Respiratory Protection Programs

A written respiratory protection program is required when necessary to protect the health of the employee from workplace contaminants or when the employer requires the use of respirators. A limited written program is also required when respirators (other than dust masks) are being voluntarily worn by employees. This latest document states It is the intent of the standard that the employer would not be required to incur any costs associated with voluntary use of filtering facepieces other 

FIGURE 9-23. A worker in level B protection. Photo Courtesy 3M 

Compliance with the written program can be verified during the walkaround by personal observation and employee interviews. If respirators are required to be worn in the workplace or respirators other than dust masks are worn by voluntary users, a written program is required. An overexposure is not required to cite. Discrepancies between the written program and implemented work practices at the worksite should be cited. Use of a elastomeric or supplied-air respirator, even when voluntary on the part of the employee, will require the employer to include all elements in a written program that will make sure that there is proper use of these respirators so that they do not create a hazard. 

The employer is required to identify hazardous airborne contaminants that employees may inhale and make a reasonable estimate of employee exposure in determining the appropriate respirator for employees to use. Oxygen-deficient atmospheres and those atmospheres that are not or cannot be estimated should be treated as IDLH environments. 

OSHA has warned compliance personnel to use a great deal of professional judgment regarding mathematical approaches. OSHA believes that the results should incorporate reasonable safety factors and be interpreted conservatively. 

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Preparing a written respiratory protection program, if no written program exists, and appending the new or existing program to the HASP... 

Worker protection medical and respiratory protection programs, as applicable. 

Clothing Wear appropriate protective clothing to prevent skin exposure. Respirators A respiratory protection program that meets OSHA s 29 CER 1910.134 and ANSI Z88.2 requirements or European Standard EN 149 must be followed whenever workplace conditions warrant a respirator s use. 

If it is anticipated that responders will need the use of respirators while responding, a respiratory protection program must be developed in compliance with OSHA s regulations (29 CFR 1910.134). 

United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (1982) Technical Bulletin Occupational and Environmental Health Respiratory Protection Program, United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010. 

The employer shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a respiratory protection program. 

The respiratory protection program prescribed by OSHA contains provisions for the following ... 

Respiratory protection including selection of respirators on the basis of exposure to VCM concentrations from less than 10 ppm to above 3600 ppm, and establishment and maintenance of a respiratory protection program,... 

HSC PAM 40-2, June 83 TBMED 502, 15 Mar 82 TB MED 503, 1 Feb 85 TB MED 506, 15 Dec 81 TBMED 507, 25 Jul 80 TB MED 509, 24 Dec 86 Occupational Health Program Respiratory Protection Program Industrial Hygiene Program Occupational Vision Prevention, Treatment, and Control of Heat Injury Spirometry in Occupational Health Surveillance... 

Any other respirator used must go through a NIOSH approval process for equivalency. This process must be described in the facility s written respiratory protection program. 

Describe five topics of training under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration s (OSHA) respiratory protection program. 

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 ... 

The employer shall provide the PLHCP with a copy of the written respiratory protection program and a copy of this section. 

Normally,individuals withoutrespiratory protection should not work in such areas. Iffeasible, engineering practices should be used to eliminate the need for individual respiratory protective devices. The NRC in 10 CFR Part20, Subpart H, section 1703-1704, defines the procedures to be followed should a respiratory protection program be required. A discussion on the usage of respiratory protection will also be found in Chapter 6, Section I. 

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. 

Ifa laboratory is properly designed and operated,withadequateventilationandefficientfume hoods or other types of safety cabinets, additional respiratory protection normally will not be needed formostprocedures. However, in theevent ofan accident oran unusual operation which cannot be performed in ahood,orwhenworkingwithhighly toxic substances, laboratory persons working with toxic materials should be included in a respiratory protection program, managed by the institution or corporation. There are a few situations which should require the availability of respiratory protection immediately at hand. 

Respirators shall be pro videdby the employ erwhen such equipment is necessary to protect the health ofthe employee. The employer shall provide the respirators which are applicable and suitable for the purpose intended. The employer shall be responsible forthe establishment and maintenance of a respiratory protection program which shall include the requirements outlined in paragraph (c) of this section. 

The employer shall designate a program administrator who is quahfied by appropriate training or experience that is commensurate with the complexity of the program to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness. 

Program evaluation. This section requires the employer to conduct evaluations of the workplace to ensure that the written respiratory protection program is being properly implemented, and to consult employees to ensure that they are using the respirators properly. 

Nationally recognized instructors, Dr. Roy McKay of the University of Cincinnati and M.C. Townsend Associates offer attendees valuable respiratory protection training in one-and two-day courses. Designed for all levels of experience, these experts strive to teach current standards regulating respiratory protection, approved fit testing methods and correct techniques to administer and maintain a respiratory protection program. 

This article will help clarify a few main components of OSHA 1910.134 and serve as guidance and help you optimize your respiratory protection program. 

To ensure your respirator works as intended every time it is needed, respirators should be inspected before and after each use. Depending on your respiratory protection program, a user... 

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