Respiratory Protection Program
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
I. Introduction
II. Purpose
III. Goals
IV. Requirements/Procedures
V.
Use of Respirators
VI. Types
of Respirators
VII. Training and Education
Respiratory
Protection Program
I. Introduction
The large number of diverse occupations at RHIT and the possibility of hazards due to poor air quality or decreased oxygen, has brought attention to the need for the control of occupational diseases caused by breathing contaminated air.
II. Purpose
The Respiratory Protection Program is to provide written procedures regarding compliance of RHIT employees using respiratory protection. The Program also ensures proper care and use of respiratory equipment which is maintained for emergency or escape purposes.
III. Goals
RHIT’s goal is to limit occupational exposure when working, supervising or inspecting in an area where it has been determined or suspected that exposure to toxic substances exceeds allowable levels or where there is decreased oxygen, which could lead to disease or death.
The Respiratory Protection Progam is available to all employees who attend the mandatory medical evaluation and training session for respirator use. It is also available for review, upon request, by all employees and/or government officials.
IV. Requirements/Procedures
The Respiratory Protection Program is a guideline for the occupational safety of employees at RHIT who use or require the use of respirators to perform their job/tasks. It is also used to control occupational disease caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dust, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors.
The primary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination by engineering controls. When effective engineering controls, such as ventilation or use of less toxic materials are not feasible to provide for emergency or abnormal conditions, appropriate respirators will be used. Recommendations will be made by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) and by review of the appropriate MSDS.
Possible emergency and routine uses of respirators should be anticipated and planned for. Information and guidance is necessary for their proper selection, use and care.
A. Respirators will be provided by the employer when such equipment is necessary to protect the health of the employee. Specific departments identified for use are: Facilities, OEHS, Technicians and Custodial.
B. Respirators shall be suitable to the hazards to which the worker is exposed. This determination will be made by the OEHS. Areas of special consideration are where there is use of pesticides, asbestos, or confined spaces.
C. The employer shall establish and maintain an appropriate Respiratory Protection Program which is subject to periodic review and evaluation. All employees are subject to its application and use.
D. All users will be required to complete the OSHA Respirator Use Questionnaire, which will be used by the medical provider to evaluate each user.
D. Users shall be trained and instructed in the proper use and maintenance of his/her respirator and its limitations.
F. A respiratory device qualitative “fit test” will be performed prior to first use and annually thereafter.
G. No facial hair is permitted to come into contact with the face seal of the respirator.
H. Only respiratory protection devices approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) shall be worn.
I. The OEHS will monitor and evaluate the Program for continued effectiveness.
J. The OEHS will periodically monitor employee compliance, work conditions, and the degree of employee exposure to stress in order to address further respiratory needs at RHIT.
V. Use
of Respirators
A. The Program shall be published and available to all RHIT employees (users) as part of the procedures for the particular job/task. Copies of the Program can be obtained from the OEHS.
B. Respirators shall be worn at all times by RHIT employees in areas, or during work assignments, where their use is designated, or whenever their use is justified by a particular exposure. The two main types of respirators used are the air purifying respirator and the self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
C. Frequent / random inspections shall be conducted by a competent person to assure that the respirators are properly selected, used, cleaned, and maintained.
D. Supervisors and employees shall be trained and instructed in the selection, use maintenance and care of a respirator by a competent person prior to initial use and periodically to maintain general knowledge of his/her respirator.
E. Wearers are responsible for the inspection of his/her respirator before and after each use for signs of pliability, deterioration, or need of replacement parts.
F. Respirators in need of repairs or replacement parts shall be immediately taken out of service. Notify your supervisor to have the respirator replaced or repaired.
G. Respirators are to be cleaned and disinfected as necessary.
H. Respirator cartridges (filters) purchased
after
LEVELS OF
FILTER EFFICIENCY
95%
95
99%
99
99.97% (HEPA) 100
RESISTANCE
TO DEGRADATION
Not resistant
to oil N
Resistant to
oil R
Oil Proof P
CARTRIDGE
CERTIFICATION LABEL
u Before
u after
I. Filters or cartridges are to be replaced as needed or according to instructions for that particular task. Specific situations will include but are not limited to the following:
1) Seems plugged
2) Odors get through
3) When used in an asbestos area
J. Respirators are to be packed and stored so the facepiece, valves, and elastic headbands are not distorted, damaged, or functionally impaired.
