1. BLR’s Safety Training Presentations
Respiratory Protection 29 CFR
I. Speaker’s Notes:
One of the most common means of protecting employee health is respiratory protection. However, there are several legal requirements that must be followed to properly use respiratory protection. This program focuses on the fundamental issues of respiratory protection as well as the basic regulatory requirements.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

2. Regulatory Requirements
29 CFR
Covers all required and voluntary use of respiratory protection in general industry
Requires a written program
Requires employee training, medical evaluation, and fit-testing
Standard revised in 1998
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Respiratory protection is included with the other standards on personal protective equipment. If you use respiratory protection, it is important that all regulatory elements be in place.
This program will include the recent revisions to the respiratory protection program.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

3. Types of Respiratory Protection
Atmosphere supplying
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
Airline respirators
Air purifying
Gas and vapor
Particulate
Combination
I. Background for the Trainer:
Show examples of the available types of respirators to the class.
II. Speaker’s Notes:
The most common type of respirator in use today is the air-purifying variety. It is important to remember that these respirators do not supply oxygen, they simply filter the air that we breathe.
Another type of respirator is an atmosphere supplying respirator. It is commonly used by emergency responders and spill cleanup personnel.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

4. Types of Face Pieces Mouthpiece Single use/disposable Quartermask
Half mask
Full face
Helmet
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Of these types of face pieces, you are not likely to see the mouthpiece or quarter mask much any more. More commonly you will find the single-use disposable, half mask, or full face. Both air-purifying and atmosphere-supplying respirators use both half mask and full face configurations.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

5. Effective Use of Respirators
During installation ofengineering controls
During maintenance operations
During process turnarounds
For nonroutine tasks
For emergency response
At hazardous waste site operations
When other controls are inadequate
When other controls are not feasible
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Respirators should never be your first line of defense because they can be difficult to use. However, this list of situations provides a foundation for the effective use of respiratory protection.
Keep in mind that nonroutine tasks are those typically performed by the maintenance or other service organization. Each nonroutine task will vary, and it is difficult to implement engineering controls for that reason; therefore, respirators are used extensively in maintenance operations.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

6. Employee Effectiveness
The use of respiratory protection limits the effectiveness of the employee by percent.
I. Speaker’s Notes:
No employee likes to wear a respirator. A respirator offers protection, but as this slide demonstrates, it certainly doesn’t enhance your ability to get the job done.
It’s important that you’re comfortable with the respirator you wear. If you’re not, notify your supervisor. A better fit can usually be found.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

7. Maximum Use Concentrations
Half mask w/ov cartridge = 1,000 ppm or 10x the PEL, whichever is lower
Full face w/ov cartridge = 1,000 ppm or 50x the PEL, whichever is lower
Full face w/acid gas chin canister = 2% by volume or 50 times the PEL, whichever is lower
Note: In general, never exceed an APF.
I. Speaker’s Notes:
These are maximum use concentrations as defined in the recently revised respiratory protection standard. However, this section of the revised standard is currently reserved; therefore, no regulatory maximum use concentrations exist at this point. In the near future, OSHA will determine appropriate maximum use concentrations, and they will be added to
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

8. Respirator Selection Criteria
Physical state of the contaminant
Contaminant concentration
Oxygen deficiency
Warning properties of contaminant
Potential for IDLH atmospheres
Can contaminant be ad/absorbed by a media?
Can contaminant be ad/absorbed by the skin?
Is the contaminant irritating to the eyes?
I. Speaker Notes:
All of these criteria should be taken into account when choosing a respirator.
Is it a liquid, gas, or solid?
How many ppm or mg/m3, etc., are in the environment?
Is there enough oxygen to sustain life?
How easy is it to detect the contaminant with the human senses (e.g., smell)?
Is it likely that we may encounter an Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) atmosphere?
Do we have the proper filter media for the given contaminant (e.g., HEPA cartridge for dusts)?
Is there a hazard if the contaminant contacts the skin?
Can it harm our eyes if contact is made?
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

9. Types of Fit-testing Qualitative Quantitative Isoamyl acetate
Irritant smoke
Quantitative
DOP/corn oil
Ambient atmosphere (portacount)
I. Speaker’s Notes:
If we use respirators, we must ensure that they are of a size and type that adequately fit the wearer.
Qualitative fit-testing is very subjective and relies on the wearer to identify whether or not they smell or taste the challenge agent.
Quantitative fit-testing provides a number called a fit factor, which can identify the quality of the fit and document compliance with the OSHA standards. This method uses dioctyl phthalate, corn oil, or ambient atmospheric particles.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

