Respiratory Protection. RESPIRATOR PROGRAM Requires a written program with worksite-specific...

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RESPIRATOR PROGRAM

Requires a written program with worksite-specific procedures when respirators are needed.

Must be updated, as needed A program administrator is required for

the entire college. College must provide respirators,

training, and medical evaluations at no cost to employees.

RESPIRATOR PROGRAM ELEMENTS

Selection Medical

Evaluation Respirator Use Maintenance and

Care

Fit Testing Breathing-Air

Quality and Use Training Program

Evaluation

WHERE RESPIRATORS ARE USED BUT NOT REQUIRED

If respirators will not create a hazard, and if requested, OCC may furnish respirators.

If approved, employees may wear their own, but must follow program requirements.

Voluntary use of filtering facepieces (face masks) does not have to be included in the written program.

PERMISSIBLE PRACTICES Engineering Controls (enclosures,

confinement of operations, ventilation, use of less toxic materials) are primary means to control hazards.

When effective engineering controls are not available, respirators will be used.

Respirators will be applicable to and suitable for the purpose intended.

Employer will be responsible for maintaining the program .

SELECTION OF RESPIRATORS

College will select and provide an appropriate respirator based on the respiratory hazards to which the worker is exposed, workplace factors, and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability.

Respirators will be selected from a sufficient number of models and sizes to ensure correct fit and comfort.

RESRIRATOR PROTECTION TRAINING Employees that use respirators must be

trained and demonstrate skill or knowledge of at least: Why it is necessary, and how improper use and

care can compromise its effectiveness

It’s limitations and capabilities

How to put on, remove, use, and inspect

How to maintain and store

General requirements of this standard

RESRIRATOR PROTECTION TRAINING

Training must be provided prior to use.

Retraining required annually, and when:

Prior training becomes obsolete

Employee’s skill or knowledge is inadequate

Other situations arise in which retraining appears necessary

EMPLOYEE EXPOSURE

Regulatory Definition: Exposure to a concentration of an airborne contaminant that would occur if the employee were not using respiratory protection.

TWO BASIC TYPES OF RESPIRATORS

Air Purifying - Removes contaminants before they reach the breathing zone.

Atmosphere Supplying - Provides fresh air from an external source.

AIR PURIFYING May be particulate removing Vapor and gas removing A combination of the two Uses a replaceable cartridge or canister

AIR PURIFYINGUSE LIMITATIONS

Does not supply oxygen, therefore there is only as much oxygen available to breath as is in the ambient air

Contaminant must be known and cannot exceed facepiece limitations

Contaminants are not IDLH

Always treat oxygen-deficient air as IDLH

ATMOSPHERE SUPPLYING

Type 1 - Airline Respirator. Air is pumped to the user from outside.

Type 2 - Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

AIRLINE RESPIRATOR

Has a pressure demand nozzle that allows user to control air flow

Use Grade D breathing air May be used with a hood or helmet to

supply continuous air Tight fitting Hose limited to 300 feet Some mobility restriction

SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS Breathing air provided from

pressurized tanks Provides highest level of protection

and mobility Commonly used in rescue or

emergency situations Limited to air in tanks (30 or 60

minutes) Positive pressure provides

protection for both oxygen deficient and IDLH atmospheres

RESPIRATOR SELECTION

Must fit the wearer and be comfortable Must be the type which best controls the

hazards to be faced Atmospheric hazard evaluation

determines which one to wear Never substitute, or take the chance

that a different one will provide adequate protection

WRITTEN RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PLAN

Entire program to be assigned to a trained and competent person Manager of Environmental Health and

Safety Describes in detail the hazard

evaluation process Contains SOPs for respirator selection,

use, and maintenance

WRITTEN RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PLAN

Contains results of analysis of atmospheric contaminants Physical and chemical properties Adverse health effects Warning properties Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) Other accepted exposure limits

WRITTEN RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PLAN

Additional plan criteria Results of workplace atmospheric

testing Nature of the work Activities that are to be performed Time expected to complete the task Written plan to be made available to all

involved employees

FIT TESTING

Before an employee uses any respirator with a negative or positive pressure tight-fitting facepiece, the employee must be fit tested with the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used.

Must be administered using an OSHA-accepted protocol such as that contained in Appendix A of the OCC Respiratory Protection Program.

FIT TESTING

Respirators rely on face-to-mask seal

Fit testing determines which device will best fit and seal

Stubble, beard, hairlines, glasses, and goggles will negatively affect fit

Corrective lenses may be mounted inside the facepiece

FIT TEST PROCEDURES

Fit testing should be conducted annually.

More often, if facial features change or a different respirator is to be used.

Users of tight-fitting respirators must perform a seal test each time they are used.

TYPES OF FIT TESTING

Qualitative (QLFT) - challenge agent, vapor, or aerosol released

Fit is inadequate if a presence of the agent is detected (irritation, taste, or odor)

Quantitative (QNFT) - measures actual level of agent both inside and outside the respirator

FIT FACTOR

A quantitative estimate of the fit of a particular respirator to a specific individual, and estimates the ratio of:

• Concentration of a substance in ambient air versus the concentration inside the respirator when worn

FILTERS A component used in respirators to

remove solid or liquid particles, aerosols, and/or fumes from inspired air.

Also called an air purifying element.

HEPA FILTERS

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)

Removes 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 micrometers, or greater, in diameter.

Color coded Purple.

CANISTER / CARTRIDGE A container with a filter, sorbent (catalyst), or

combination of these items, which removes specific contaminants from the air passed through the container.

All cartridges must be NIOSH/MSHA approved and color coded.

