Safety / Toxin · Controlled Procedure

VC-SOP-0301 — Personal Protective Equipment Selection Matrix

The single controlled reference that determines what protective ensemble a worker must wear before contact with any specimen or extract, derived from the containment grade and the dominant hazard route. Cited as the PPE authority by every handling, containment, and extraction SOP in the library.

SOP ID: VC-SOP-0301 Rev: E Effective: 2091-01-09 Next Review: 2093-01-09 Owner: Safety Officer Approver: Dr. P. L. Isley, CBO Class: Safety / Toxin

The matrix is binding, not advisory. When a specimen carries more than one hazard route, the ensemble selected is the highest level any single route demands — never an average. When grade or hazard is unknown, default to Level-A and re-evaluate after screening per VC-SOP-0205. PhytoSense Mesh interlocks will not release a containment door until the badged ensemble matches the cell's posted requirement.

1. Purpose

To define a deterministic mapping from containment grade (GCL-1 through GCL-4) and dominant hazard route (dermal toxin, inhalation/VOC, predation/constriction, biological) to a required personal protective equipment ensemble, so that PPE selection is consistent, auditable, and independent of individual judgment across all GreenWorld Sector-7 operations.

2. Scope

Applies to all personnel entering any cultivation bay, quarantine cell, Bio-Vault, Phyto-Synthesis Bay, or field recovery zone where contact with living specimens, plant tissue, or extracts is possible. The matrix in Section 6 is referenced by VC-SOP-0204, VC-SOP-0402, VC-SOP-0205, VC-SOP-0701, and VC-SOP-0307. Respiratory fit-testing administration is governed by VC-SOP-0312; this SOP defines requirements, not the fit-test method.

3. Definitions

Term	Definition
Ensemble Level	A graded PPE package, Level-D (lowest) through Level-A (fully encapsulated, supplied-air), each fully specified in Section 6.
Hazard Route	The primary pathway by which a specimen can injure a worker: dermal, inhalation/VOC, predation/constriction, or biological.
Dominant Hazard	The route demanding the highest ensemble level for a given specimen; governs selection regardless of other routes.
Supplied-Air Respirator (SAR)	Air-line breathing apparatus drawing from a remote Grade-D source, required for all Level-A and Level-B entries.
Doffing Sequence	The contamination-controlled order in which an ensemble is removed at the cell airlock to avoid self-exposure.
Breakthrough Time	Rated interval before a toxin permeates a glove or suit material; governs maximum continuous wear.

4. Responsibilities

Role	Responsibility
Safety Officer (Owner)	Maintains the matrix; approves any deviation via VC-SOP-0107; owns this SOP.
Bay / Cell Supervisor	Posts the required ensemble at each entry; verifies workers are correctly equipped before authorizing entry.
Worker / Entrant	Dons the posted ensemble, completes the buddy seal check, and respects breakthrough-time limits.
Industrial Hygienist	Assigns hazard routes per specimen; sets breakthrough-time limits from VOC and contact-toxicity data.
CHLORA	Cross-checks badge ensemble level against the cell's posted requirement at the airlock and bars mismatched entry; logs all donning and doffing events.

5. Equipment & Pre-Checks

Current respirator fit-test certificate on file (within 12 months) per VC-SOP-0312
Ensemble integrity inspection — no tears, delamination, or expired filter cartridges
SAR air-line pressure 4.1–6.9 bar verified at the panel before any Level-A/B entry
Posted ensemble placard matches CHLORA cell record and current specimen grade
Buddy seal check completed; glove breakthrough timer set per the hygienist's limit
Doffing station stocked with neutralizing wash per VC-SOP-0307

6. PPE Selection Matrix

Read down to the containment grade, across to the dominant hazard route; the cell gives the required ensemble. Where a specimen presents multiple routes, select the highest ensemble indicated across all applicable cells.

