BLR’s Safety Training Presentations

1. BLR’sSafety Training Presentations Respiratory Protection 29 CFR 1910.134

2. Regulatory Requirements • 29 CFR 1910.134 • Covers all required and voluntary use of respiratory protection in general industry • Requires a written program • Requires employee training, medical evaluation, and fit-testing • Standard revised in 1998

3. Types of Respiratory Protection • Atmosphere supplying • Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) • Airline respirators • Air purifying • Gas and vapor • Particulate • Combination

4. Types of Face Pieces • Mouthpiece • Single use/disposable • Quartermask • Half mask • Full face • Helmet

5. Effective Use of Respirators • During installation ofengineering controls • During maintenance operations • During process turnarounds • For nonroutine tasks • For emergency response • At hazardous waste site operations • When other controls are inadequate • When other controls are not feasible

6. Employee Effectiveness The use of respiratory protection limits the effectiveness of the employee by 33.33 percent.

7. Maximum Use Concentrations • Half mask w/ov cartridge = 1,000 ppm or 10x the PEL, whichever is lower • Full face w/ov cartridge = 1,000 ppm or 50x the PEL, whichever is lower • Full face w/acid gas chin canister = 2% by volume or 50 times the PEL, whichever is lower Note: In general, never exceed an APF.

8. Respirator Selection Criteria • Physical state of the contaminant • Contaminant concentration • Oxygen deficiency • Warning properties of contaminant • Potential for IDLH atmospheres • Can contaminant be ad/absorbed by a media? • Can contaminant be ad/absorbed by the skin? • Is the contaminant irritating to the eyes?

9. Types of Fit-testing • Qualitative • Isoamyl acetate • Irritant smoke • Quantitative • DOP/corn oil • Ambient atmosphere (portacount)

10. Elements of a Respiratory Protection Program • Written operating procedures • Proper selection • Training and fitting • Cleaning and disinfecting • Storage • Inspection and maintenance • Work area surveillance

11. Respiratory Program (cont.) • Inspection and evaluation to determine effectiveness • Medical examinations • Approved respirators

12. Revision to 1910.134 • Effective date: April 8, 1998 • Enforcement date: October 5, 1998

13. Written Program Requirements • Must be site-specific • Must have a program administrator • Must be developed when respirator use is required

14. When Respirators Are Not Required • Can use employee respirator if it does not create a hazard • Voluntary users of respirators must be given Appendix D • Appendix D = employee information when respirators are not required • Employers must implement a program for nonrequired users

15. Respirators Not Required (cont.) • If dust masks only are used and not required, no written program is required • Appendix D of the standard must be provided to users

16. General Requirements • Use of NIOSH-approved respirators only • Evaluation of hazards • Availability of multiple respirator types

17. Respirators for Non-IDLH Use • If cartridges have no “end of service life indicator” a change schedule must be used • Added table for oxygen-deficient atmospheres based on altitude

18. Medical Evaluation • Use of medical questionnaire (Appendix C) • 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

19. Medical Evaluation (cont.) • Physicians must be told conditions of respirator use • Employers must provide a PAPR if employees cannot use a negative pressure APR • Follow-up evaluations must be conducted if conditions of use or user health change

20. 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 change