Respirator selection

In both the air purifying and air supplied respirators, fresh air is provided from an uncontaminated external source. 

Once the appropriate respirator classifications have been identified, the next step in respiratory selection is to gather information concerning workplace conditions and characteristics of the environmental hazard. A certified industrial hygienist (CIH) should be called upon to conduct air sanq ling evaluations and to advise management on the program. 

OSHA has established the following eleven areas to consider in regard to respiratory selection  

The results of workplace sampling of airborne concentrations of contaminants 

Physical characteristics, functional capabilities, and limitations of respirators. 

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The NIOSH IDLH is defined by the NIOSH-OSHA Standard Completions Program only for the purpose of respirator selection and represents a maximum concentration from which, in the event of respiratory failure, one could escape within 30 min without experiencing any escape-impairing or irreversible health. 

M Occupational Health and Environmental Safety Division. The 3M 2005 Respirator Selection Guide. St Paul, MN 3M Inc., 2005. 

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentration (IDLHC The maximum exposure concentration from which one could escape widiin 30 minutes without any escape impairing symptoms or any irreversible health effects. This value should be referred to in respirator selection. Immobilization Threshold The minimal amount of a substance causing cessation of movement in a test organism when applied in a particular manner. 

Personnel protective equipment may be used in certain circumstances where exposure to airborne particulates contaminated with chemical carcinogens could occur. In those situations, personnel should be equipped with a complete clothing change, as well as respiratory protection selected on the basis of work performed, type of chemical used, and containment equipment. The respiratory protection may be a face mask, respirator [selected from those approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)] (4, 5), or emergency breathing air system. In the latter case, a head hood or a complete protective suit may be used with a breathing air supply system. Figure 2. 

The immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) air concentration values have been recommended by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as respirator selection criteria. The current NIOSH definition for an IDLH condition is a situation that poses a threat of exposure to airborne contaminants when that exposure is likely to cause death or immediate or delayed permanent adverse health effects or prevent escape from such an environment. NIOSH s stated purpose for establishing IDLH values is to ensure that the worker can escape from a given contaminated environment in the event of failure of the respiratory protection equipment. The complete introduction and documentations to the 398 existing IDLH values can be read or downloaded at the NIOSH Internet website. 

Bollinger N (2004) NIOSH Respirator Selection Logic 2004. US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-100. 

As described earlier, the immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) level is the maximum concentration of a substance to which one can be exposed for 30 min without irreversible health effects or death. A lethal level is the concentration at which death is almost certain to occur. The IDLH values were determined by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for the purpose of respirator selection. Respirators provide protection against the inhalation of toxic or harmful materials and may he necessary in certain hazardous situations. 

The maximum potential concentration of chemical contaminant should be used as the basis for respirator selection in the chemical warehouse. For accidental releases, where concentration cannot be predicted, a SCBA must be used. 

Recommendations for particulate respirators have been revised to incorporate Part 84 terminology. See Recommendations for Respirator Selection on page xiv for a more thorough explanation of these changes. 

All respirators selected must be approved by NIOSH under the provisions of 42 CFR 84. The current listing of NIOSH/MSIT certified respirators can be found in the NIOSH Certified Equipment List, which is available on the NIOSH Web site (http //www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/cel). 

The choice of facepiece depends on the level of protection needed - that is, the assigned protection factor (APF) needed. See Table 3 (page xx) for APFs of respirator classes, and see Reconunendations for Respirator Selection (page xiv) for more information. 

If the test subject correctly identifies the jar containing the odor test solution, the test subject may proceed to respirator selection and fit testing. 

After selecting, donning, and properly adjusting a respirator, the test subject shall wear it to the fit testing room. This room shall be separate from the room used for odor threshold screening and respirator selection, and shall be well-ventilated,as by an exhaust fan or lab hood, to prevent general room contamination. 

The test subject shall don the enclosure while wearing the respirator selected in Section I. A. of this appendix. The respirator shall be properly adjusted and equipped with a particulate filter(s). 

In addition to the the above parameters determining respirator selection, the following factors are also considered nature of operation process, location of hazardous area (especially in respect to supply of respirable air), employee activity and intensity of effort required to perform the work (determines the amount of air which must be supplied to lungs), physical characteristics and limitations of various respirators. 

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. 

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