Grade ↓ / Hazard →	Dermal Toxin	Inhalation / VOC	Predation / Constriction	Biological
GCL-1	Level-D	Level-D	Level-D	Level-D
GCL-2	Level-C	Level-C	Level-D + arm guards	Level-C
GCL-3	Level-B	Level-B	Level-C + Venus Sentinel escort	Level-B
GCL-4	Level-A	Level-A	Level-A + remote handling	Level-A

Ensemble definitions:

Level	Composition	Respiratory	Max Continuous Wear
Level-D	Lab coat, nitrile gloves (double), splash goggles, closed footwear	None required	Shift
Level-C	Chemical-splash coverall, butyl over-gloves, face shield	Full-face APR, organic-vapor/P100 cartridge	4 h or cartridge limit
Level-B	Non-encapsulating chemical suit, butyl boots & gloves, taped seams	Supplied-air (SAR) + 5-min escape bottle	2 h or breakthrough limit
Level-A	Fully encapsulating vapor-tight suit, double butyl gloves, internal cooling	Supplied-air (SAR) + 15-min escape bottle	45 min, then mandatory rotation

7. Procedure

7.1 Determine the Dominant Hazard

Retrieve the specimen's containment grade and hazard-route flags from the CHLORA record.
For each flagged route, read the required ensemble from the Section 6 matrix.
Select the highest ensemble level indicated. If grade or route is unconfirmed, default to Level-A.

7.2 Pre-Entry Verification

Confirm the posted placard at the entry matches the selected ensemble and the CHLORA cell record.
Verify fit-test currency, ensemble integrity, and (for Level-A/B) SAR air-line pressure.
Set the glove breakthrough timer to the hygienist's limit for the specimen's contact toxicity.

7.3 Donning & Buddy Check

Don in the specified order; a second person inspects every seal, seam, and cuff tape.
For Level-A, perform a positive-pressure inflation test and confirm the suit holds for 60 seconds.
CHLORA logs the donning event, ensemble level, and entrant badge against the cell.

7.4 In-Cell Time Management

Do not exceed the maximum continuous wear in Section 6; rotate out at the breakthrough timer regardless of remaining task.
Any suit breach, cartridge alarm, or cooling failure → exit immediately and proceed to doffing.
Predation/constriction entries (GCL-3+) require a Venus Sentinel escort or remote handling per VC-SOP-0204.

7.5 Doffing & Decontamination

Doff in the contamination-controlled sequence at the airlock; never touch the outer suit surface with bare skin.
Route used Level-A/B suits and spent cartridges to neutralization per VC-SOP-0318.
CHLORA logs the doffing event; any suspected breach triggers VC-SOP-0307.

7.6 Quality Checkpoints

Dominant hazard correctly identified; highest applicable ensemble selected
Posted placard, CHLORA record, and worn ensemble all in agreement before entry
Buddy seal check and (Level-A) inflation test signed off
Continuous-wear and breakthrough limits respected
Doffing sequence completed and logged; used PPE routed to neutralization

8. Records

Per-entry donning/doffing log with ensemble level and entrant (CHLORA, retained 7 years)
Respirator fit-test certificates (cross-filed to VC-SOP-0312)
Ensemble integrity inspection records and cartridge change log
Hazard-route assignments per specimen from the Industrial Hygienist
Any matrix deviation authorized under VC-SOP-0107

9. References

VC-SOP-0204 — GCL-4 Containment & Handling
VC-SOP-0205 — Specimen Intake & Quarantine
VC-SOP-0402 — Toxin Extraction & Synthesis
VC-SOP-0307 — Dermal & Inhalation Exposure First Response
VC-SOP-0318 — Toxic Waste Neutralization & Disposal
VC-SOP-0107 — Procedure Deviation & Logged Exception Control
VC-SOP-0312 — Respiratory Protection & Fit-Testing
Monitoring Systems · Operational Metrics

10. Revision History

Rev	Date	Author	Summary
A	2086-09-14	Safety Officer	Initial issue; four-level ensemble scheme defined.
B	2088-03-30	Safety Officer	Predation/constriction route and Venus Sentinel escort rule added.
C	2089-07-19	Safety Officer	Breakthrough-time wear limits and Level-A rotation introduced.
D	2090-05-11	Safety Officer	CHLORA airlock interlock cross-check of badge vs. posted ensemble.
E	2091-01-09	Safety Officer	Multi-route highest-level rule clarified; deviation linkage to VC-SOP-0107. CBO approval.