Basic Respiratory Protection Safety Procedures

Only authorized and trained employees may use respirators. Those employees may use only the respirator that they have been trained on and properly fitted to use. 

Only physically qualified employees may be trained and authorized to use respirators. A preauthorization and annual certification by a qualified physician will be required and maintained. Any changes in an employee s health or physical characteristics will be reported to the occupational health department and will be evaluated by a qualified physician. 

Employees working in environments where a sudden release of a hazardous substance is likely must wear an appropriate respirator for that hazardous substance. Eor example, employees working in an ammonia compressor room would have an ammonia APR respirator on their person. 

Only SCBAs can be used in oxygen-deficient environments, or environments with an unknown hazardous substance, or unknown quantity of a known hazardous substance or any environment that is determined Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH). 

Employees with respirators loaned on permanent check-out must be responsible for their sanitation, proper storage, and security. Respirators damaged by normal wear must be repaired or replaced by the company when returned. 

Only the proper prescribed respirator or self-containing breathing apparatus (SCBA) may be used forthejob or work environment. Air cleansing respirators may be worn in work environments when oxygen levels are between 19.5 percent to 23.5 percent, and when the appropriate air cleansing canister, as determined by the manufacturer and approved by NIOSH or MSHA for the known hazardous substance is used. SCB As will be worn in oxygen deficient environment (below 19.5 percent oxygen). 

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