RESPIRATORS: APR and SAR [BACK] GOTOMSA [NEXT] 

Key Elements of a Sound Respiratory Protection Program
The fundamental goal of any respiratory
protection program is to control occupational
diseases caused by breathing air contaminated
with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases,
smokes, sprays, and/or vapors. The defense
against these contaminants is simple: Keep
them out of the air that workers breathe. Always implement engineering and/or administrative controls first. If contaminants still present a hazard, you must provide appropriate respiratory protection for every employee who might be exposed to them.
MSA can help you take a comprehensive
approach to sound Respiratory Protection
practices. This guide will help you understand
the need for respirators, how they work, and
what their limitations are.This picture is soley the property of MSA Super Safety is a discount Reseller not authorized distributor.

OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health

Administration) and NIOSH (the National Institute of Safety and Health) regulations define all the specific requirements which must be followed, including the capabilities of appropriate respiratory protection. Employers must follow the requirements of these governmental regulations, both the general regulations which apply to all workplaces and the specific regulations for exposures in their particular industry, such as lead, silica dust, asbestos, and benzene.

A Written Respiratory ProtectionProgram

Administration

The first step in a respiratory protection program is to establish written standard operating procedures governing the selection and use of respirators.

Regular inspection and evaluation of the

program will ensure its continued effectiveness.

According to OSHA, a written program will help employers, employees, and compliance officersgauge the adequacy of a given program. When developing your written respiratory protection program, be sure to include the following elements, designated by 29 CFR Part 1910.134:

  

• Procedures for selecting respirators for use in

the workplace

• Fit-testing procedures for tightfitting respirators (including a signed copy of employees’ fit-test records)

• Procedures for proper use of respirators in

routine and emergency situations

• Procedures and schedules for cleaning,

disinfecting, storing, inspecting, and repairing

respirators

• Procedures to ensure adequate air quality,

quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmos-pheresupplying respirators

• Medical evaluations of employees required to

wear respirators

Employers must:

• Submit a written respiratory protection

program unless the choice of voluntary

respiratory protection is a filtering facepiece

(dust mask)

• Provide voluntary respirator users with

Appendix D (p. 1284) of the Standard

• Ensure that employees using a respirator

voluntarily have medical clearance

Employees must clean, store, and maintain the

respirator so that its use does not present a

health hazard.

 

Voluntary Respirator Use

An employer must provide respiratory protection for employees who ask for it or let employees use their own respiratory protection, if such respirator use will not create a hazard. Fit testing is not required for voluntary use.

If possible, one person should administer these

procedures, to ensure consistent coordination

and direction and optimum results. The actual

respiratory protection program itself for each

workplace depends upon many factors, and may require input from specialists such as safety personnel, industrial hygienists, health physicists and physicians.

 

Respiratory Hazards

Before a respiratory protection program is

initiated, it is important to first understand the

types of respiratory hazards inherent to your

industry. Of the three normally recognized ways

toxic materials can enter the body—through the

(1) gastrointestinal tract, (2) skin, and (3) lungs— the respiratory system presents the quickest and most direct avenue of entry. This is because of the respiratory system’s direct relationship with the circulatory system and the constant need to oxygenate tissue cells to sustain life.

The three basic classifications of respiratory

hazards are:

• oxygen-deficient air

• particulate contaminants;

• gas and vapor contaminants.

  

The 7 Key Elements

Chances are that you are already

familiar with the need for and use of

respirators in your workplace, but

as with anything else, it doesn’t hurt

to review your current program

against standard operating

procedures governing the selection

and use of respirators. According to

program details in OSHA’s

Respiratory Protection Standard

(29 CFR 1910.134), the seven key

elements that every respiratory

protection program should

contain are:

 

1. A written plan detailing how the

program will be administered

 

2. A complete assessment and

knowledge of respiratory

hazards that will be encountered

in the workplace

 

3. Procedures and equipment

to control respiratory hazards,

including the use of engineering

controls and work practices

designed to limit or reduce

employee exposures to such

hazards

 

4. Guidelines for the proper

selection of appropriate

respiratory protective

equipment

 

5. An employee training program

covering hazard recognition,

the dangers associated with

respiratory hazards, and proper

care and use of respiratory

protective equipment

 

6. Inspection, maintenance, and

repair of respiratory protective

equipment

 

7. Medical surveillance of

employees

Fax:(773) 538-8080

 Telephone: (800) 275-8239                        Website: www.supersafety.com     page 4