Respiratory Protection and the Worker Protection Standard Stan Thomas/ Oregon OSHA Health Enforcement Manager Agriculture Health Program Manager Agency Liaison – Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot

How does the application of respiratory protection affect Agriculture? How do I select the proper respirator? What are the elements of a respirator program? Where do I go for help?

How does the application of respiratory protection affect Agriculture? How do I select the proper respirator? Selection What are the elements of a respirator program? Where do I go for help?

Only applies if required by the label Requirements are normally found in the Personal Protective Equipment section and Crop specific information Other states may have specific regulations Respirators may be required for other tasks such as welding, grinding, painting Respirator selection requires knowledge of the exposure characteristics

How does the application of respirator protection affect Agriculture? How do I select the proper respirator? Selection What are the elements of a respirator program? Where do I go for help?

Air Purifying Respirators Air Supplying Respirators

All respirators must conform to NIOSH certification All Respirators must be maintained to the level of the NIOSH certification Altering respirator voids NIOSH Certification

Approximately 300 NIOSH respirator certifications are issued each year 90 manufacturers 102 manufacturing sites 18 countries

Follow the label Type of application Fumigation Air blaster Green house Identify location Inside vs outside The respirator user Beards Size Facial structure Glasses Dont forget government inspectors!!

Two primary types of filtering media Dusts and Mists Gases and vapors

What do these numbers mean? N ~ Not resistant to oil R ~ Oil resistant P ~ Oil Proof 95, 99 or 100 (99.97) Filter efficiency NOT EFFICIENT!!!!! NOT NIOSH APPROVED!!!!!!

QUIZ!!!!!

NO!!!!!!! QUIZ!!!!!

Ref

Determined by multiplying the assigned protection fact by the OSHA permissible exposure level Example: Exposure to unregulated dusts (PNOR) OSHA PEL = 10 mg/m3 ½ face Air Purifying Respirator (APR) = Assigned Protection Factor (APF) = 10 Maximum Use Concentration (MUC) of 100 mg/m3

How does the application of respirator protection affect Agriculture? How do I select the proper respirator? Selection What are the elements of a respiratory protection program? Where do I go for help?

Select a program administrator Choose the correct respirators Provide medical evaluations Fit test employees to selected respirators Training on how to use respirators properly Cleaning and maintenance Cartridge change out schedules Periodic program review

Medical Evaluations Questionnaire (confidential) Reviewed by an Occupational Medical Practitioner Possible follow up examinations Fit Testing Protocols described in Appendix A 29CFR Two Types of fit testing Qualitative Quantitative User Fit Check

Appendix B-2 Cleaning Procedures Sole user - cleaned as necessary When Respirators are shared – after each use Respirator inspection/replacement Stored in a clean, sealed container Stored with cartridges?

Cartridges need to be change when an employee experiences Breakthrough Smell Taste According to manufacture guidelines End of work shift Time of spraying operations not end of day Only when respirators are required By the label

How does the application of respirator protection affect Agriculture? How do I select the proper respirator? Selection What are the elements of a respirator program? Where do I go for help?

NIOSH/NASD – National Ag Safety Database CDMS – Crop Data Management System NPIC – National Pesticide Information Center Oregon OSHA Publications

Kim Faulkner, PhD, MPH NIOSH/NPPTL

Fact Sheets in English, Spanish And Russian

Stan Thomas Oregon OSHA Salem, Oregon