2. Respiratory Hazards

3. Classification of Respiratory Hazards
November, 2003
Classification of Respiratory Hazards
According to Their Properties Which Influence Respirator Selection
Oxygen Deficiency
Gas and Vapor Contaminants
Particulate Contaminants
According to Their Biological Effect
As described in ANSI Z

4. Composition of Fresh Air
November, 2003
Composition of Fresh Air
78% Nitrogen
20.9% Oxygen
1.1% All other gases
Water vapor
CO2
Argon
Other trace gases

5. Processes Which May Result in Oxygen Deficiency
November, 2003
Processes Which May Result in Oxygen Deficiency
Displacement
Combustion
Consumption
Oxidation
signs of oxygen deficiency, such as increased breathing rate, dizziness, rapid heart beat, and headache
A person can only go four to six minutes without oxygen before brain damage
begins. After six minutes the [likelihood] of the victim recovering from
the lack of oxygen is minimal.

6. Air Is Oxygen Deficient Whenever Concentration Is Less Than 19.5%
November, 2003
Air Is Oxygen Deficient Whenever Concentration Is Less Than 19.5%
Hypoxia is a reduction in the amount of oxygen passing into the blood. It is caused by a reduction in oxygen pressure in the lungs, exposure to high altitude, or by a reduction in atmospheric pressure.

7. Minimum Legal Requirements
November, 2003
Oxygen Deficiency
Minimum Legal Requirements
19.5% Oxygen by Volume for respirable air at sea-level conditions.
Occurrence
Confined or unventilated cellars, wells, mines, ship holds, tanks, burning buildings, and enclosures containing inert atmospheres.
Atmospheric oxygen content (percent by volume) versus physiological effects
20.9%: Oxygen content of normal air at sea-level conditions.
Oxygen Percent Volume: 16%-12%
Physiological Effects: Loss of peripheral vision, increased breathing volume, accelerated heartbeat, impaired attention and thinking, impaired coordination.
Oxygen Percent Volume: 12%-10%
Physiological Effects: Very faulty judgment, very poor muscular coordination, muscular exertion causes fatigue that may cause permanent heart damage, intermittent respiration.
Oxygen Percent Volume: 10%-6%
Physiological Effects: Nausea, vomiting, inability to perform vigorous movement, unconsciousness followed by death.
Oxygen Percent Volume: Less than 6%
Physiological Effects: Spasmodic breathing, convulsive movements, death in minutes

8. ANSI Z88.2 Oxygen Deficiency
November, 2003
ANSI Z88.2 Oxygen Deficiency
ppO2 of freshly inspired air in the
Equiv. O2 at Sea Level (%)
Atmospheric Pressure (mmHg)
Ambient Atmospheric ppO2
Upper Lung (mmHg)
Alveolar (mmHg)
Blood O2 Saturation (%)
Equivalent Altitiude (ft)
Effects
20.9
760
159
149
110 96
Sea Level
Normal 19
689
145
135 95 94
2,500
Some adverse physilogical effects occur, but they are unnoticeable 16
581
121
114 70 92
7,500
Increased pulse and breathing rates. Impaired thinking and attention.Reduced coordination. 14
523
100 60 90
10,000
Abnormal fatigue upon exertion. Emotional upset. Faulty coordination. Poor judgement.
12.5
450 85 48 83
14,000
Very poor judgement and coordination. Impaired respiration that may cause permanent heart damage. Nausea and vomiting.
<10
<387
<81
<71
<43
<70
>18,000
Inability to perform vigorous movement. Loss of consciousness. Convulsions. Death.

