Respirator program procedures

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 ... 

Are there written procedures or statements covering the various aspects of the respirator program, including ... 

Employers who allow their employees to wear respirators on a voluntary basis when not required by OSHA or the employer must implement limited provisions of a respiratory protection program. When a filtering face piece respirator is all that is used, the employee must be provided a copy of Appendix D. For all other voluntary users, an additional written respirator program that covers medical fitness and proper maintenance procedures must be implemented. 

As part of the written respirator program s worksite-specific procedures, the procedures that standby personnel will follow and whom they specifically need to notify in rescue situations must be specified. The employer s emergency response team may provide the necessary support, or other arrangements may have been made with local firefighting and emergency rescue personnel. 

An employer is allowed to choose the cleaning and disinfecting program the best meets the requirements of the standard and the particular circumstances of the workplace. In other words, the employer can have respirators cleaned and repaired in a centralized type operation where respirators are passed out to employees OR the employer may require the respirator user to handle all cleaning and respirator maintenance functions. What ever method the employer chooses, respirator cleaning, disinfection, and repair activities must be performed by employees who are adequately trained in the proper respirator care procedures. 

A comprehensive respirator program involves many regulatorily driven requirements and procedures. Some guidance on the implementation of a comprehensive program involves ... 

Written standard operating procedures Program evaluation procedures Respirator selection procedures Training program... 

According to Section 1910.134(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards in Title 29 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, an acceptable respiratory program must be instigated whenever respiratory health hazards are present in the work environment. The employer must develop formal written operational procedures covering every aspect of the program, including, for example, how contaminants are controlled, how contaminant concentration is measured, and how respirators are selected, used, cleaned, inspected, repaired, and stored. 

Where the use of respiratory protection is indicated, then the OSHA standard for respiratory protection in 29 CFR 1910.134(c) includes the statements (1) In any worlq)lace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with work site specific procedures.. .. The employer shall include in the program the following provisions...(ii) Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators and in 29CFR 1910.134(e) is the following ... 

Respirators will only be used following the respiratory protection safety procedures established in this program. The operation and use manual for each type of respirator must be maintained by the respiratory program administrator and be available to all qualified users. 

Your employer must also start a Respiratory Protection Program. This program must include written procedures for the proper selection, use, cleaning, storage, and maintenance of respirators. 

In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The... 

The employer is required to institute a medical surveillance program for all employees who are or will be exposed to EtO at or above the action level (0.5 ppm) for at least 30 days per year, without regard to respirator use. All examinations and procedures must be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician at a reasonable time and place for the employee and at no cost to the employee. 

OSHA states that no one should be assigned a task requiring use of respirators unless they are found medically fit to wear a respirator by competent medical authorities. The company s Respiratory Protection Program includes a medical surveillance procedure ... 

This written procedure is prepared for safe respirator use in IDLH atmospheres that may occur in normal operations or emergencies. All Company personnel covered under this program are to be familiar with these procedures and respirators. 

Are there written standard operating procedures for the selection and use of respirators where needed If you have a respirator protection program, are your employees instructed on the correct usage and limitations of the respirators ... 

All the worksite specific procedures and elements for required respirator use applicable to the particular worksite must be in writing. However, paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of the standard makes clear that the written program need not address those employees who are not required to use respirators, but who voluntarily wear filtering facepiece respirators. 

Describe the medical surveillance program. The purpose of medical surveillance is to determine if an individual can be exposed to Cr(VI) at his or her workplace without experiencing adverse health effects to identify Cr(VI)-related adverse health effects when they do occur so that appropriate intervention measures can be taken and to determine a worker s fitness to use personal protective equipment such as respirators. All medical examinations and procedures required by the standards must be performed by or under the supervision of a physician or other licensed healthcare professional (PLHCP). When medical surveillance is required it must be provided at no... 

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