Respiratory Protection Respiratory Protection Program Program

Safety through Safety through teamworkteamwork

““Nothing is so Nothing is so important that it important that it can not be done can not be done

safely.”safely.”

Training OutlineTraining Outline• IntroductionIntroduction• Respiratory HazardsRespiratory Hazards• Medical EvaluationsMedical Evaluations• Respirator SelectionRespirator Selection• Proper Wear of RespiratorsProper Wear of Respirators• Fit TestingFit Testing• Respirator MaintenanceRespirator Maintenance• Use and Limitations of RespiratorsUse and Limitations of Respirators• QUIZQUIZ

OSHA Respiratory Protection OSHA Respiratory Protection StandardStandard

• Standard 29 CFR 1910.134Standard 29 CFR 1910.134

• Assess the workplace and provide respirators Assess the workplace and provide respirators when necessary to protect the health of when necessary to protect the health of employeesemployees

• Develop and implement a written respiratory Develop and implement a written respiratory protection program protection program

• Provide training on how to properly use Provide training on how to properly use respiratorsrespirators

• Provide medical evaluations at no cost to the Provide medical evaluations at no cost to the employeeemployee

The LungsThe Lungs• Inhalation is the most direct Inhalation is the most direct

route to the bloodstreamroute to the bloodstream• Inhalation of hazardous Inhalation of hazardous

materials damages the delicate materials damages the delicate structures of the lungsstructures of the lungs

• Damaged lungs are more Damaged lungs are more susceptible to respiratory susceptible to respiratory diseasedisease

Respiratory Respiratory HazardsHazards

• Respiratory protection is required when Respiratory protection is required when employees are in areas where effective employees are in areas where effective engineering controls are not feasible to protect engineering controls are not feasible to protect the health of the employee from :the health of the employee from :– lack of oxygenlack of oxygen– harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases,

smokes, sprays or vaporssmokes, sprays or vapors

• Respiratory Protection must comply with Respiratory Protection must comply with NIOSH/MSHANIOSH/MSHA

Respiratory Respiratory ProtectionProtection

• Exposure levels exceed PELExposure levels exceed PEL• During installation of engineering or During installation of engineering or

work practice controlswork practice controls• Maintenance and repair activities that Maintenance and repair activities that

may result in exceeding the PELmay result in exceeding the PEL• Emergency Response where type and/or Emergency Response where type and/or

concentration of contaminant is concentration of contaminant is unknownunknown

• Voluntary UsageVoluntary Usage

Voluntary Use of Voluntary Use of RespiratorsRespirators

• ECU may provide respirators at the ECU may provide respirators at the request of the employees or permit request of the employees or permit employees to use their own employees to use their own respiratorsrespirators

• The University must ensure that The University must ensure that any employee using a respirator any employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically able to use voluntarily is medically able to use that respiratorthat respirator

Voluntary Use of Voluntary Use of RespiratorsRespirators

Employee precautions:Employee precautions:• Read instructions on use, maintenance, Read instructions on use, maintenance,

cleaning and care, and warningscleaning and care, and warnings• Use NIOSH certified respirators onlyUse NIOSH certified respirators only• Wear respirators designed for your Wear respirators designed for your

specific usespecific use• Keep track of respirator so you do not Keep track of respirator so you do not

mistakenly use someone else’smistakenly use someone else’s

Medical Medical SurveillanceSurveillance

• Medical evaluations must be provided Medical evaluations must be provided to determine each employee’s fitness to to determine each employee’s fitness to wear a respirator wear a respirator

• These evaluations are required for allThese evaluations are required for all

respirator users except for employees who respirator users except for employees who voluntarily use dust masks and for the use of voluntarily use dust masks and for the use of escape-only respiratorsescape-only respirators

• Medical evaluation records will be retained for Medical evaluation records will be retained for 30 years beyond the employee’s employment30 years beyond the employee’s employment

Respirator Respirator SelectionSelection

The selection of respirators depends The selection of respirators depends on what the hazard is and its extent, on what the hazard is and its extent, choosing approved equipment, and choosing approved equipment, and

ensuring the device is certified.ensuring the device is certified.

Respirator Respirator SelectionSelection

• Chemical & physical properties of Chemical & physical properties of the contaminantthe contaminant

• Toxicity & concentration of Toxicity & concentration of hazardous materialhazardous material

• Amount of oxygen presentAmount of oxygen present• Limitations & characteristics of Limitations & characteristics of

available respirators available respirators

TYPES OF TYPES OF RESPIRATORSRESPIRATORS

Air-Air- Supplied- Combination Supplied- CombinationPurifying AirPurifying Air

Proper WearProper WearEmployers shall not permit the use of Employers shall not permit the use of

respirators for employees that:respirators for employees that:

• Have facial hair that interferes with the Have facial hair that interferes with the seal or valve function of the respiratorseal or valve function of the respirator

• If PPE is used such as corrective If PPE is used such as corrective glasses, the employer will ensure that glasses, the employer will ensure that the PPE will not interfere with the seal the PPE will not interfere with the seal of the respiratorof the respirator

