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Respiratory Protection Program Overview

2011

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Objective

To review the NET Respiratory Protection Program and respirator operations for ongoing training or in preparation

for the annual exam.

NOTE – this presentation is not a complete training presentation for SCBA.

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RPP Changes/Updates• 2009 - Adopted a maximum 2 year period for

medical evaluations

• 2011 – new SCBA!

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RPP Requirements• Designate RPA

• Have a current and effective written RP program

• Regularly ask wearers about their views concerning program effectiveness and whether they have any problems with:

Fit Effects of respirator use on work performance Appropriateness for hazards encountered Proper use under current worksite conditions Proper maintenance

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RPP Requirements

• Have written procedures for:– Respirator selection– Medical evaluations– Fit testing– Training– Respirator use, inspection, care and maintenance– Ensuring air quality– Evaluating program effectiveness

• Keep records– Fit testing– Training– Medical approvals– Air quality– SCBA repair and maintenance

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The District Must:• Identify the jobs

requiring use of a respirator:– Firefighting– EMS

• Have a process for personnel requirements

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Initial Medical Evaluation and Approval

Initial fit test

Initial training

Quarterly donningAnnual knowledge/skill test

Annual Fit testRegular Medical re-evaluation

RPP Process - personnel

ABLE TOwear a respirator in

a hazardous environment

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Respirator Operations and Usage

Respirators must be worn in atmospheres that:• Are suspected of being hazardous• Are hazardous• May rapidly become hazardous

AND• Respirators must be worn when providing care for or transporting a

patient with a biological aerosol hazard, such as TB or SARS or patients with flu like symptoms

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This includes:• In an active fire area, directly above or below a fire area• In potentially explosive fire areas, including gas leaks or fuel

spills• Vehicle fires and dumpster fires• During overhaul• When contaminants are suspected (even if you can’t see them)

• During fire investigations if asbestos is suspected

Continued….

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This includes:• In an active chemical spill area where the

chemical presents an inhalation hazard

• Where toxic products are present , suspected of being present or may be released without prior warning

AND…

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On the EMS side, don’t forget to don/wear your respirator when:You are around an individual with suspected (or confirmed) TB, SARS or with flu-like symptoms. This includes: • entering any area - house, healthcare facility, etc.

• performing patient care• transporting

Flu-like symptoms – fever or decreased temperature; chills; aching body, especially head, lower back and legs; extreme weakness and tiredness

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Operations and Usage• On a properly functioning respirator, do not remove the

facepiece for any reason in a hazardous atmosphere or when the quality of air is not known; IDLH or not does not matter.

• ONLY use the make, model and size respirator for which you have passed a fit test in the last 12 months

• Perform a user seal check EVERY time you don a respirator (not required for N95/100)

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Operations and UsageLEAVE the hazardous area if:• The SCBA low air alarm or thermal alarm activate• HUD shows a low battery condition in the HUD or Power Module• Control module alarm button flashes red• Audi-larm rings or airmask free-flows• You taste or smell a contaminant• You experience nose or throat irritation• Breathing becomes difficult or there is a change in breathing resistance• Dizziness, nausea, coughing or sudden fatigue or weakness occurs• The respirator is not functioning according to instructions or training• You need to adjust the respirator• You must replace a cartridge, filter or SCBA cylinder

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Operations and Usage• Perform field decontamination before you

remove a respirator if you may have been exposed to a hazardous substance during firefighting or investigations

ALWAYS operate in teams of 2 or more when using SCBA

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Responsibilities

Members must: • Use proper level of respiratory protection, when and where

required and in the manner in which you were trained

• Inform your supervisor if you have ANY problems

• Care for, maintain and store respirators properly

• Perform regular checks of SCBA

• Maintain their level of proficiency

• Guard against damage to respiratory equipment

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ResponsibilitiesSupervisors must: • ENSURE that members do what they are supposed to do• Be knowledgeable about the program• Maintain an awareness of tasks, work areas and operations - ensure

and enforce that members wear the appropriate respirator• Ensure assigned members have had a medical evaluation, fit test and

appropriate training - and have understood the training – before using a respirator in a hazardous atmosphere

• Ensure quarterly skills and an annual test is completed by each assigned member

• Ensure conditions do not require a respirator if a member informs the supervisor of voluntary use

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Respirators

• Must meet standards– NIOSH, NFPA

• Must be regularly inspected– Before use, after use, during cleaning– SCBA monthly– SCBA daily at staffed stations– After service or repair, SCBA shall receive a monthly

check before being placed back in-service– If kept in storage as replacement units (not on

apparatus as backups), an SCBA will receive a monthly inspection before being placed into service

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Respirators• Must be maintained according to

manufacturer’s recommendations• Must be maintained in clean and sanitary

condition which includes cleaning and disinfecting:

• after each use, • before being worn by another member and • as often as necessary

• Must be stored properly• Must have repairs performed by trained

and authorized persons

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SCBA

• Are NOT authorized for use as SCUBA gear• Are NOT designed for vertical lifting or

lowering from the backplate/harness• Buddy breathing and quick fill (except for RIT)

are not allowedIf, in a rare and extraordinary circumstance it should be used

as a lift/lower device, it must be taken out of service and referred to the manufacturer for inspection.

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Training

• Initial training is required before the member is allowed to use a respirator in workplace (hazardous atmosphere)

• Retraining annually and when necessary is required

• Is required before using air filling systems

• Written respiratory test is required annually– equipment operations– safety– organizational policies and procedures

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Program Effectiveness

• Members are informed they are supposed to report problems, inconsistencies and hazards that have not been addressed

• An annual written respiratory protection program report is provided to the Fire Chief

• Records are kept• Annual training and testing is

conducted

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Respirators used in SBFD8

• Air Purifying Respirators– N95/100

• Supplied Air Respirators– SCBA

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Air Purifying Respirators

• N95/100

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Supplied Air Respirators – SCBA

MSA FireHawk M7 AirMask

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HUD: 4 green lights = full cylinder

Facepiece, shown with HUD attached

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Changing HUD Batteries• Field procedure, conducted by members• Open, remove battery cartridge, remove batteries• Inspect cartridge. Damage? Tag out of service & notify supervisor• Use ONLY Rayovac, Energizer or Duracell AAAs – install in cartridge• Verify O Ring is in good condition (if not, tag OOS and notify)• Hand – tighten cap back on battery tube

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Control Module and PASS

Monitors and presents information on:• Cylinder pressure• Battery status• Thermal alarm• Time remaining

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3 Control Buttons

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Alarms

• Pre-alarm• Full alarm• Thermal alarm

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Power Module and PASS

Power module• On backplate• Cylinder stop• Emits audible PASS

alarms• Buddy lights• Cable connection to

control module• Members can change

batteries

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Second Stage Regulator

Cylinder valve, Audi-Larm and URC

Other Components

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Rapid Intervention

RIT Options1. Connect RIT to SCBA URC – refill cylinder2. Attach RIT regulator to firefighter facepiece3. Provide firefighter with facepiece from RIT bag

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Cleaning and Disinfecting SCBA

Equipment must be kept in clean and sanitary condition.