SERVICE LIFE

The period of time that a respirator, filter, adsorbant, or other respiratory equipment provides adequate protection to the wearer.

END OF SERVICE LIFE INDICATOR (ESLI)

A system that warns the user of the approach of the end of adequate respiratory protection. (i.e., The adsorbant is approaching saturation or is no longer providing protection)

NEGATIVE PRESSURERESPIRATOR

A respirator in which the air pressure inside the facepiece is negative during inhalation with respect to the ambient air pressure outside the respirator.

FILTERING FACEPIECE(Dust Mask)

A negative pressure particulate respirator with a filter as an integral part of the facepiece, or with the entire facepiece composed of the filtering medium.

POSITIVE PRESSURERESPIRATOR

A respirator in which the pressure inside the respiratory inlet covering exceeds the ambient air pressure outside the respirator.

POWERED AIR-PURIFYINGRESPIRATOR (PAPR)

An air purifying respirator that uses a blower to force ambient air through air-purifying elements to the inlet covering.

ATMOSPHERE-SUPPLYINGRESPIRATOR

A respirator that supplies the user with breathing air from a source independent of the ambient atmosphere.

Includes Supplied-Air Respirators (SARs) and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) units.

ATMOSPHERE-SUPPLYINGRESPIRATORS

Continuous Flow: provides a continuous flow of breathing air to the respiratory inlet covering

Pressure Demand: admits air to the facepiece when the positive pressure inside the facepiece is reduced by inhalation

SUPPLIED AIR RESPIRATOR (SAR)

An atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the source of breathing air is not carried by the user.

Also called an airline respirator.

SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (SCBA)

An atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the breathing air is designed to be carried by the user.

ESCAPE ONLY RESPIRATOR

A respirator designed and intended to be used only for emergency exit.

PUTTING THE RESPIRATOR ON (DONNING)

Donning the Respirator: Donning procedures may vary from respirator to

respirator. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommended

procedures for putting on a respirator. In general:

Place facepiece over mouth and nose Pull straps over head, or attach behind head, as

appropriate Tighten straps from bottom to top

POSITIVE PRESSURE SEAL TEST

Performed each time respirator is put on Block off exhalation valve with palm. Blow outward gently. A good fit results in the pressure holding

and no leaks found.

NEGATIVE PRESSURE SEAL TEST

Performed each time a respirator is put on Place palms over the inhalation inlets, or squeeze the

breathing tube. Inhale gently. Facepiece should collapse slightly. Hold breath for about ten seconds. Good test indicated by pressure holding and no leaks

found.

TAKING THE RESPIRATOR OFF (DOFFING) Doffing the Respirator Procedures may vary from respirator to respirator Always follow the manufacturer’s recommended

procedures for removing a respirator In general:

While holding the facepiece, loosen the straps from top to bottom

Pull the straps over the head and in front of the facepiece, or detach buckles, depending upon the design

Remove the respirator

CONTINUING RESPIRATOR EFFECTIVENESS

Maintain constant surveillance of respirator effectiveness.

Employees must leave the respirator use area: To wash face or facepiece

If a “breakthrough” is detected (see below)

There is a change in breathing resistance

There is leakage of the facepiece

To replace respirator, filter, cartridge, or canister

Since the respirator is designed to prevent many chemicals from reaching the wearer, any unusual odors detected in the mask should be treated as a breakthrough.

RESPIRATOR MAINTENANCE

Step 1 – Inspection Inspect before and after each use

Step 2 – Cleaning / Decontamination Clean/decontaminate after each

use or when respirator becomes contaminated/dirty

Step 3 – Storage Store in sealed container after

each use

STEP 1 - INSPECTION Check for: Holes in the filters Loss of elasticity or tears in headstraps and

hoses Broken or loose connectors and hoses Cracked or scratched facepieces Detergent residue Dirt in valves General cleanliness

STEP 2 - CLEANING / DECONTAMINATION

Explicitly follow manufacturers directions.

If worn by only one person, clean and disinfect periodically.

If possible to be worn by more than one person, clean and disinfect after each use.

STEP 3 - STORAGE Must be protected from dust, sunlight, heat, cold,

moisture, and chemicals Facepiece should be stored in an individual

plastic bag Store masks with valves and breathing tubes in

a natural, undistorted position Store cartridges/canisters in air-tight plastic

bags, as the adsorbent material within them will continue to adsorb airborne chemicals even when not being used.

BREATHING AIR QUALITY

Compressed breathing air must meet at least the requirements for Grade D breathing air.

Systems supplying breathing air must be equipped with appropriate in-line air purifying sorbent beds and filters, and maintained per manufacturer’s instructions.

CLASSES OF FILTERS

Three levels of filter efficiency (95%, 99%, and 99.97%).

Three levels of filter resistance to efficiency degradation (labeled N, R, and P).

Total of nine classes of filters.

MEDICAL EVALUATIONPROCEDURES

Provide medical evaluation before fit testing and respirator use.

Licensed Health Care Provider (LHCP) may use questionnaire (Sections 1 and 2, Part A of Appendix C) and/or examination.

Follow-up is required for any positive response to questions 1-8 in Section 2, Part A of Appendix C, or demonstrates the need during examination.

ADDITIONAL MEDICAL EVALUATIONS

Annual review is no longer required. Must provide additional evaluations if:

Employee reports problem using device LHCP, supervisor, or program administrator

thinks there should be Observations during fit-testing indicates there

should be Changes occur in the workplace or the

employee

RECORDKEEPING

Training and medical records must be maintained and made available.

Fit test records must be maintained until the next test is administered.

A written copy of the current program must be maintained.

All written materials must be available to affected employees, as well as state and federal agencies.