If your clothes have absorbed a chemical, you may need to:

When dealing with a situation where your clothes have absorbed a chemical, the safest and most effective course of action is to remove those clothes. By taking them off, you minimize continued exposure to the hazardous material, which could cause skin irritation, chemical burns, or other health issues. This step effectively limits the potential for the chemical to enter the body or cause further harm.

In hazardous waste operations, handling chemical exposure with urgency and care is crucial. Leaving contaminated clothing on can trap the chemicals against the skin, leading to increased absorption and more severe health effects. Additionally, other options, like standing still until the chemical dries, would not adequately mitigate the risk, as drying could allow the chemical to remain in contact with the skin for too long. Similarly, using the emergency shower is an immediate and necessary response to wash off any harmful chemicals from the body, which can only be safely achieved once contaminated clothing is removed.