THE UNITED STATES ARMY
Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
24 July 2023

*Department of the Army

Pamphlet 385-61

Safety

Chemical Agent Safety Standards

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

JAMES C. MCCONVILLE

General, United States Army

Chief of Staff

MARK F. AVERILL

Administrative Assistant to the

Secretary of the Army

History. This publication is a major revision.

Applicability. This pamphlet applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated. It also applies to all Army Civilian personnel in a duty status, on or off a Department of Defense installation; to Department of the Army contractors (unless otherwise specified within contract clauses and provisioning agreements) with a responsibility for chemical agent operations or a chemical agent mission; and to all persons at any time on an Army installation. Department of Defense military munitions under U.S. title, even though stored in a host country, remain the responsibility of the U.S. commander. Storage will conform with Army standards for explosives safety, unless the use of more stringent criteria has been agreed to or is mandatory. This pamphlet is applicable during full mobilization.

Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this pamphlet is the Director of Army Staff. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this pamphlet that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency, in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this pamphlet by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or senior leader of the requesting activity and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25-30 for specific requirements.

Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments and suggested improvements on DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to Office of the Director, Army Safety (DACS-SF), usarmy.pentagon.hqda-aso.mbx.army-safety-office@army.mil.

Committee management approval. AR 15-39 requires the proponent to justify establishing/continuing committee(s), coordinate draft publications, and coordinate changes in committee status with the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, Special Programs Directorate, 9301 Chapek Road, Building 1458, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5527. Further, if it is determined that an established "group" identified within this regulation later takes on the characteristics of a committee as found in AR 15-39, then the proponent will follow AR 15-39 requirements for establishing and continuing the group as a committee.

Distribution. This pamphlet is available in electronic media only and is intended for the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve.

*This pamphlet supersedes DA PamDA PamDepartment of the Army Pamphlets 385-61, dated 1 November 2018.

DA PAM 385-61 • 24 July 2023

UNCLASSIFIED

Operations

Release

Chemical Agent Safety Standards This major revision, dated 24 July 2023— • Changes the title (cover). • Incorporates minimum safety criteria, guidance, and procedures for use in training, processing, handling, storage, transportation, disposal, and decontamination of nontraditional agents (throughout). • Adds guidance on acute exposure guideline levels (para 2–3 b ). • Updates chemical agent detection methods and equipment (para 3 – 5). • Adds approved personal protective equipment (para 4 – 13). • Incorporates new chemical contamination terminology and requirements from DoDI 4140.62 (chap 5). • Adds requirements for patient decontamination and quadrant monitoring (para 5 – 8). • Updates standing operation requirements (para 6 – 3). • Updates pre-operational survey requirements (para 6 – 4). • Updates requirements for emergency response equipment (para 7 – 3). • Updates mishap notification, investigation, and reporting (para 7 – 5). • Updates dilute chemical agent terminology and requirements (para 8 – 2). • Clarifies neat chemical agent monitoring requirements (para 8 – 4). • Consolidates design criteria (chap 9). • Adds design, construction, and testing of chemical agent ductwork (para 9 – 7). • Updates procedures for meteorological support to chemical incident, or mishap, response-and- assistance operations (chap 12).