1. Respiratory Protection Program
29 CFR

2. Respiratory Protection Program
When respiratory protection is necessary
Definitions for Respirators
Requirements to be included in program
Categories of respiratory equipment
Selection & use – different types of respirators
Inspection, maintenance & storage
Shared Responsibilities
Fit testing & Training

3. When Respiratory Protection is Necessary
Exposed to inhalation hazards
Oxygen level below 19.5%
Cleaning bodily fluids, animal carcasses, nests, feces, or contaminated dusts
When MSDS requires protection
Employee voluntarily wears respirator
Inhalation hazards:
Which equal or exceed one-half the permissible exposure level (PEL) or
One-half the ACGIH threshold limit value (TLV)
Whichever is smaller
i.e.: welding fumes
When Asphyxiant reduces oxygen level
Voluntary use requires the employer to give a copy of Appendix D – which is mandatory information for employees using respirators when not required under the Standard and includes a list of precautions to be sure the respirator itself does not present a hazard.

4. Voluntary and Mandatory Use
Voluntary use – less than 50% PEL or TLV, whichever is smaller.
Mandatory use –50% or more PEL or TLV, whichever is smaller or when oxygen levels fall below 19.5% or exceed 23 %

5. Requirements to be included in program
Medical evaluation
Complete Questionnaire
Licensed Healthcare Professional
Follow-up medical exam for any positive response to questionnaire
All medical evaluations must be made confidentially
Employees must be allowed to discuss the questionnaire with the physician
Fit tests must be performed:
Before first use
Annually
Any time physical condition changes, i.e.: facial scarring, dental changes, change in weight
Facial hair must be removed while fit-testing
Beards, mush stashes, etc. need to be cleanly shaven before fit testing is performed
Additional Information
-Medical evaluation. Using a respirator may place a physiological burden on employees that varies with the type of respirator worn, the job and workplace conditions in which the respirator is used, and the medical status of the employee.
-The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.
-The employer shall identify a physician or other licensed health care professional to perform medical evaluations using a medical questionnaire or an initial medical examination that obtains the same information as the medical questionnaire
-The medical questionnaire and examinations shall be administered confidentially during the employee's normal working hours or at a time and place convenient to the employee. The medical questionnaire shall be administered in a manner that ensures that the employee understands its content
Fit Testing
-Before an employee may be required to use any respirator with a negative or positive pressure tight-fitting face piece, the employee must be fit tested with the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used. This paragraph specifies the kinds of fit tests allowed, the procedures for conducting them, and how the results of the fit tests must be used.
-The employer shall ensure that employees using a tight-fitting face piece respirator pass an appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT) as stated in this paragraph.

6. Categories of Respiratory Equipment
Air purifying respirators
Gas and vapor
Particulate
Combination
Air supplying respirators
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
Airline respirator
Additional Information
-Air-purifying respirator means a respirator with an air-purifying filter, cartridge, or canister that removes specific air contaminants by passing ambient air through the air-purifying element. -Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) means an atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the breathing air source is designed to be carried by the user.
-Supplied-air respirator (SAR) or airline respirator means an atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the source of breathing air is not designed to be carried by the user.

7. Selection & Use
The selection of a respirator includes consideration of the following:
Respirator types
Use of NIOSH-approved respirators only
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Atmospheres (IDLH)
Warning Properties
Eye irritants

8. Selection & Use Respirator Types
Air purifying, Negative Pressure
Disposable: These respirators have two straps and protect against airborne particles and can also be used for welding fumes. They may not be used for asbestos.
Additional Information
-Disposable respirators are only to be used once then discarded.
-Negative pressure respirator (tight fitting) means a respirator in which the air pressure inside the face piece is negative during inhalation with respect to the ambient air pressure outside the respirator.

