Respiratory Protection Program

1. Respiratory Protection Program 29 CFR 1910.134

2. Respiratory Protection Program • When respiratory protection is necessary • Definitions for Respirators • Requirements to be included in program • Categories of respiratory equipment • Selection & use – different types of respirators • Inspection, maintenance & storage • Shared Responsibilities • Fit testing & Training

3. When Respiratory Protection is Necessary • Exposed to inhalation hazards • Oxygen level below 19.5% • Cleaning bodily fluids, animal carcasses, nests, feces, or contaminated dusts • When MSDS requires protection • Employee voluntarily wears respirator

4. Voluntary and Mandatory Use • Voluntary use – less than 50% PEL or TLV, whichever is smaller. • Mandatory use –50% or more PEL or TLV, whichever is smaller or when oxygen levels fall below 19.5% or exceed 23 %

5. Requirements to be included in program • Medical evaluation • Complete Questionnaire • Licensed Healthcare Professional • Follow-up medical exam for any positive response to questionnaire • All medical evaluations must be made confidentially • Employees must be allowed to discuss the questionnaire with the physician • Fit tests must be performed: • Before first use • Annually • Any time physical condition changes, i.e.: facial scarring, dental changes, change in weight • Facial hair must be removed while fit-testing • Beards, mush stashes, etc. need to be cleanly shaven before fit testing is performed

6. Categories of Respiratory Equipment • Air purifying respirators • Gas and vapor • Particulate • Combination • Air supplying respirators • Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) • Airline respirator

7. Selection & Use The selection of a respirator includes consideration of the following: • Respirator types • Use of NIOSH-approved respirators only • Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Atmospheres (IDLH) • Warning Properties • Eye irritants

8. Selection & UseRespirator Types Air purifying, Negative Pressure Disposable: These respirators have two straps and protect against airborne particles and can also be used for welding fumes. They may not be used for asbestos.

9. Selection & UseRespirator Types • Air purifying, Negative Pressure • Non disposable: These respirators use various cartridges/filters to filter out particulates, gases, and vapors. The type of cartridge/filter will depend on the air contaminate.

10. Selection & UseRespirator Types Air purifying, Positive Pressure Supplied Air Respirators: Include airline respirators that receive breathing air from an air hose which is connected to a cylinder or a series of grade D breathing air cylinders. These respirators provide clean air when there is inadequate oxygen or when working in highly contaminated areas.

11. Selection & UseImmediately Dangerous to Life or Health Atmospheres • IDLH situations are those in which: • an atmospheric concentration of any toxic, corrosive or asphyxiate substance poses an immediate threat to life, or • would cause irreversible or delayed adverse health effects, or • would interfere with an individual’s ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere.

12. Selection & Usecontinued • Warning properties • Air purifying respirators must not be used for exposure to air contaminants that cannot be easily detected by odor or irritation. Examples are methyl chloride, which is odorless, and hydrogen sulfide which makes odor detection unreliable. • Eye irritants: • Eye irritants require the use of full-face respirators.

13. Selection & Usecontinued • Air purifying respirators have many different cartridges/filters. • Respirator cartridges/filters are to be discarded after use. • During use, cartridge/filter must be replaced: • Becomes discolored or clogged, • Begin to smell an odor associated with the product or chemicals you are working with, • Breathing becomes difficult • You become dizzy

14. Inspection, Maintenance, Storage • Self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) • Inspected monthly • Cleaned and disinfected after each use • Supplied air respirators • Inspected prior to each use and annually • Cleaned and disinfected after each use • Air purifying respirators • Inspected, cleaned and disinfected after each use

15. Inspection, Maintenance, Storage continued • Inspection of respirator components: • Inhalation and exhalation valves • cracks, tears, distortion • Headgear • Intact, good elasticity • Plastic parts • Cracks, wear; make sure filter gaskets are properly seated and in good condition • Facepiece • cracks, tears, dirt, distortion

16. Inspection, Maintenance, Storage continued • Store clean respirators in a clean, sealable, plastic bag or container. • Store so respirator face piece is not distorted, damaged, or exposed to excessive moisture, extreme temperatures, or damaging chemicals. • This includes removing cartridges/canisters from facepiece before storing.

17. Inspection, Maintenance, Storage continued • A dirty, inoperative respirator will not protect you • Soap and water is generally appropriate for cleaning air purifying cartridge/filter type respirators.

18. Shared Responsibilities of Supervisor & Employee • Ensure safety glasses, goggles, face shields, welding hoods and/or facial hair do not adversely affect the seal of the respirator face piece. • Respiratory equipment not modified; use only approved original replacement parts of same manufacturer.

19. Fit Testing • Qualitative • Isoamyl acetate • Irritant smoke • Quantitative • DOP/corn oil • Ambient atmosphere (portacount)

20. Fit Testingcontinued Pre-use fit check must be performed before each use when wearing a half face or full face respirator. • Negative pressure test: • Place hands firmly over the respirator cartridge or inhalation valves and breath in. The respirator face piece should collapse. • Positive pressure test: • Place hands over the exhalation valve and breathe out. The respirator should push away from the face.

21. Fit testing • Respirators will not protect you if they don’t fit properly! • Required for negative or positive pressure tight-fitting face pieces • Must be conducted prior to use • Must be conducted at least annually • Must be retested if respirator fit or wearer changes: facial scarring, dental changes, change in weight

22. Training • Required annually & includes review of: • Respiratory hazards • Respiratory selection including appropriate cartridge/filter for each hazard • Proper use, maintenance & storage

23. Quiz 1. The two categories of respiratory protection are ________________ and ________________. 2. When is respiratory protection required? ______, ________, _____, and _______. 3. Employees who are required to wear respirators must first be medically qualified. True or False 4. The two types of respirator fit-testing are ________________ and ________________. 5. All respirators used for employee protection must be OSHA approved. True or False

24. Quiz 6. Three types of respirators include ___________, __________,and ___________. 7. What does IDLH mean? 8. What are the two pre-use fit checks? __________, and ___________. 9. Respirator fit-testing must be conducted every three years. True or False 10.Any respirator you use will protect you against oxygen deficient atmospheres. True or False

25. Quiz Answers 1. The two categories of respiratory protection are air-supplying and air-purifying respirators. 2. Respiratory protection is required when exposed to: inhalation hazards; oxygen level below 19.5; cleaning bodily fluids, animal carcasses, nests, feces; MSDS. 3. True. Employees who are required to wear respirators must be physically qualified to wear the devices. 4. The two types of fit-testing are qualitative and quantitative. 5. False. Respirators accepted by OSHA must be NIOSH approved.

26. Quiz Answers 6. Types of respirators include, disposable, non disposable (half mask, full face, powered air), and supplied air. 7. IDLH means Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health. 8. The two pre-use fit checks are negative pressure and positive pressure. 9. False. Respirator fit-testing must be conducted annually. 10.False. Only an air-supplying respirator will protect you from oxygen deficient atmospheres.