Transcript Respiratory Protection

Respiratory Protection
An Overview
Respiratory Protection
This presentation will cover the following:
• When respirators are needed
• Types of respirators and their limitations
• What you must do when respirators are required
• What you must do when respirators are optional
(worn voluntarily)
When Are Respirators Needed?
• In an oxygen-deficient atmosphere
• When chemical “Permissible Exposure
Limits” are exceeded
• When required by a pesticide label
• When you require it by company policy
Normally, an oxygen deficiency will only be found in a confined space or a major chemical leak
or spill.
Permissible exposure limits are covered in following slides.
There are only a few pesticides that have label requirements for respirators.
Some employers require their employees to wear respirators as a safety precaution even
though they may not be required by WISHA.
Oxygen Deficiency
Oxygen deficiency can occur in confined or enclosed
spaces, during fires or large chemical releases.
Normal air contains 21% oxygen. An area with
oxygen content below 19.5 % is considered “oxygen
deficient”.
Only a supplied air respirator can protect against the
effects of oxygen deficiency.
21%
21%
19.5%
8%
Immediate death
Oxygen content
Oxygen deficiency exists
0%
Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)
Toxic chemicals and dusts
Most chemicals and dusts have
limits in the air that will cause
adverse health effects if exceeded.
If airborne levels cannot be reduced
below these limits by other means,
respirators must be provided to
protect exposed employees.
There are about 600 chemicals with listed permissible exposure limits in WISHA regulations.
Most of these limits are based on 8-hour average exposures, but some have short-term
exposure limits based on 15 minute exposures. A few have ceiling limits, which can’t be
exceeded even for an instant. The limits are based on the levels at which harmful effects are
first know to occur.
Why Respirators Are the Last Choice
Respirators have major limitations:
 They can leak, wear out, or be the wrong kind
 They can be hot, uncomfortable and make it
hard to see or communicate
 They can be hard to breathe through
 They are easily removed in contaminated air
The first choice is to reduce chemical exposure by other means. Most people do not like
wearing respirators and may remove them to talk to another worker. Tight-fitting respirators
are especially susceptible to leaking.
How to Avoid Using Respirators
Use one or more of the following controls to
reduce exposure to airborne chemicals:
 Ventilation
 Dust suppression with water
 Eliminate use of chemical
 Substitute with a less toxic chemical
 Isolate or enclose the chemical processes
 Other processing changes
Respirators should be used only if these methods are
not feasible or don’t reduce exposure.
Types of Respirators
Air-purifying respirators – filters air through
cartridges or filtering facepieces (dust masks)
Powered air-purifying respirators – filters air
through cartridges with assistance of a blower.
Airline respirators – provides unlimited clean air
from a compressor.
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) –
provides 30- 60 minutes of clean air from a tank.
Escape respirators – provides air for escape only
from a small bottle.
Types of Air-purifying Respirators
Filtering facepiece (dust mask)
Full-face cartridge respirator
Half-face cartridge respirator
Powered air-purifying respirator
Air-Purifying Respirators
Air-purifying respirators trap air
contaminants in a cartridge or
filter when the wearer inhales.
Particulate respirators capture
dusts, mists and welding fumes.
Chemical cartridge respirators
capture gases and vapors.
Combination cartridges are
available.
These type of respirators have many limitations and restrictions and cannot be used
where air contaminant levels are extremely high or when there is an oxygen deficiency.
How Cartridge Respirators Work
Air inhaled in
Air inhaled in
Air exhaled out
This picture shows how air moves in and out of the respirator. The act of breathing creates a
negative pressure inside the mask, which is why these and dust masks are sometimes called
“negative pressure respirators”. If the mask does not fit properly along the edges,
contaminated air can enter during inhalation.
Air-purifying Respirator Limitations
Cartridges must be changed periodically
to provide protection.
The right cartridge for the contaminant
of concern must be chosen.
Air-purifying respirators provide
protection up to 10 or 100 times the PEL.
Will not provide adequate protection in
confined spaces, major leaks or spills or
for certain highly toxic chemicals.
Respirator Protection Factor
Half-face cartridge and dust
mask respirators only
provide protection to levels
10 times above the chemical
or dust permissible limit.
Example
Ammonia Permissible
Limit – 25 ppm
ppm = parts per million
Respirator Protection
Factor for ammonia –
250 ppm
Limits of Chemical Cartridges
Chemical cartridges can absorb only
so much chemical.
When their capacity is reached,
breakthrough will occur.
You can’t always tell if a respirator
leaks by a chemical odor.
Some chemicals have no odor, or can
only be smelled at high levels.
Breakthrough means the chemical goes through the cartridge into the facepiece. If a worker
smells the chemical with their respirator on, they will know it is not working. But if the chemical
has no odor, or it can only be detected at high levels above the permissible limit, they may not
know if your respirator is working properly. For these reasons, cartridges must be changed
regularly.
Supplied Air Respirators
Airline Respirator
SCBA
Clean air comes from a compressor or tank and provides
the highest protection to users.
Supplied air respirators can provide protection up to 1000 to 10,000 above the permissible
exposure limit, depending on the type of respirator. The two types of respirators shown here
have tight-fitting facepieces. Loose fitting respirators are also available.
Loose-fitting supplied air respirators
Hood
facepiece
Helmet
Full Body Suit
Air is supplied from these respirators by means of a hose from an air compressor. These are
the only type of respirators that do not require fit-testing. Their protection varies depending on
the type. The loose-fitting facepiece is the least protective of this type.
When Are Supplied-air Respirators Required?
 Oxygen deficiency
 High levels of toxic chemicals in the
air – above “IDLH” levels
 Other conditions of high levels of
highly toxic chemicals in the air
 Firefighting
Unlike air-purifying respirators (cartridge-type respirators or dust masks), supplied air
respirators provide a high degree of protection for the user in these life-threatening situations.
