Respiratory protection: airborne

Respiratory protective equipment for use against airborne radioactivity... 

EH53 Respiratory protective equipment against airborne radioactivity. 

Level C protection should be selected when the type of airborne substance(s) is known, concentration is measured, criteria for using air-purifying respirators are met, and skin and eye exposure are unlikely. It involves a full face piece, air-purifying, canister-equipped respirator and chemical-resistant clothing. This level of protection provides the same degree of skin protection as Level B, but a lower level of respiratory protection. 

Airborne Precautions Standard Precautions plus Place the patient in a private room that has negative air pressure, at least six air changes/hour, and appropriate filtration of air before it is discharged from the room. Use respiratory protection when entering the room. Limit movement and transport of the patient, and use a mask on the patient if they need to be moved. 

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. 

Respiratory protection Approved respiratory equipment must be used when airborne concentrations are unknown or exceed the exposure limits. When processing large amounts use a light duty... 

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. 

IDLH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health levels indicate that exposure to the listed concentrations of airborne contaminants is likely to cause death, immediate or delayed permanent adverse health effects, or prevent escape from the contaminated environment. IDLH levels are established to ensure that the worker can escape from the contaminated environment in the event of a failure of respiratory protection. An indication of "10% LEL" indicates that, for safety considerations, the IDLH was based on an atmospheric concentration of ten percent of the lower explosive limit even though toxicological impacts might not appear until higher concentrations are reached. 

In 1996, there were 25,000 workers employed in 75-100 domestic wood treatment plants using coal tar creosote. As a result of the use of engineering controls and personal protective equipment (e.g., respiratory protection and impervious gloves) required in the 1986 settlement of the EPA Special Review process,1 airborne exposures to creosote components in the workplace are generally below the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.2 mg benzene soluble particulates perm3 air (Rivers 1990). 

PERSONAL PROTECTION wear impervious protective clothing, including boots, chemical-resistant gloves, lab coat, apron, sleeves, or body-covering coveralls wear dust-proof safety goggles enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation to keep airborne concentration below limits utilize approved respiratory protection for nuisance dust maintain eyewash baths and safety showers in work area. 

NFPA 471 Chapter 7, has additional details on personal protective equipment requirements including four levels protection A - when highest level of respiratory, skin, and eye protection is required B - when the highest respiratory protection is reqrrired, but lesser skin protection is needed C - when the concentration of airborne contaminants is known and air pmifying respirators are reqrrired D - when only nuisance contamination exists. Note There are nttmerous other NFPA reqrrirements for PPE, many of which are cited in NFPA 471, Chapter 7. 

Recommended when the airborne particles of a substance can be harmful to health the choice of respirator depends on the type of substance and the working conditions. For details see Supplementary Information, Respiratory protection. The respirator listed on the sheet is to be worn when (i) the ambient air contains a minimum of 19% oxygen and is free from toxic gases, and (ii) considerable freedom of movement is required (i.e. not in emergency situations). 

Safety professionals should also be aware that OSHA has announced an airborne infectious disease rule that may impact a substantial number of workplaces. This proposed rule is modeled after the Cal-OSHA aerosol transmissible disease rule, which required respiratory protection, fit testing, disease exposure control plans, medical surveillance, and communication procedures, among other requirements. 

Lead dust or fiime in the workplace atmosphere should, in so far as possible, be controlled to levels within the legal limits by means of effective exhaust ventilation coupled with suitable arrestment facilities. In situations where exposure cannot be adequately controlled by these means, the use of respiratory protective equipment on the part of the workers becomes necessary. Indeed as blood lead limits become lower, the wearing of respirators has become routine in many plants, not just to protect the worker from airborne lead but because it has the added advantage of preventing hand-mouth contact and consequent ingestion of lead. 

RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED - Wherever airborne pollutants are present which exceed the PELs estabhshed by OSHA, respiratory protection is required (see Figure 4.10). In many cases, AGGIH threshold limit values (TLVs) are lower than the OSHA PELs and respiratory protection is recommended when the levels approach these lower limits. It is recommended that in most cases an action level of half or less of the TLV values be set to accommodate in part the different sensitivity of individuals to materials. 