9. Selection & Use Respirator Types
Air purifying, Negative Pressure
Non disposable: These respirators use various cartridges/filters to filter out particulates, gases, and vapors. The type of cartridge/filter will depend on the air contaminate.
Additional Information
-Cartridges and filters of respirators should be replaced after each individual use

10. Selection & Use Respirator Types
Air purifying, Positive Pressure
Supplied Air Respirators: Include airline respirators that receive breathing air from an air hose which is connected to a cylinder or a series of grade D breathing air cylinders. These respirators provide clean air when there is inadequate oxygen or when working in highly contaminated areas.
Additional Information
-Positive pressure respirator means a respirator in which the pressure inside the respiratory inlet covering exceeds the ambient air pressure outside the respirator.

11. Selection & Use Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Atmospheres
IDLH situations are those in which:
an atmospheric concentration of any toxic, corrosive or asphyxiate substance poses an immediate threat to life, or
would cause irreversible or delayed adverse health effects, or
would interfere with an individual’s ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere.
Additional Information
--Procedures for IDLH atmospheres. For all IDLH atmospheres, the employer shall ensure that:
-One employee or, when needed, more than one employee is located outside the IDLH atmosphere
-Visual, voice, or signal line communication is maintained between the employee(s) in the IDLH atmosphere and the employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere
-The employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere are trained and equipped to provide effective emergency rescue
-The employer or designee is notified before the employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere enter the IDLH atmosphere to provide emergency rescue
-The employer or designee authorized to do so by the employer, once notified, provides necessary assistance appropriate to the situation
-Employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmospheres are equipped with:
-Pressure demand or other positive pressure SCBAs, or a pressure demand or other positive pressure supplied-air respirator with auxiliary SCBA
-Appropriate retrieval equipment for removing the employee(s) who enter(s) these hazardous atmospheres where retrieval equipment would contribute to the rescue of the employee(s) and would not increase the overall risk resulting from entry

12. Selection & Use continued
Warning properties
Air purifying respirators must not be used for exposure to air contaminants that cannot be easily detected by odor or irritation. Examples are methyl chloride, which is odorless, and hydrogen sulfide which makes odor detection unreliable.
Eye irritants:
Eye irritants require the use of full-face respirators.
Additional Information
-Some compounds have good warning properties. This means that they can be detected in air through odor or perhaps mild irritation at levels below which they are toxic.. However, be aware that individual odor thresholds vary widely for some compounds and that the olfactory system can become fatigued (loose its sense of smell) after short-term exposure to some compounds

13. Selection & Use continued
Air purifying respirators have many different cartridges/filters.
Respirator cartridges/filters are to be discarded after use.
During use, cartridge/filter must be replaced:
Becomes discolored or clogged,
Begin to smell an odor associated with the product or chemicals you are working with,
Breathing becomes difficult
You become dizzy
Addional Information
The employer shall ensure that all filters, cartridges and canisters used in the workplace are labeled and color coded with the NIOSH approval label and that the label is not removed and remains legible

14. Inspection, Maintenance, Storage
Self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
Inspected monthly
Cleaned and disinfected after each use
Supplied air respirators
Inspected prior to each use and annually
Air purifying respirators
Inspected, cleaned and disinfected after each use

15. Inspection, Maintenance, Storage continued
Inspection of respirator components:
Inhalation and exhalation valves
cracks, tears, distortion
Headgear
Intact, good elasticity
Plastic parts
Cracks, wear; make sure filter gaskets are properly seated and in good condition
Facepiece
cracks, tears, dirt, distortion
Additional Information
Inspection
-All respirators used in routine situations shall be inspected before each use and during cleaning
-All respirators maintained for use in emergency situations shall be inspected at least monthly and in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, and shall be checked for proper function before and after each use
-Emergency escape-only respirators shall be inspected before being carried into the workplace for use

16. Inspection, Maintenance, Storage continued
Store clean respirators in a clean, sealable, plastic bag or container.
Store so respirator face piece is not distorted, damaged, or exposed to excessive moisture, extreme temperatures, or damaging chemicals.
This includes removing cartridges/canisters from facepiece before storing.
Additional Information
Storage
-All respirators shall be stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals, and they shall be packed or stored to prevent deformation of the face piece and exhalation valve.
-Kept accessible to the work area Stored in compartments or in covers that are clearly marked as containing emergency respirators
-Stored in accordance with any applicable manufacturer instructions.