10. Elements of a Respiratory Protection Program
Written operating procedures
Proper selection
Training and fitting
Cleaning and disinfecting
Storage
Inspection and maintenance
Work area surveillance
I. Speaker’s Notes:
As with many OSHA standards, says that if any employees are required to wear respirators, the company must have an adequate written program. The elements in this slide are those elements that must be covered by the overall program. It is also important that respirator users and their supervisors be effectively trained in these requirements.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

11. Respiratory Program (cont.)
Inspection and evaluation to determine effectiveness
Medical examinations
Approved respirators
I. Speaker’s Notes:
These elements are also required to be in the company’s respiratory protection program.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

12. Revision to 1910.134 Effective date: April 8, 1998
Enforcement date: October 5, 1998
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Because the standard was recently revised, it is important to review some of the changes that will affect our program. The following slides highlight those changes.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

13. Written Program Requirements
Must be site-specific
Must have a program administrator
Must be developed when respirator use is required
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Companies not only have to have a written program, but it must be site-specific. No boilerplate programs will be accepted by OSHA. The program must state how our company will meet the requirements.
Someone should also be designated as the responsible person, typically the safety and health professional.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

14. When Respirators Are Not Required
Can use employee respirator if it does not create a hazard
Voluntary users of respirators must be given Appendix D
Appendix D = employee information when respirators are not required
Employers must implement a program for nonrequired users
I. Speaker’s Notes:
You can now use your own respiratory protection as long as it does not create an additional hazard. Basically, that means that employers still have the fundamental responsibility to ensure that the respirator in use is appropriate for the job.
If your respirator use is voluntary, make sure you are given Appendix D—Employee Information When Respirators Are Not Required. If they are not required, but an employer still allows their use, the employer must implement a program to ensure respirators are used effectively.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

15. Respirators Not Required (cont.)
If dust masks only are used and not required, no written program is required
Appendix D of the standard must be provided to users
I. Speaker’s Notes:
The major exception to the voluntary use rule is dust masks or single-use disposables. If only dust masks are used on a voluntary basis, no written program is required.
Employers must make sure that the voluntary users of dust masks are still provided with Appendix D of the standard.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

16. General Requirements Use of NIOSH-approved respirators only
Evaluation of hazards
Availability of multiple respirator types
I. Speaker’s Notes:
The new standard requires that all respirators be NIOSH approved. The old standard called for NIOSH/OSHA approval, but now, only NIOSH approval is required. The language is now in the standard that requires employers to provide a very specific evaluation of the hazards to ensure that the proper respirators are used.
OSHA has always suggested it, but now it is in black-and-white—a company must have more than one type and size of respirator available due to varying characteristics in the user that affect fit, as well as the comfort of the respirator itself.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

17. Respirators for Non-IDLH Use
If cartridges have no “end of service life indicator” a change schedule must be used
Added table for oxygen-deficient atmospheres based on altitude
I. Speaker’s Notes:
If cartridges have no end of service life indicator, employers must come up with their own schedule for cartridge change out. It is recommended that employers obtain information from various manufacturers to assist in developing the change schedule.
The oxygen deficiency table will be of value in areas of high altitude; otherwise, differences are negligible.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

18. Medical Evaluation Use of medical questionnaire (Appendix C)
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
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Employers must use the lengthy medical questionnaire found in Appendix C of the OSHA regulation.
This questionnaire is sensitive and has to be shared only with the licensed health care professional.
If any employee responds positively to any of the questions, the health care professional must provide a medical exam for follow-up.
Employers must also allow the employees an opportunity to discuss the questionnaire with the attending health care professional.
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

19. Medical Evaluation (cont.)
Physicians must be told conditions of respirator use
Employers must provide a PAPR if employees cannot use a negative pressure APR
Follow-up evaluations must be conducted if conditions of use or user health change
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Your employer will also educate the medical professionals on the types of respirators in use as well as their operation and limitations. It is extremely important to give the medical professionals an opportunity to examine the respirators first hand. Things such as the additional 35 to 40 pounds of weight when using an SCBA are definite factors in the medical approval process.
Powered air purifying respirators must be made available if you are required to wear a respirator and cannot use a negative pressure air-purifying respirator (assuming the negative pressure device provides adequate protection).
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.

20. 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
I. Speaker’s Notes:
One significant change in the regulation is that fit-testing is now required for all negative and positive pressure devices. Prior standards did not require fit-testing for positive pressure devices. These tests are also now required annually.
All respirators need to be fit-tested to be sure you are receiving adequate protection. If a respirator doesn’t fit properly, it won’t protect you!
Copyright ã1999 Business and Legal Reports, Inc.