Iffora valid reason, full control of the levels of airborne contaminants cannot be maintained within the legal limits, it is permissible to userespiratory protectionundersome conditions. These are found in the current Part 20, Subpart H in Section 20.1703 and in Appendix A to Part 20. A key provision in 20.1703(a)(3) is for the licensee to have a formal written respiratory protection program. 

Supplement the protection provided by the fume hood with the use of respiratory protection, if needed, to achieve compliance with airborne concentration limits. 

Employee exposure means exposure to a concentration ofan airborne contaminant that would occur if the employee were not using respiratory protection. 

In the Finnish printing ink plants, the combined solvent levels were still in the 1980 s often out of compliance when compared to the OELs. Significant airborne concentrations were observed for toluene, ethyl acetate (TLV 400 ppm, the Finnish OEL 300 ppm), aromatic solvent naphtha (the Finnish OEL 240 mg/m ), and acetone (TLV and the Finnish OEL 500 ppm). The cleaning of vessels of barrels was again an especially problematic task. If cleaning is done manually, it is difficult to control the exposure sufficiently well with local ventilation but respiratory protection is also needed. 

In the event of a spUl, sweep up dry lead and its compounds, soak up solutions with a spUl pillow or absorbent material, place in an appropriate container, and dispose of properly. Respiratory protection may be necessary in the event of a large spUl or release causing significant airborne particulate levels. 

Respiratory protection is the most critical aspect of all protective clothing. The most common exposure route is the respiratory system. Most chemical agents are dispersed as an aerosol vapor or, in the case of biological or radiological agents, as small particles suspended in an aerosol. The atmosphere at explosion scenes will be very dusty (fine airborne particles). Working at an explosion scene requires respiratory protection, as this dust may contain asbestos or other toxic materials. 

Respiratory protection Devices that will protect the wearer s respiratory system from overexposure by inhalation to airborne contaminants. Respiratory protection is used when a worker must work in an area where he/she might be exposed to concentration in excess of the allowable exposure limit. 

The OSHA standard requires employers to provide initial and annual training to all anployees exposed to an airborne concentration of lead of 30 pg/m averaged over an 8 h period. In some old facilities, exposure can come from lead-based paint or lead-soldered pipe connections. Construction and renovation projects can release lead particles into the air. Hospital departments of nuclear medicine use lead molds in patient treatment. Organizations must confine lead to a specific area. Decontamination and shower facilities should be provided to keep lead from being tracked to other areas. Provide respiratory protection and protective clothing wherever there is known exposure potential. 

Respirators prevent the inhalation of harmful airborne substances and provide fresh air in oxygen-deficient environments. An effective respiratory protection plan must address the following (1) hazards encountered, (2) type and degree of protection needed, (3) medical evaluation for respirator usage, (4) selection and fit requirements, (5) training on use and care, and (6) methods to ensure continued effectiveness. 

Whenever respirators are used, their use must comply with 1926.103 — Respiratory protection. Various airborne contaminants in Appendix A of 1926.55 do not list PELs but instead send you to another portion of the construction regulations. These contaminants are called OSHA specific contaminants. Examples are Asbestos ( 1926.1101), alpha-Naphthylamine ( 1926.1104), and lead ( 1926.62). There are approximately 27 of these substances. These OSHA specific contaminants have their own PELs and specific requirements. When you are required to use respirators in construction, then all requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134 for general industry apply. 

Some common types of personal protection equipment are eye and face protection for hazardous liquids and respiratory protection for airborne contaminants. Protection for some hazardous materials may involve other clothing, protective creams and lotions for skin. Infrequent activities, such as maintenance or spill cleanup tasks, may require full suits and air supply equipment. 

All these safety measures must be taken in addition to the standard protective measures deployed in any chemical laboratory lab coats or overalls, gloves and footwear, eye and face protection and respiratory protection. Contamination of surfaces must be avoided and control of airborne contaminants must be practiced (Perkin-EImer n.d.). 

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