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Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)
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      Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)


      Mission: The safe elimination of chemical weapons at Pueblo and Blue Grass by Sept. 30, 2023

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      Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP)

      BGCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky.

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      Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP)

      PCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado.

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Proper Mask Fit Protects Workers from Hazards

Published: August 29, 2017 | Category: PCAPP News, Safety
Rick Holmes, Bechtel Pueblo Team project manager, looks at the camera just after being fitted for a protective mask by Jeff Hotchkiss, personal protective equipment technician.

Rick Holmes, Bechtel Pueblo Team project manager, looks at the camera just after being fitted for a protective mask by Jeff Hotchkiss, personal protective equipment technician.

Individuals granted access to the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Chemical Limited Area, or those who work in areas with hazardous chemicals or materials, are issued a protective mask, and a proper fit is key to its protection.

“A quantitative fit test is performed to ensure the size of the mask is correct,” said Merri Johnson, operations support superintendent, PCAPP.

The employee is asked to don a mask, which is hooked up to a respirator fit tester, and perform a series of eight tests: normal breathing, deep breathing, turning the head side to side, moving the head up and down, talking, grimacing, bending over and, once again, normal breathing. Throughout the testing, an operator is standing by to make sure the person isn’t having difficulty breathing.

“The test makes sure that the seal isn’t broken while performing routine activities,” Johnson said. “The grimace portion is intended to break the seal to ensure the mask will reseal.”

A particle generator and respirator fit tester work together to properly fit the mask. The generator puts particulates (salt) into the mask fit room and the tester measures the number of particles in the air with one hose, and the number of particles in the mask with another.

“We make sure there are enough particles in the air and none inside the mask,” Johnson said.

Six different types of masks are issued at PCAPP and the mask fitting process is the same for each mask. Before any mask is issued to an employee, it is tested for leaks.

Related Posts

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    Improved Equipment Could Accelerate Destruction at Pueblo Plant

    Published: July 5, 2022
  • Agent-filled 4.2-inch mortar rounds are monitored during Static Detonation Chamber agent trial testing operations at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Static Detonation Chamber Trial Testing Concludes

    Published: May 13, 2022
  • After a chemical weapon is drained of agent and rinsed with high-pressure hot water, Agent Washwater Separator tanks collect fluid before sending it to Agent Neutralization Reactors to destroy the mustard agent. The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant has two tanks, providing the plant with redundancy when neutralizing agent.

    Backup Systems Allow for Safe Repairs

    Published: March 28, 2022
  • All chemical weapons from the Colorado stockpile are sorted into four color-coded lots to reduce delays in destruction due to problematic munitions.

    Color Coding Boosts Chemical Weapon Destruction

    Published: March 23, 2022
  • A Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant ordnance technician holds the first 4.2-inch mortar round to be processed in the Static Detonation Chamber complex.

    First Agent Destroyed in Static Detonation Chamber

    Published: February 22, 2022
  • Static Detonation Chamber ordnance technicians Rachelle S. and Mike W. remove a 57mm conventional ammunition round from its fiber tube during SDC non-agent Trial Burn Testing.

    Conventional Explosives Demonstrate Static Detonation Chamber Capability

    Published: February 15, 2022
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Other Recent PCAPP News

  • Improved Equipment Could Accelerate Destruction at Pueblo Plant

    Improved Equipment Could Accelerate Destruction at Pueblo Plant

    July 5, 2022
  • Static Detonation Chamber Trial Testing Concludes

    Static Detonation Chamber Trial Testing Concludes

    May 13, 2022
  • Colorado Commission Welcomes New Member

    Colorado Commission Welcomes New Member

    May 4, 2022
  • Backup Systems Allow for Safe Repairs

    Backup Systems Allow for Safe Repairs

    March 28, 2022
  • Color Coding Boosts Chemical Weapon Destruction

    Color Coding Boosts Chemical Weapon Destruction

    March 23, 2022

PCAPP Safety Videos

  • PCAPP Safety: Written in the Stars

    PCAPP Safety: Written in the Stars

    June 8, 2015
  • Pueblo Plant Operational Readiness Review

    Pueblo Plant Operational Readiness Review

    February 25, 2014
  • Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Hazard School Board

    Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Hazard School Board

    August 16, 2013
  • PCAPP and the Community Share in National Safety Award

    PCAPP and the Community Share in National Safety Award

    March 31, 2009

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Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)