17. Inspection, Maintenance, Storage continued
A dirty, inoperative respirator will not protect you
Soap and water is generally appropriate for cleaning air purifying cartridge/filter type respirators.
Additional Information
Repairs
-The employer shall ensure that respirators that fail an inspection or are otherwise found to be defective are removed from service, and are discarded or repaired or adjusted in accordance with the following procedures
-Repairs or adjustments to respirators are to be made only by persons appropriately trained to perform such operations and shall use only the respirator manufacturer's NIOSH-approved parts designed for the respirator
-Repairs shall be made according to the manufacturer's recommendations and specifications for the type and extent of repairs to be performed
-Reducing and admission valves, regulators, and alarms shall be adjusted or repaired only by the manufacturer or a technician trained by the manufacturer

18. Shared Responsibilities of Supervisor & Employee
Ensure safety glasses, goggles, face shields, welding hoods and/or facial hair do not adversely affect the seal of the respirator face piece.
Respiratory equipment not modified; use only approved original replacement parts of same manufacturer.

19. Fit Testing Qualitative Quantitative Isoamyl acetate Irritant smoke
DOP/corn oil
Ambient atmosphere (portacount)
Additional Information
-Qualitative fit test (QLFT) means a pass/fail fit test to assess the adequacy of respirator fit that relies on the individual's response to the test agent. Quantitative fit test (QNFT) means an assessment of the adequacy of respirator fit by numerically measuring the amount of leakage into the respirator.

20. Fit Testing continued
Pre-use fit check must be performed before each use when wearing a half face or full face respirator.
Negative pressure test:
Place hands firmly over the respirator cartridge or inhalation valves and breath in. The respirator face piece should collapse.
Positive pressure test:
Place hands over the exhalation valve and breathe out. The respirator should push away from the face.
-Activity to perform with workers

21. Fit testing
Respirators will not protect you if they don’t fit properly!
Required for negative or positive pressure tight-fitting face pieces
Must be conducted prior to use
Must be conducted at least annually
Must be retested if respirator fit or wearer changes: facial scarring, dental changes, change in weight

22. Training Required annually & includes review of: Respiratory hazards
Respiratory selection including appropriate cartridge/filter for each hazard
Proper use, maintenance & storage

23. Quiz
1. The two categories of respiratory protection are ________________ and ________________.
2. When is respiratory protection required? ______, ________, _____, and _______.
3. Employees who are required to wear respirators must first be medically qualified. True or False
4. The two types of respirator fit-testing are ________________ and ________________.
5. All respirators used for employee protection must be OSHA approved. True or False

24. Quiz
6. Three types of respirators include ___________, __________,and ___________.
7. What does IDLH mean?
8. What are the two pre-use fit checks? __________, and ___________.
9. Respirator fit-testing must be conducted every three years. True or False
10.Any respirator you use will protect you against oxygen deficient atmospheres. True or False

25. Quiz Answers
1. The two categories of respiratory protection are air-supplying and air-purifying respirators. 2. Respiratory protection is required when exposed to: inhalation hazards; oxygen level below 19.5; cleaning bodily fluids, animal carcasses, nests, feces; MSDS. 3. True. Employees who are required to wear respirators must be physically qualified to wear the devices. 4. The two types of fit-testing are qualitative and quantitative. 5. False. Respirators accepted by OSHA must be NIOSH approved.

26. Quiz Answers
6. Types of respirators include, disposable, non disposable (half mask, full face, powered air), and supplied air. 7. IDLH means Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health. 8. The two pre-use fit checks are negative pressure and positive pressure. 9. False. Respirator fit-testing must be conducted annually. 10.False. Only an air-supplying respirator will protect you from oxygen deficient atmospheres.

27. References OSHA Respiratory Protection Policy
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