What is included in sending PPE to the laundry for a priority cleaning?

Sending personal protective equipment (PPE) to laundry for priority cleaning includes both washing and a visual inspection. This comprehensive approach ensures that the PPE not only gets cleaned to remove contaminants but also allows for the identification of any damage or wear that may compromise its protective functions.

Washing is essential to eliminate hazardous materials, pathogens, and particulates that might be present on the gear after use. The visual inspection is equally important because it helps to maintain safety standards by ensuring that any gear that no longer meets safety requirements is identified and removed from service. By combining these two steps, the process effectively prepares PPE for the next use while ensuring the safety of firefighters and other personnel.

The other options fall short of this comprehensive process. A visual inspection alone does not address the cleaning needed to remove contaminants, while washing without an inspection could allow damaged PPE to be returned to service. Dry cleaning, while a cleaning method, may not be suitable for all types of PPE and usually does not include the necessary inspection process.