The picture above reminds me of (prior to any Haz Mat protocols or HM Unit ) in R*2 we handled any HM situations in both BKLYN & SI...there were still some Breweries & Ice Cream plants still using really old Refrigeration systems with Ammonia.....at Ammonia leaks we would attempt to tighten a leaking coupling or isolate the leak or shut the system down if possible... & conduct a Search for victims...you knew you were going
to get some bad irritation as we had the old Scott Masks with a Wilson face piece ...a rubber hood & rubber waders.... the hood etc was not exactly designed for the work....we carried Vinegar on the Rig & as in the picture above when you came out as soon as the hood & suit was pulled off you would get rubbed down around your neck & wrists etc with Vinegar to inert the Ammonia....it was not until in the Eighties that a professionally made Suit was issued which also worked with the then new 4.5 Scott Mask & Facepiece .