If air contaminant or oxygen levels are unknown and testing can’t be done in confined spaces,
emergency spills or leaks or at hazardous waste sites, it must assumed that IDLH levels are
exceeded and supplied air respirator must be worn. Assume the worst case, unless you have
evidence otherwise.
What is “IDLH”?
“IDLH” means immediately
dangerous to life or health
Most chemicals have a listed IDLH
level link to NIOSH IDLH Table
Oxygen deficiency is also IDLH
IDLH conditions can occur in
confined or enclosed spaces, large
chemical spills or leaks and fires
In most workplaces, IDLH conditions rarely occur. Confined spaces are the exception - IDLH
conditions are much more common in sewers or tanks where welding is done or which
contained chemicals or fuel.
Escape Respirators
Escape bottle attached to
airline respirator system
Carried escape respirator
These can’t be used for entry – going in a room to turn off a valve or make a repair. They only
contain 5-10 minutes supply of air, enough time to exit a room or building where there has been
a major chemical leak or spill, or when the supplied air respirator fails.
Air Quality for Supplied Air Respirators
Air for tanks or from compressors
must be “Grade D” air.
Tank air is purchased from vendors.
Compressors supply air for airline
respirators.
Compressor air must be equivalent
to Grade D air.
Low pressure compressors may not
provide adequate amount of air.
Link to Grade D air requirements
Construction & Plant Air Compressors
Use these compressors with caution
Be careful – these do not provide
clean air without a filter system!!
Oil-lubricated compressor are
especially hazardous. You must
test for carbon monoxide or have a
high temperature alarm.
Locate air intake away from engine
exhaust which can contaminate
breathing air.
Respirator Selection
One of the most important task is
selecting the correct respirator for
the hazard.
Knowledge of chemical identity,
extent of use, levels in the air and
permissible limits is needed.
You must conduct a workplace
hazard assessment – air sampling
may be necessary.
Personal air sampler
Respirator Selection
Conditions
IDLH conditions or oxygen
deficiency
Type of Respirator
SCBA or airline respirator with
escape bottle
Dust/chemical levels up to 1000 Airline respirator with full
times PEL
facepiece or hood
Dust/chemical levels up to 100
times PEL
Air-purifying respirator with full
facepiece
Dust/chemical levels up to 50
times PEL
Powered air purifying respirator
with half facepiece
Dust/chemical levels up to 10
times PEL
Air-purifying respirator with half
facepiece
Respirator Fit
Respirators Must Fit Properly
Fit-testing must be done before
first wearing a respirator.
Tight-fitting respirators must fit
properly to prevent leaks around
the edges.
Beards are not allowed when
wearing a tight-fitting respirator
because they will leak.
Respirator Fit-testing
Checking fit of respirator on individual employees
Required for all tight-fitting
respirators.
Four qualitative methods and
three quantitative – your choice.
Quantitative methods are more
accurate.
Fit-testing methods are covered
in detail in the Respirator Rule.
Link to fit-testing methods
Medical Evaluations
Medical evaluations are
required for anyone wearing
respirators.
Respirator use places a burden
on the body.
Respirators can be hazardous
to people with heart or lung
problems.
Air-purifying respirators restrict breathing, particularly during heavy exercise. They also can
add to heat stress in hot conditions. Tank-type respirators (SCBAs) are heavy. Airline
respirators and PAPRs are less of a burden to the body.
Medical Questionnaire
First step in medical evaluation is a
confidential medical questionnaire.
Employee completes it and sends it
directly to medical provider.
Medical provider decides if medical
exam needed.
The results are only used to
determine if respirators can be worn.
The information in this questionnaire and the medical exam can’t be shared with the employer.
An employer will only get a notice stating the employee can or cannot wear respirators.
Respirator cleaning & maintenance
Respirators must be cleaned,
inspected and maintained
regularly.
Respirator maintenance and
repair are essential for proper
functioning.
Store in a clean, dry place.
Don’t store like this!
Employee Training
Training is required for any
employee wearing respirators.
Training must cover why
respirators needed, their
limitations, how to clean and
maintain and how to use.
Hands-on training is
especially important for
emergencies and SCBA use.
Link to respirator training modules
What is required in a respirator program?
 Respirator program administrator
 Written procedures and records
 Proper respirator selection
 Medical evaluation of respirator users
 Fit-testing of respirators to each user
 Respirator maintenance, repair & storage
 Assured air quality for supplied-air respirators
 Employee training
Written Respirator Program
Prepared materials:
– from manufacturers
– From WISHA sample program
– Other boiler plate programs
Must be workplace-specific
Link to sample written respirator program
Much of your written program can be composed of compiled procedures from several
sources. But some procedures will need to reflect your specific workplace practices. Be
careful of “boiler plate” programs which may not describe your workplace’s selection
considerations or its specific emergency procedures. The purpose of a written procedure is
to get a specific, consistent outcome by giving instructions that can be applied in your actual
work area.
Voluntary Respirator Use
If you allow employees to wear respirators:
– Provide the mandatory handout,
– ensure safe use,
– provide medical evaluations
– ensure proper cleaning, storage and maintenance
Link to mandatory handout
These requirements apply to voluntary use of all respirators including dust masks. Fit-testing
is not required.
WISHA Respirator Regulations
Everything covered in this
presentation is required in these
regulations – WAC 296-842.
Link to respirator rule
Additional Information and Assistance
More information on respirators is available on the
WISHA webpage at:
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/AtoZ/RespProtection/default.asp
For additional assistance, you can call one of our
consultants. Click below for local L & I office
locations:
http://www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/consultation/regional_consultants.htm