9. Contaminant Categories
November, 2003
Contaminant Categories
Gas
A substance that is in a gaseous state under normal temperature & pressure
Vapor
The gaseous form of a substance that is typically a liquid at normal temperature & pressure
Aerosol
Microscopic Liquid or Solid particles dispersed into the air

10. Gas and Vapor Contaminants
November, 2003
Gas and Vapor Contaminants
Inert
Acidic
Alkaline
Organic
Organometallic
Hydrides

11. Gas and Vapor Contaminants
November, 2003
Gas and Vapor Contaminants
Asphyxiants
Interfere with utilization of oxygen in the body.
Simple asphyxiants: Physiologically inert substances that dilute oxygen in the air (for example: nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, methane).
Chemical asphyxiants: Low concentrations interfere with supply or utilization of oxygen in the body (for example: carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen, and nitriles).
Irritants
May be Corrosive. May cause irritation and inflammation of parts of the respiratory system (also skin and eyes) and pulmonary edema (for example: ammonia, hydrogen chloride, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, chlorine, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, phosgene, and arsenic trichloride).
Anesthetics
Cause loss of feeling and sensation with unconsciousness and death possible (for example: nitrous oxide, hydrocarbons, and ethers). Some anesthetics injure body organs (for example: carbon tetrachloride [liver and kidneys], chloroform [liver and heart], benzene [bone marrow], and carbon disulfide [nervous system]).
Sensitizers
Cause increased probability of physiological reactions (for example: isocyanates, epoxy resin systems).
Systemic poisons
Damage organs and systems in the body (for example: mercury [nervous system and various organs], phosphorus [bone], hydrogen sulfide [respiratory paralysis], and arsine [red blood cells and liver]).
Carcinogens
Produce cancer in some individuals after a latent period (for example: vinyl chloride, benzene).

12. Asphyxiants Simple Chemical
November, 2003
Asphyxiants
Simple
Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen , Hydrogen, Methane, Helium, Argon , Steam
Chemical
Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Cyanide, Cyanogen, and Nitriles
Interfere with utilization of oxygen in the body.
Simple asphyxiants: Physiologically inert substances that dilute oxygen in the air (for example: nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, methane).
Chemical asphyxiants: Low concentrations interfere with supply or utilization of oxygen in the body (for example: carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen, and nitriles).

13. November, 2003
Irritants
Corrosive.
Cause irritation and inflammation of parts of the respiratory system (also skin and eyes)
May cause pulmonary edema
Example: ammonia, hydrogen chloride, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, chlorine, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, phosgene, and arsenic trichloride.
May be corrosive. May cause irritation and inflammation of parts of the respiratory system (also skin and eyes) and pulmonary edema (for example: ammonia, hydrogen chloride, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, chlorine, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, phosgene, and arsenic trichloride).

14. November, 2003
Anesthetics
Cause loss of feeling and sensation with unconsciousness and death possible
Example: nitrous oxide, hydrocarbons, and ethers.
Some anesthetics injure body organs
Example: carbon tetrachloride [liver and kidneys], chloroform [liver and heart], benzene [bone marrow], and carbon disulfide [nervous system]).
Cause loss of feeling and sensation with unconsciousness and death possible (for example: nitrous oxide, hydrocarbons, and ethers). Some anesthetics injure body organs (for example: carbon tetrachloride [liver and kidneys], chloroform [liver and heart], benzene [bone marrow], and carbon disulfide [nervous system]).

15. Sensitizers Cause increased probability of physiological reactions
November, 2003
Sensitizers
Cause increased probability of physiological reactions
Example: Isocyanates, Epoxy Resin Systems.
Cause increased probability of physiological reactions (for example: isocyanates, epoxy resin systems).

16. Systemic Poisons Damage organs and systems in the body
November, 2003
Systemic Poisons
Damage organs and systems in the body
Example: mercury [nervous system and various organs], phosphorus [bone], hydrogen sulfide [respiratory paralysis], and arsine [red blood cells and liver]
Damage organs and systems in the body (for example: mercury [nervous system and various organs], phosphorus [bone], hydrogen sulfide [respiratory paralysis], and arsine [red blood cells and liver]).

17. Carcinogens Produce cancer in some individuals after a latent period
November, 2003
Carcinogens
Produce cancer in some individuals after a latent period
Example: vinyl chloride, benzene, asbestos, and Respirable silica
Produce cancer in some individuals after a latent period (for example: vinyl chloride, benzene).