Criteria for Criteria for Determining Determining

ComfortComfort• mask position on nosemask position on nose

• room for eye protectionroom for eye protection

• room to talkroom to talk

• mask position on face mask position on face and cheeksand cheeks

Criteria for Criteria for Determining Adequacy Determining Adequacy

of Fitof Fit• Chin properly placedChin properly placed

• Adequate strap tension, not too tightAdequate strap tension, not too tight

• Fit across nose bridgeFit across nose bridge

• Respirator of proper size to span distance Respirator of proper size to span distance from nose to chinfrom nose to chin

• Tendency of respirator to slipTendency of respirator to slip

• Self-observation in mirror to evaluate fit and Self-observation in mirror to evaluate fit and respirator positionrespirator position

Fit TestingFit Testing

• Fit testing is required for all Fit testing is required for all employees using negative or positive employees using negative or positive pressure tight-fitting respiratorspressure tight-fitting respirators

• Must be repeated annually and Must be repeated annually and whenever a different respirator is usedwhenever a different respirator is used

• Qualitative Fit-Testing is used for this Qualitative Fit-Testing is used for this programprogram

Fit TestingFit Testing• Employee shall be allowed to pick the most acceptable Employee shall be allowed to pick the most acceptable

respirator from all the models and sizes that will provide respirator from all the models and sizes that will provide

most adequate protectionmost adequate protection

• Fit test shall be performed wearing any applicable safety Fit test shall be performed wearing any applicable safety

equipment that may be worn during actual respirator useequipment that may be worn during actual respirator use

• No respirator will provide adequate protection without a No respirator will provide adequate protection without a

tight seal between the facepiece and the face of the wearertight seal between the facepiece and the face of the wearer

Fit TestingFit Testing• Employer shall demonstrate:Employer shall demonstrate:

– how to put on a respiratorhow to put on a respirator

– how it is positionedhow it is positioned

– how to set strap tensionhow to set strap tension

– how to determine an acceptable fithow to determine an acceptable fit

• Employee shall conductEmployee shall conduct::– Negative seal checkNegative seal check

– Positive seal checkPositive seal check

Fit Test ExercisesFit Test Exercises• Normal breathingNormal breathing• Deep breathingDeep breathing• Turning head side to sideTurning head side to side• Moving head up and downMoving head up and down• Talking Talking • Grimace (smile or frown)Grimace (smile or frown)• Bending overBending over

Taste Threshold ScreeningTaste Threshold Screening

• EH&S will conduct a Taste Threshold Screening EH&S will conduct a Taste Threshold Screening to help determine adequate fit of the respiratorto help determine adequate fit of the respirator

• If the test fails, a different respirator must be If the test fails, a different respirator must be triedtried

Respirator Respirator MaintenanceMaintenance

All respirators must be cleaned, stored All respirators must be cleaned, stored and inspected regularly. This is and inspected regularly. This is necessary to provide complete necessary to provide complete

protection.protection.

CleaningCleaning• Must be cleaned regularlyMust be cleaned regularly• Respirator should be cleaned and disinfected if Respirator should be cleaned and disinfected if

used by more than one personused by more than one person• Disassemble the respirator and soak in Disassemble the respirator and soak in

warm water and rinse with clean warm water and rinse with clean waterwater

• Respirators may be washed in a detergent Respirators may be washed in a detergent solution and then disinfected in a sanitizing solution and then disinfected in a sanitizing solutionsolution

• Air dry all parts of the respirator or wipe dry with Air dry all parts of the respirator or wipe dry with a clean lint-free clotha clean lint-free cloth

StorageStorage• Respirators must be stored to protect Respirators must be stored to protect

against dust, sunlight, temperature, against dust, sunlight, temperature, moisture, and chemicalsmoisture, and chemicals

• Not to be stored in lockers Not to be stored in lockers or tool boxes or tool boxes

• Stored so that facepiece and Stored so that facepiece and valves will rest in a normal positionvalves will rest in a normal position

• Respirators should not be stored by Respirators should not be stored by hanging them by the headbandhanging them by the headband

InspectionInspection• Respirators should be inspected before Respirators should be inspected before

and after each use to ensure all parts and after each use to ensure all parts are present and operatingare present and operating

• Rubber and elastomer parts should be Rubber and elastomer parts should be checked for pliability and signs for checked for pliability and signs for deterioration deterioration

• Any worn or deteriorated parts should Any worn or deteriorated parts should be replaced-cracks, tears, holes , be replaced-cracks, tears, holes , gasketsgaskets

Special Special Maintenance Maintenance

FeaturesFeatures• Filters and cartridges must Filters and cartridges must

be changed periodically be changed periodically• All filters must be properly All filters must be properly

labeled and color coded labeled and color coded • Self-contained breathing apparatus Self-contained breathing apparatus

must be inspected monthlymust be inspected monthly• Use of SCBA’s is restricted to Use of SCBA’s is restricted to

employees of the Office of employees of the Office of Environmental Health and SafetyEnvironmental Health and Safety

