Transcript No Slide Title

RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION
The following program presents
the respiratory requirements
of the OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.134,
which encompass
the ENVIRON policy on
respiratory protection.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Respiratory Protection Objectives
The objective of this program is
to reduce employee exposure to
contaminated air in the breathing
zone, which may contain harmful
dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases,
smokes, sprays, or vapors.
OSHA requires employers to
ensure that employees are able
to recognize potential hazards in
the workplace, be familiar with
and able to identify appropriate
respirators, and know where to
reference respirator-related
information.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Training
As required under OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.134, ENVIRON
employees will be trained in the following:
 Required Respirator Use.
 Implementation of Medical Evaluation Protocol.
 Implementation of Fit Testing Procedures.
 Voluntary Respirator Use.
 Selection and Proper use of Respirators.
 Proper Cleaning and Maintenance Procedures for Respirators.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
When Are Respirators Required?
Respirators will be required by all
ENVIRON employees:
 When feasible engineering
controls can not be
implemented to control the
hazards.
 When exposures to respiratory
hazards exceed OSHA’s
permissible exposure limits.
 When monitoring has not been
performed in potentially
hazardous areas.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
ENVIRON’S Respiratory Program
Only employees who have received medical evaluations and have
been properly fit tested will be allowed to wear a respirator.
If a client requests that
an ENVIRON Facility
employee be prepared to
wear a respirator, then
the employee will be
offered a medical
evaluation and be fit
tested upon approval.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Medical Evaluations
A medical evaluation to determine the employee’s ability to use a
respirator must be performed prior to the issuance of a respirator.
The OSHA respirator
medical evaluation
questionnaire is found in
appendix C of the
standard 1910.134. To
maintain confidentiality,
the questionnaire must
be completed by a
licensed health care
provider and cannot be
reviewed by any
ENVIRON employee.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Respiratory Fit Testing Procedures
Respiratory Fit Testing determines if the
respirator properly fits the employee.
Fit Testing must be performed annually.
Written Fit Test records are maintained
by the local office HSC.
Employees must be
Fit Tested for the
exact make, model,
style and size
respirator they will
be using on the job.
Fit Testing must be
performed by a
trained professional
and can be either
quantitative or
qualitative.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Facial Hair Requirements
Respirator clearance will not be
given to any employee who has
facial hair, a beard, or long
sideburns sufficient to interfere
with the face-to-face piece seal.
Respirator clearance will
not be given to any
employee who cannot
attain a proper face-to-face
piece seal for any other
reason.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Voluntary Respirator Use
Respirator use is considered voluntary
when employee exposure is not above
an OSHA permissible exposure limit.
Employees may elect to wear respirators
for reasons of comfort or caution when
their use is not required by law.
Medical monitoring and Fit Testing is
required for voluntary use and will be
provided to any Facility employee who
requests it.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Employer Requirements for Voluntary
Respirator Use
ENVIRON must provide a written statement informing the
employee that the respirator can become a hazard if not used
correctly.
The user must undergo specific training in the proper use and
maintenance of the respirator.
Note: If the respirator being used
is only a dust mask and is being
used on a voluntary basis, a
written program is not required.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Respiratory Protection Selection Guidelines
Respirator selection should be based on considerations of risk to the
employee, as well as the employee’s comfort during respirator use.
Basic criteria to be followed when selecting respirators:

Nature and type (e.g. physical properties) of hazards to be
encountered.

Permissible exposure limits.

Concentration of hazardous materials.

Atmospheric conditions.

Time frame the respirator will be in use.

Limitations of the respirators and cartridges selected.
Note: The HSC is responsible
for selecting proper respirators
and prescribing cartridge
changing schedules.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Types of Respirators
Air Purifying Respirators (APRs)
Can be full face, half face and quarter face models based on
the contaminates present.
Combination chemical cartridges are most commonly used by
ENVIRON employees.
The full face respirator offers the
greatest level of respiratory and eye
protection and should be most
commonly worn by ENVIRON
employees.
Quarter face respirators will not be
used as often due to the limited
respiratory protection and lack of
eye protection.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Inspection of APR Respirators
 Visually inspect the entire unit.
 Check face-piece harness for
damage.
 Inspect all rubber elastic parts.
 Inspect the lens for damage or
excessive scratches.
 Pull off cover to exhalation
valve and inspect for damage.
 Take off cartridges and visually
inspect for damage.
 Check for lens covers to be in
place if applicable.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
 Check to ensure speaking
diaphragm ring is tight.
 Check that cartridges are
correct for the type of hazard.
 Don respirator and perform a
positive and a negative
pressure test.
 Keep records of all inspection
dates and findings.
 Replace respirator if parts are
damaged or missing.
Types of Respirators
Atmosphere Supplying Respirators:
Full-face supplied air respirators (SAR)
Self-contained breathing apparatus(SCBA)
Use extreme caution
when using SAR or
SCBA during subfreezing weather as
cold weather can
cause regulator
problems.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
Supplied air respirators are
required for working in
atmospheres where the
oxygen levels are below
19.5% or in any IDLH
atmosphere (immediately
dangerous to life and health)
or atmospheres containing
contaminates that do not
have adequate warning
properties, smell, or taste.
PROGRAM
Inspection of SCBAs and SARs
 Check cylinder for current
hydrostatic testing.

Complete the routine
inspection of face piece.
 Inspect cylinder for dents,
gouges, and unwrapping of
fiberglass wrap.

Complete appropriate records
with results and
recommendations.
 Inspect cylinder gauge for
damage.

SCBA’s and SAR’s will be
returned to the manufacturer
for repairs as needed.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Cleaning and Disinfecting Respirators


Respirators must be cleaned 
and disinfected after each use
and after each day of use.
Respirators should be
completely broken down and 
cleaned.
While in the field a prepackaged respirator wipe can
be used to clean and disinfect
the respirator.
When cleaning, care must be
taken not to damage or distort
the face-piece.
If gross contamination occurs,
a complete breakdown of the
respirator will be required.
Check the manufacturer’s
schematic display for the
proper breakdown procedures.
Only employees who have been
properly trained in this
procedure may break down a
respirator.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Maintenance and Repair of APRs
The replacement of parts and
the repair of the respiratory
apparatus will be performed
only by persons who are
properly trained and certified
in such techniques.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM
Substitution of parts from
one type of respirator to
another is strictly forbidden.
ENVIRON employees are not
authorized to do so.
Summary
The ENVIRON Respiratory Protection Program has been
designed primarily with Site personnel in mind. Remember
that respiratory protection is only required when
employees are exposed to respiratory hazards over the
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (if feasible engineering
controls can not be implemented to control hazard) or
when employees work in potentially hazardous areas
where monitoring has not been performed.
Only employees who have medical clearance and have
been fit-tested will be allowed to use a respirator.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION / E N V I R O N
H&S TRAINING
PROGRAM