What is the recommended practice for disposing contaminated PPE?

• A. Remove PPE inside the decontamination unit; place in labeled bags; transport as asbestos waste
• B. Remove PPE outside the decontamination unit and place in unmarked bags
• C. Remove PPE within the decontamination unit; place in labeled asbestos waste bags; seal; transport as regular trash
• D. Reuse PPE after decontamination

Answer: (C)

The main idea is to keep asbestos contamination contained when disposing of PPE. The best practice is to remove the used PPE inside the decontamination unit so any released fibers stay within the controlled area. Then place the PPE into bags clearly labeled as asbestos waste, seal the bags to prevent leakage, and transport them through the proper asbestos waste stream to a licensed disposal facility. This sequence minimizes the chance of fibers escaping into the workplace or environment and ensures the waste is handled by the right processes and regulations. Reusing PPE after decontamination is not acceptable because asbestos fibers can remain on or within the equipment, posing a risk to workers. Containers should be clearly identified and managed as asbestos waste to prevent misrouting and improper disposal.