Protection respiratory

Respirators are personal protection equipment of category III according to the European directive 89/686/EEC, and are for use against irreversible or lethal health risks [6-54]. According to the European directive 98/24/EC [6-5], similarly to other types of personal protective equipment, the use of respirators is not allowed 

Depending on how the air is suppHed, respiratory devices are divided into filtering devices or ambient air-independent devices (see Fig. 6.27). The latter comprise suppUed-air respirators and self-contained breathing apparatus, both of which are used in an oxygen-defident atmosphere. 

In order to achieve maximum protection, the respirators normally consist of masks having connectors for filters or external air supply. Several types of masks are available, differing in sealing properties, personal comfort, and general protective performance  

Respiratory protective helmet Respiratory protective suit  

Full-face masks (Fig. 6.28) include protection of the eyes, as they completely enclose the face. They are excellently suitable for use with ambient air-indep en-dent respiratory devices. Because the sealing line runs from the forehead, over the cheeks, and down below the chin, leak problems may occur with persons with a beard. This could be a prohibiting factor for this group of persons. The 

In the respiratory protection program, hazard assessment and selection of proper respiratory PPE is conducted in the same manner as for other types of PPE. To control those occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful 

Management must develop a respiratory program, then implement it and ensure that workers follow its requirements. OSHA requires that voluntary use of respirators, when not required by the company, must be controlled as strictly as under required circumstances. To prevent violations of the Respiratory Protection Standard, employees are not allowed voluntary use of their own or company-supplied respirators of any type. The exception is employees whose only use of respirators involves the voluntary use of filtering (nonsealing) face pieces (dust masks). 

Evaluations of the workplace are necessary to ensure that the written respiratory protection program is being properly implemented. This includes consulting with employees to ensure that they are using the respirators properly. Evaluations must be conducted as necessary to ensure that the provisions of the current written program are being effectively implemented and that it continues to be effective. 

Program evaluation includes discussions with employees required to use respirators to assess the employees views on program effectiveness and to identify any problems. Any problems that are identified during this assessment must be corrected. Factors to be assessed include, but are not limited to 

Respirator fit (including the ability to use the respirator without interfering with effective workplace performance) 

Management must develop a respiratory program then implement it and ensure that workers follow its requirements. OSHA requires that volimtary use of 

2 Appropriate respirator selection for the hazards to which the employee is exposed. 

The need for respirators in a warehouse setting may be minimal. Job processes in warehousing usually do not involve those same respiratory hazards that exist in manufacturing or construction. However, there may be occasions where respirators will be needed to fully protect the health of the worker. These situations could include  

Most likely a warehouse worker would not wear a respirator on a daily basis. If a contaminant is in the air, then management must provide a means for substituting to a less toxic substance, reducing the amount of contaminant, completely stopping the use of the contaminant, or providing respiratory protection. Respirators should only be worn where a hazard exists. To determine the potential exposure to a hazard, air monitoring equipment is needed. Properly selected and correctly used instruments can measure the air for 

If you have any of the following hazards and you cannot prevent atmospheric contamination, you are required under 1910.134 to have a written respiratory program that accounts for  

Presence of harmful dust Fogs Fumes Mists Gases Smokes Sprays Vapors 

Of course, lack of oxygen or the necessity of respirator use to protect the health of the employee will mean the company must maintain a worksite-specific program consisting of the following  

A suitably trained program administrator must administer the respiratory program. Employers are not required to include in the written program employees whose only use of respirators involves the voluntary use of dust masks. The employer s responsibilities include providing respirators, training, and medical evaluations at no cost to the employee. 

Respirators are diseussed in 29 CFR 1910.134. The standard was reeently revised and is more eomprehensive by far than the older version of the standard. OSHA has plaeed a renewed emphasis on respiratory proteetion programs. As we diseuss this relatively new standard, we inelude some figures of respiratory proteetion eurrently available. 

FIGURE 9-12. A half-mask respirator. Photo Courtesy 3M 

FIGURE 9-14. A full-face APR with cartridges attached. Photo Courtesy 3M 

FIGURE 9-15. A worker modeling level Cprotection. Photo Courtesy 3M 

FIGURE 9-16. A view of a full-face APR. Photo Courtesy 3M 

Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) levels are the ceiling limit for respirators other than SCBAs. Any exposures approaching the IDLH level should be regarded with extreme caution and the use of SCBAs for respiratory protection should be considered. 

The lung has two separate blood supplies one for the pulmonary circulation and the other for bronchial 

Figfure 21. Rib cage movement during the breathing cycle. 