Use and Use and LimitationsLimitations

• The respirator is the last control measure to The respirator is the last control measure to ensure safety to the employeeensure safety to the employee

• The respirator is necessary to prevent the The respirator is necessary to prevent the inhalation of aerosols and contaminantsinhalation of aerosols and contaminants

• Employees must be familiar with the Employees must be familiar with the respirator and its operationsrespirator and its operations

• The respirator must have a proper seal and The respirator must have a proper seal and effective valves in order to perform its jobeffective valves in order to perform its job

Use and Use and LimitationsLimitationsUse and limitation information for the respirators Use and limitation information for the respirators

utilized in this program include the following:utilized in this program include the following:• Employees must leave the area if the Employees must leave the area if the

contaminant can be detected by dizzinesscontaminant can be detected by dizziness• If the respirator is damaged or breathing If the respirator is damaged or breathing

becomes difficult, the employee must leave becomes difficult, the employee must leave the areathe area

• Not all respirators supply oxygen to employeesNot all respirators supply oxygen to employees• The manufacturer’s operation manual should The manufacturer’s operation manual should

be used as a reference for additional usebe used as a reference for additional use

Program Program EvaluationEvaluationThe Respiratory Protection Program will be The Respiratory Protection Program will be

evaluated annually by the Office of Environmental evaluated annually by the Office of Environmental Health and SafetyHealth and Safety

Factors that will be assessed include:Factors that will be assessed include:• Respirator fitRespirator fit• Appropriate respirator selection for the hazards to Appropriate respirator selection for the hazards to

which the employee is exposedwhich the employee is exposed• Proper respirator use under the workplace conditions Proper respirator use under the workplace conditions

the employee encountersthe employee encounters• Proper respirator maintenanceProper respirator maintenance

Airline Respirator Airline Respirator Advantages & LimitationsAdvantages & Limitations

Advantages –

continuous air supply,

lightweight,

less maintenance,

don’t need to buy tank air

Limitations-

tied to a 300 ft. hose,

depends on output of compressor,

need an attached escape bottle in IDLH conditions20

SCBA Advantages & SCBA Advantages & LimitationsLimitationsAdvantages

highest form of protection,

can be used anywhere,

allows unrestricted mobility

Limitations

heavy & bulky,

limited air supply(30 - 60 min.),

extensive training required,

high maintenance

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Using SCBAs – Special Using SCBAs – Special NotesNotes

SCBAs are sophisticated respirator equipment used for possible or actual life-threatening situations.

SCBAs should not be used without extensive hands-on training and frequent re-training.

Most SCBA manufacturers or distributors provide this training.

If you have large chemical spill or leak, it may be safer to call professional emergency responders.

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Air Quality ForAir Quality For SCBAsSCBAsAir for breathing must be “Grade D” air

Grade D air for tanks is usually purchased from a specialized supplier.

Grade D air must meet strict requirements. link to WISHA requirements

Supplier must certify that tank air meets Grade D requirements.

                                                               

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Air Quality for Airline Air Quality for Airline RespiratorsRespiratorsAir compressors must deliver clean air

Locate pump intake in an area of clean, fresh air.

Filter air as needed.

Watch out for nearby running engines.

Be sure air intakes are located away from exhaust pipe of an engine compressor.

Small electric air pump

                    

           

Small engine compressor24

Compressors for Compressors for Airline RespiratorsAirline RespiratorsThree types of breathing air compressors

Gasoline high pressure air compressor

                   

              

Electric low pressure compressor

Electric high-pressure air compressor25

Construction & Plant Construction & Plant Air CompressorsAir Compressors

Be careful – these do not provide clean air without a filter system!!

Oil-lubricated compressor are especially hazardous. Must test for carbon monoxide or have high temperature alarm.

Engine exhaust can also contaminate breathing air.

Use these compressors with caution

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Compressor Air FiltersCompressor Air FiltersWhat air filters are needed on compressors?

Moisture trap

Dust filter

Hydrocarbons(oil, solvents) absorbent

Carbon monoxide alarm or high-temp. alarm for oil-lubricated compressors

compressor filters                            

carbon monoxide alarm27

Compressors We UseCompressors We Use

Exterior mounted unit with sorbent

filters

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Storage and Storage and MaintenanceMaintenanceAirline Respirators

Store facepiece and regulator in clean, dry place.

Coil up hose and store in protected area to prevent damage.

Clean as needed before storage – especially the inside of the facepiece.

Inspect facepiece and hose for damage and replace as needed.

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Supplied air Supplied air respirator repairsrespirator repairs

Keep spare parts available. Keep spare parts available.

Tag damaged respirators to prevent Tag damaged respirators to prevent use.use.

Repair of SCBA valves, regulators or Repair of SCBA valves, regulators or alarms can only be done by alarms can only be done by manufacturer’s trained person.manufacturer’s trained person.

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Dust Masks•May be worn for comfort•Must be replaced when breathing becomes difficult; smell/taste contaminants; experience distress; anything abnormal•Properly dispose of mask by cutting straps •Do not wear another person’s mask