent picked up, transferred, and then deposited on an otherwise uncontaminated area. The objective of limited operational decontamination  is  to  destroy,  neutralize,  or  remove persistent chemical agents that are located on structures and/or  equipment  in  places  where  they  constitute  a contact hazard. Level  3—Operationally  complete  decontami- nation. Operationally complete decontamination (also known as full decontamination) is decontamination so that  the  contamination  of  personnel,  structures,  and equipment  is  reduced  to  a  level  that  results  in  a significant operational benefit. Level 3 decontamination  reduces  contamination  to  the  lowest level  possible.  However,  it  should  only  be  conducted when  there  is  a  reasonable  chance  that  work  can  be performed without masks or gloves for limited periods, and the ship’s mission can be completed without undue hazards to personnel. One  hundred  percent  decontamination  can’t  be accomplished  on  each  and  every  item  suspected  of being  contaminated.  Level  3  decontamination  isn’t  a fixed level of decontamination. It depends on the ship’s operating  schedule  and  the  urgency  of  the  assigned mission. Decontamination at sea or by ship’s personnel will be of this type. Level 4—Complete decontamination. Complete decontamination is a degree of decontamination where 13-23 Student Notes: