Yikes I am being sent into the HOT zone to photo / video a chemical site

[The Stigenator]

I am certified to work in the chemical hot zone and I am wearing 3 layers of chemical protective suit and what not else.

I need to take equipment in (camera & video camera, trying to get a dslr that does video otherwise an Canon S3IS will be with me) . Going by standard HOT/WARM/COLD zone barriers, what do I need to do for the camera equipment to safely decontaminate the camera.

This is for a site in south central LA that we're working on. Its for promotional material and also for the public commitment message videos that we do. The site was an old plating facility, we have to take the building down but the wood super structure is contaminated so we're de-con the structure before we can demolish the building to start our work.

The videographer guy from HQ cant go since he is not field certified, so I get to be the one going into the HOT zone.

Any suggestions on how to protect my equipment from getting contaminated?

 

[The Stigenator]

okay the staff at the site said wrap teh camera in plastic bag. I guess I'll be doing some doctoring on this one.

 

[Throckmorton]

How can you put the SD card into a computer with transferring toxins? You have to handle both the camera and the card.

How do you clean your hazmat suit before taking it off?

 

[alkemyst]

I'd have them pay for a waterproof case for the camera that is disposed of if needed. A plastic bag would make using a $100 compact a better choice that just gets thrown away after decontaminated and the SD card popped out.

 

[The Stigenator]

So as per safety requirements all outerwear is disposed away and removed once out of the hot zone equipment that is disposable is disposed into the appropriate container. Stuff that is expensive is cleaned in de-con fluid and reused.

Problem is electronics can't be cleaned with the de-con fluid even if water. However the field instruments are cleaned with a special non conductive wipes. So I've wrapped the S5is in a Jerry rigged plastic ziplock bag with the lens only exposed. I've sealed all opening points. So I'll only have to De-con the lens and barrel which I can with alcohol wipes. Since its particulate Cr6+ that I'm more concerned about any settlement will be wiped off.