However, no matter how hard a person might try, he cannot expel all the air fh)m his lungs. A residual volume of 1-1.5 liters will remain always. Later, we will examine specific lung terminology, as modified by the physician, to measure the performance of the lung during the pulmonary function testing. 

Respiratory rate is the number of breathing cycles in one minute. A normal rate would be between 10-20 cpm. Respiratory minute volume (RMV) is the total volume of air moved in and out of the lungs in one minute. It is computed by multiplying the tidal volume by the respiratory rate, RMV ranges from about 6 1/min to more than 100 1/min. 

Inspiratory reserve volume measures the amount of air that can be added to the lungs forcibly after taking a normal breath. Similarly, expiratory reserve is the amount of air that can be expelled forcibly after a normal expiration. Vital capacity = inspiratory reserve volume + expiratory reserve. 

Respirators as part of a routine operation should only be considered when other controls are infeasible or insufficient. Key elements of a respirator program include  

The elements of agood respirator program are contained in Refs. BOSS. They should be consulted for additional program details. 

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

Evaluate the materials in use, exposure parameters, and IH data to define appropriate equipment. 

Identify persons who are required to wear respiratory protection, and ensure they are properly trained and maintain current certification. 

Whilst every effort should be made to minimize the risk of lead emissions during the recycling process, it is prudent to ensure that operating personnel are suitably equipped with the appropriate respirators in the event of fugitive emissions or ventilation system failure. Personnel working in hot-metal areas should wear an airstream helmet (Fig. 16.12), because it also provides a full face mask to protect against metal and slag splashes. Airstream helmets have a battery-powered motor 

For those personnel working in low risk areas, the use of a paper comfort mask should be strongly discouraged. These masks do not provide a good seal around the mouth and nose and do not conform to the standards required for protection from lead-in-air. As a minimum standard, only those paper masks specifically designed for particulates and welding (with neoprene face seals and adjustable nose clips) 

Upon completion of this chapter the student should be able to  

The air, dust, and fumes some workers breathe at work can make them sick, plus it creates a sickening bottom line for employers. Lung diseases and respiratory illnesses can range from the common cold to lung cancer, asthma, allergies, and pneumonia. The cost 

In the control of those occupational diseases caused by articulates (dust/mist/fumes) or gases/vapors, the primary objective is to prevent atmospheric contamination. This is accomplished, as far as possible, by accepted engineering controls, such as enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials. When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators should be worn. 

Provide the respirator that is applicable and suitable for the purpose intended. Establishment and maintenance of a written respiratory protection program to include the requirement outline in 29 CFR 1910.134. 

The employees should use the provided respiratory protection in accordance with instructions and training received. 

Respirator should be selected on the basis of hazard to which the worker is exposed. 

The user should be instructed and trained in the proper use of respirators and their limitations. 

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Full eye protection should be worn whenever handling acryhc monomers contact lenses must never be worn. Prolonged exposure to Hquid or vapor can result in permanent eye damage or blindness. Excessive exposure to vapors causes nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness or drowsiness (solvent narcosis). Overexposure may cause central nervous system depression. Both proper respiratory protection and good ventilation are necessary wherever the possibiHty of high vapor concentration arises. 

Personnel involved in the handling of methanol require eye and skin protection from the irritating properties of methanol in the event of a spill. Contact lenses should not be worn, since plastic lens materials may absorb and concentrate methanol against the eye. Additional respiratory protection is not required with adequate local explosion-proof ventilation. 

Nickel carbonyl should be used in totally enclosed systems or under good local exhaust. Plants and laboratories where nickel carbonyl is used should make use of air-monitoring devices, alarms should be present in case of accidental leakage, and appropriate personal respiratory protective devices should be readily available for emergency uses. Monitoring of urinary nickel levels is useful to help determine the severity of exposure and identify appropriate treatment measures. Some large-scale users of nickel carbonyl maintain a supply of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, or Antabuse, a therapeutic agent, on hand for use in case of overexposure. 

Current OSHA standards specify the threshold limit value (TLV) 8-h exposure to ammonia as 50 ppm (35 mg/m ). However, the ACGIH recommends a TLV of 25 ppm (96). Respiratory protection should be provided for workers exposed to ammonia. Protective clothing such as mbber aprons, boots, gloves, and goggles should be worn when handling ammonia. 

NIOSH/MSHA-approved respiratory protection devices should be used. For skin protection, use of protective garments and gloves of Viton, Nitrile, or PVA constmction should be made. The acute effects of overexposure to styrene are shown in Table 6 (74). 

