PAM 385-61 — Chemical Agent Safety Standards
PAM 385-61 governs chemical agent safety and sets minimum criteria, guidance, and procedures for Department of Defense chemical agents.
- Publication number: PAM 385-61
- Title: CHEMICAL AGENT SAFETY STANDARDS
- Date: 07/24/2023
- Proponent: DAS
- Status: ACTIVE
View PAM 385-61 on armypubs.army.mil
Related publications
It covers chemical agent classification, exposure limits, monitoring, protective equipment, decontamination, operations, laboratory safety, facility design, shipping, training, and emergency response. It requires training before chemical agent operations, establishes safeguarding practices, and sets ventilation and detoxification limits.
Applies to: The criteria, guidance, and procedures in this pamphlet apply to Schedule 1 chemicals as defined by the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, herein referred to as the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
Topics covered
- Chemical agent classification
- Airborne exposure limits
- Chemical agent monitoring
- Personal protective equipment
- Decontamination and disposal
- Laboratory safety
- Facility design criteria
- Chemical agent training
Questions and answers
How are chemical agents classified?
Chemical agents are classified as Class 6.1 poisons by the DoD (Defense Explosives Safety Regulation (DESR) 6055.09) and the Department of Transportation (DoT) (see Section 132, Part 173, Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR 173.132)) and belong to storage compatibility group K. (paragraph 2-2)
Where are chemical agent airborne exposure limits listed?
The airborne exposure limits (AELs) for chemical agents are listed in table 2 1. (paragraph 2-3)
What are acute exposure guideline levels used for?
AEGLs are intended to describe the risk to humans resulting from once-in-a-lifetime, or rare, exposure to airborne chemicals. (paragraph 1)
What is the maximum amount of chemical agent allowed for detoxification in a laboratory hood or glovebox?
Detoxification of chemical agent in a laboratory hood or glovebox is limited to a maximum of 50 grams of chemical agent at any one time unless approval for a greater amount is given in the CSP or MRCSS, as appropriate. (paragraph 1)
What must ventilation systems maintain in chemical agent facilities?
Ventilation systems will be designed to ensure that control of chemical agent-contaminated exhaust will not exceed source emission limits (SELs) (see table 9 1) and will be designed to maintain negative pressure throughout the system. (paragraph 9-2)