18. Particulate Contaminants
November, 2003
Particulate Contaminants
Dust
a dispersion of solid particles usually resulting from the fracture of larger masses of material.
Mist
a dispersion of liquid particles many of which are visible.
Fog
a dispersion of liquid particles formed by condensation of vaporized materials.
Fumes
an aerosol of solid particles formed by condensation of vaporized materials.
Smoke
aerosol resulting from the incomplete combustion of carbon containing materials

19. Particulate Contaminants (Dusts, fog, fume, mist, smoke, and spray)
November, 2003
Particulate Contaminants (Dusts, fog, fume, mist, smoke, and spray)
Relatively inert
May cause discomfort and minor irritation, but generally without injury at reasonable concentrations (for example: marble, gypsum).
Pulmonary-fibrosis-producing
Produce nodulation and fibrosis in the lung, possibly leading to complications (for example: quartz, asbestos).
Carcinogens
Produce cancer in some individuals after latent period (for example: asbestos, chromates, radioactive particulates).
Chemical irritants
Produce irritation, inflammation, and ulceration in upper respiratory tract (for example: acidic mists, alkali's).
Systemic poisons
Produce pathologic reactions in various systems of the body (for example: lead, manganese, cadmium).
Allergy-producing
Produce reactions such as itching, sneezing, and asthmas (for example: pollens, spices, and animal fur).
Febrile-reaction-producing
Produce chills followed by fever (for example: fumes of zinc and copper).

20. Respirator Selection Requirements

21. OSHA 1910.134 Respirator Decision Logic

22. OSHA 1910.134 (d) Respirator Decision Logic
(d) Selection of Respirators
Must select a respirator certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) which must be used in compliance with the conditions of its certification.
Must identify and evaluate the respiratory hazards in the workplace, including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures and identification of the contaminant’s chemical state and physical form.
Where exposure cannot be identified or reasonably estimated, the atmosphere shall be considered immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).

23. OSHA 1910.134 (d) Respirator Decision Logic
(d) Selection of Respirators - Respirators for IDLH atmospheres:
Approved respirators:
Full facepiece pressure demand self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) certified by NIOSH for a minimum service life of thirty minutes, or
Combination full facepiece pressure demand supplied-air respirator (SAR) with auxiliary self- contained air supply.
All oxygen-deficient atmospheres (less than 19.5% O2 by volume) shall be considered IDLH. Exception: If the employer can demonstrate that, under all foreseeable conditions, oxygen levels in the work area can be maintained within the ranges specified in Table II (i.e., between 19.5% and a lower value that corresponds to an altitude-adjusted oxygen partial pressure equivalent to 16% oxygen at sea level), then any atmosphere-supplying respirator may be used.

24. OSHA 1910.134 (d) Respirator Decision Logic
Respirators for Non-IDLH atmospheres:
Employers must use the assigned protection factors (APFs) listed in Table 1 to select a respirator that meets or exceeds the required level of employee protection.
When using a combination respirator (e.g., airline respirators with an air-purifying filter), employers must ensure that the assigned protection factor is appropriate to the mode of operation in which the respirator is being used.
Must select a respirator for employee use that maintains the employee’s exposure to the hazardous substance, when measured outside the respirator, at or below the maximum use concentration (MUC).
Must not apply MUCs to conditions that are IDLH; instead must use respirators listed for IDLH conditions in paragraph (d)(2) of this standard.
When the calculated MUC exceeds the IDLH level or the performance limits of the cartridge or canister, then employers must set the maximum MUC at that lower limit.
The respirator selected shall be appropriate for the chemical state and physical form of the contaminant.

25. OSHA 1910.134 (d) Respirator Decision Logic
Respirators for non-IDLH atmospheres:
For protection against gases and vapors, the employer shall provide:
an atmosphere-supplying respirator, or
an air-purifying respirator, provided that:
the respirator is equipped with an end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI) certified by NIOSH for the contaminant; or
if there is no ESLI appropriate for conditions of the employer’s workplace, the employer implements a change schedule for canisters and cartridges that will ensure that they are changed before the end of their service life and describes in the respirator program the information and data relied upon and basis for the change schedule and reliance on the data.