Respiratory Protection Requirements

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Respiratory Protection Requirements
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What is a Respirator?
A respirator is a device worn over the nose and
mouth to protect the wearer from inhaling
hazardous substances, whether chemical,
biological, or radiological. Respiratory
protective devices consist of a facepiece
connected to either an air source or an
air-purifying device.
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10 Types of Respirators
Particulate-filtering respirators
Chemical cartridge/gas mask respirators
Non-powered, or negative pressure respirators
Powered air- purifying respirators (PAPRs)
Self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs)
Supplied air respirators (SARs)
Pressure demand respirators
Continuous flow respirators
Full facepiece respirators
Half-mask facepiece respirators
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What is Respiratory Protection?
Respiratory protection mainly comes into play in
situations where workplace engineering controls
and modifications to work practices are unable to
protect workers from these airborne
hazards. OSHA has identified the need for
respiratory protection for workers exposed to
various airborne hazards arising due to working
in and around hazardous wastes and hazardous
materials such as silica and hydrogen sulfide,
toxic chemicals, and bloodborne pathogens. OSHA
also recommends respiratory protection when
workers carry out work operations in confined
spaces and at excavation sites and trenches where
the possibility of encountering hazardous
atmospheres or insufficient oxygen levels exists.
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How do Respirators Protect Workers?
Respiratory protection is used to protect
workers from inhaling contaminated air or other
hazardous air-borne particles that would impact
their good health and compromise safety.
Respirators protect workers in case of a lack of
or low levels of oxygen in the environment
toxic gases, mists, sprays, or vapors harmful
dust hazardous fog and smoke.
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To better understand the various types of
respirators that are used in different hazardous
circumstances, read the article titled Effective
Respiratory Protection How to Choose a Suitable
Respirator.
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Respiratory Protection Program
In a workplace where the use of respirators is
necessary to safeguard the health of employees,
employers must develop and implement a
Respiratory Protection Program to comply with
OSHAs Respiratory Protection Standard.
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This respiratory protection program must include
the following requirements
There must be a written operating procedure that
details which respiratory protection will be
used, and why.
When required, respirators must be repaired or
replaced, as needed.
Respirators must be selected based on the
specific hazards prevalent at that worksite and
to which workers are or may be exposed.
Employers must consistently monitor working
conditions and employee stress and exposure.
Workers should be given training on the uses and
limitations of respiratory protection equipment
(RPE) they will be using at the worksite.
Before employees use respirators, fit testing
must occur to ensure that the respiratory
equipment fits each employee properly.
Medical examinations must be conducted, and
medical professionals should determine whether
employees are physically able to use respiratory
equipment.
Respirators must be regularly cleaned,
disinfected, and stored in a clean, secure, and
convenient location.
The respiratory protection program must be
regularly evaluated to ensure effectiveness and
reflect any changes in the worksite, and for
recommending improvements as required.
Respirators should routinely be examined and
tested.
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Choosing the Right-Fit Respirator
To ensure proper respiratory protection,
employers and employees must not only choose the
right-fit respirator but also the correct
respirator for the job. Here are three questions
that must be answered before workers can begin
using a respirator.
Question
Question
Question
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Do I require fit testing/training before using
the respirator?
What type of respirator do I need to wear?
Is it safe for me to wear a respirator?
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Adhere to Respiratory Protection Regulations!
Enroll employees in HAZWOPER and OSHA training
to ensure they are protected against respiratory
hazards while meeting all relevant respiratory
protection requirements as recommended by OSHA.
Click here to view our online course catalog.
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