Respirator program

The employer is required to address in its written program the type of regular surveillance of the workplace necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the respirator program. Other items discussed in the standard include ... 

A written copy of the current respirator program shall be retained by the employer. 

Under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, only equipment listed and approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) may be used for respiratory protection. Also under the regulations, each site on which respiratory protective equipment is used must implement a respirator program (including training and medical certification) in compliance with OSHA s Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) see also ANSI standard Z88.2-1992, Practices for Respiratory Protection. 

A study that estimates the protection provided by a respirator within a specific respirator program. Like the Effective Protection Factor (EPF), it is focused not only on the respirator s performance, but also on the effectiveness of the complete respirator program. PPFs are affected by all factors of the program, including respirator selection and maintenance, user training and motivation, work activities, and program administration. See also Effective Protection Factor (EPF) Study. 

A study, conducted under actual conditions of use in the workplace, that measures the protection provided by a properly selected, fit-tested, and functioning respirator, when the respirator is worn correctly and used as part of a comprehensive respirator program that is in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Respiratory Protection Standard 29 CFR 1910.134. Measurements of Co and Ci are obtained only while the respirator is being worn during performance of normal work tasks (i.e., samples are not collected when the respirator is not being worn). As the degree of protection afforded by the respirator increases, the WPF increases. 

Respirator Use in Healthcare Workplaces—A Toolkit for Respirator Program Administrators was developed by the California Department of Public Health with funding from the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory. 

If there are documented comprehensive surveys, are they accompanied by a plan for systematic prevention or control of hazards found If there is a written plan, does it show that the best method of hazard protection was chosen Are there written safe work procedures If respirators are used, is there a written respirator program ... 

The company needs to retain written information regarding medical evaluations, fit testing, and the respirator program. This information will facilitate employee involvement in the respirator program, assist the company in auditing the adequacy of the program, and provide a record for compliance determinations by OSHA. 

A physician, supervisor, or the respirator program administrator should inform the company that an employee needs to be re-evaluated. 

Respirators can be used effectively and safely if the mandates of the regulation found in 29 CFR 1910.134 are followed. Employers should be certain that their respirator program is working effectively if their intent is to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses. 

Respirator program. The employer must Implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with 1910.134 (b) through (d) (except (d)(1)(iii)), and (f) through (m), which covers each employee required by this section to use a respirator. 

If there is no ESLI appropriate for conditions in the employer s workplace, the employer implements a change schedule for canisters and cartridges that is based on objective information or data that will ensure that canisters and cartridges are changed before the end of their service life. The employer shall describe in the respirator program the information and data relied upon and the basis for the canister... 

Respirator program. The employer must implement a respiratory protection program in... 

Safety officials must ensure that their organization s respiratory protection program complies with the elements covered in the sample program presented above, and they must also ensure that respirator program evaluations are also accomplished. Why Because 29 CFR 1910.134 requires regular inspection and evaluation of the respirator program to determine its continued effectiveness in protecting employees. Remember that periodic... 

Sample Respiratory Protection Evaluation Checklist Respirator Program Evaluation Checklist... 

In general, the respirator program should be evaluated for each job at least annually, with program adjustments made as appropriate to reflect the evaluation results. Program function can be separated into administration and operation. 

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