Detection of Bromine Vapor. Bromine vapor in air can be monitored by using an oxidant monitor instmment that sounds an alarm when a certain level is reached. An oxidant monitor operates on an amperometric principle. The bromine oxidizes potassium iodide in solution, producing an electrical output by depolarizing one sensor electrode. Detector tubes, usefiil for determining the level of respiratory protection required, contain (9-toluidine that produces a yellow-orange stain when reacted with bromine. These tubes and sample pumps are available through safety supply companies (54). The usefiil concentration range is 0.2—30 ppm. 

American National Standard Practicesfor Respiratory Protection, National Standards Institute, Inc., New York, 1989. 

Replacement of fabric, possibly requiring respiratory protection for maintenance personnel... 

Does the toller rely upon respiratory protective equipment to maintain employee exposures below applicable occupational exposure limits If so, for what materials Explain. 

Figure 5.3 COSHH assessment procedure PPE = Personal Protective Equipment RPE = Respiratory Protective Equipment...

Provide suitable respiratory protective equipment and ensure that it is used properly. 

Provide separate storage areas for any protective clothing and respiratory protective equipment required, and for personal clothing. 

Eirst-aid measures for people exposed to nitrogen dioxide are mentioned in Chapter 9. In any event, containment, ventilation and/or appropriate respiratory protection should be considered depending upon scale of operation and level of exposure. 

Depending on scale of operation, use impervious rubber gloves, eye protection (glasses/goggles/face shield), rubber aprons, boots, armlets, protective suits Provide respiratory protection against gases/dusts/fumes Provide shower and eyewash facilities... 

A good standard of personal hygiene, i.e. washing hands before eating, and showering or bathing at the end of work. Maintaining overalls and respiratory protection in a clean state. 

Limitation of the use of respiratory protection to those situations where control of exposure by inhalation cannot be controlled by other means. 

Showers and eye-wash facilities and respiratory protection should be conveniently located for emergencies. 

The British Standard also uses the Assigned Protection Eactor, i.e. tlie level of respiratory protection that can realistically be expected to be achieved in the workplace by 95% of adequately trained and supervised workers, using a properly functioning and correctly fitted respiratory protective device (see Table 13.9)... 

All respiratory protective systems should be stored in clean, dry conditions but be readily accessible. They should be inspected and cleaned regularly, with particular attention to facepiece seals, nonreturn valves, harnesses etc. Issue on a personal basis is essential for regular use otherwise the equipment should be returned to a central position. Records are required of location, date of issue, estimated duration of use of canisters etc. 

Guidance on the choice of respiratory protection for selected environments is given in Figure 13.6. All persons liable to use such protection should be fully trained this should cover details of hazards, limitations of apparatus, inspection, proper fitting of facepiece, testing, cleaning etc. 

Respiratory protective equipment for use against asbestos Momtonng strategies for toxic substances Carbon monoxide... 

HS(G)53 Respiratory protective equipment. A practical guide for users... 

Asbestos dust kills - keep your mask on - guidance for employees on wearing respiratory protective equipment for work with asbestos (superseded by 1999 version)... 

IND(G)288 Selection of suitable respiratory protective equipment for work with asbestos... 

Selection of respiratory protective equipment suitable for use with wood dust... 

Withdrawn) 1990 Eull face masks for respiratory protective devices. Withdrawn, superseded by BS EN 136 1998... 

Withdrawn) 1990 AMD 1 Half masks and quarter masks for respiratory protective devices (AMD 7113) dated 15 November 1992. Withdrawn, superseded by BS EN 140 1999 Guide to the use of electrical apparatus complying with BS 5501 or BS 6491 m the presence of combustible dusts... 

Respiratory protective devices - Definitions of terms and pictograms. Superseded BS 6927 1988... 

Respiratory protective devices - Classification superseded BS 6928 1988 Respiratory protective devices - List of equivalent terms. Supersedes BS 6930 1988 Respiratory protective devices - Full face masks - Requirements, testing, marking. Supersedes BS EN 136-10 1992 and BS 7355 1990... 

AMD 1 Respiratory protective devices self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus (AMD 8167J dated 15 May 1994. Supersedes BS 7004 1988 and BS 4667 Part 2 1974... 

AMD 2 Respiratory protective devices - Compressed air line breathing apparatus for use with a full face mask, half mask or a mouthpiece assembly - Requirements, testing, marking (AMD 10774J dated Januai-y 2000. With BS EN 138, BS EN 269 and BS EN 270, superseded BS 4667-3 1974... 

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