VI. Types of Respirators
Various respiratory devices are approved for use within the limits prescribed by the manufacturer. Selection of the proper types of respirator(s) for RHIT’s Respirator Protection Program shall be with the approval of the OEHS. The following lists the respiratory devices used by RHIT employees:
A. Air purifying mask - particulate removing filter. They are generally called “dust”, “mist”, or “fume ” mask and are used in minimal exposure areas.
1) Are disposable (single -use)
2) Are available in the quarter facepiece styles.
3) Two-strap units are recommended.
4) It does not provide oxygen, so it can never be worn in oxygen deficient atmosphere
5) It does not provide protection in atmospheres containing gases or vapors
B. Air purifying respirator - uses chemical cartridges and canisters for removal of gases and vapor.
1) Removes gases and vapors by trapping them on materials - such as activated charcoal.
2) Are available in half and full facepiece styles.
3) The protective element is the cartridge or canister which is designed to remove a particular contaminant. Specific labeling and color coding on each cartridge will clarify its use and level of protection.
4) It does not provide oxygen, it cannot be worn in an oxygen deficient atmosphere.
5) It may not be used if the chemical to be protected against lacks adequate warning properties - odor, taste, or irritation. These warnings are necessary to alert the user that: (a) the chemical absorbent is saturated, and (2) the contaminant is passing through the cartridge or canister and you are breathing the contaminant.
6) They must not be worn in an atmosphere that’s Immediately Dangerous to Life/and Health. (IDLH)
C. Self-contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
With these devices, the wearer carries air or oxygen on his person in the form of a tank of compressed air which is supplied to the facepiece. It provides the total breathing requirements, not just the oxygen requirements, and its service life is usually about 30 minutes or less. There is no need for an airline or outside air supply. The SCBA is not protection from high temperatures, certain toxic gases that are skin absorbable, and radiation. All approved SCBA’s incorporate an audible alarm which notifies the wearer when the air (oxygen) supply drops to a predetermined level of approximately 5 minutes remaining. When this alarm sounds, the wearer must exit the contaminated area immediately.
1) With use of this type of respirator, the employees must always work in pairs and stay in visual or oral contact. The entry team should be in pairs with the back up safety team or person in a safe area with contact maintained by sight, lifeline, radio, or voice for appropriate rescue.
2) Employees must stay in contact with the wall or safety line.
3) Employees need to work efficiently to conserve air.
4) Maintenance of the equipment follows the Program procedure for respiratory devices with special attention given to filling the cylinders after each use.
5) Training for the use of SCBA equipment is under the direction of the OEHS. Training records are kept at the OEHS and available for review at the request of the employee or government official.
VII. Training and Education
For the safe use of any respirator, it is essential that the user be properly instructed. Both supervisors and employees that will be using respiratory devices will be trained prior to use.
The OEHS, in conjunction with the department supervisor, is responsible for the training of his/her employees in the management of exposure or potential exposure to air contaminants.
Training will provide information, give demonstrations, allow hands on training and physically test employees in regard to air contamination and respirator use. Training shall include the following:
A) Instruction on the nature of the hazards and what may happen if the respirator is not used or not used properly.
B) Selection of the proper respirator for the job task and identification of respirator capabilities and limitations. Review of manufacturer’s instructions for each model.
C) Demonstrations and hands-on training for disassembly, inspection of valves, gaskets, and headstraps, and reassembly.
D) Individual application and adjustment (seal check).
E) Familiarization with respirator cleaning and disinfection.
F) Negative and positive pressure tests prior to each use.
G) Testing/Use in normal and abnormal air.
H) Exchange/removal of any filters, cartridges or tanks.
I) Proper storage.
Documentation of medical respirator evaluations, medical opinions and training records will be maintained at the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS).
NO EMPLOYEE WILL BE ASSIGNED A TASK WHERE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IS OR MAY BE REQUIRED UNLESS PROPER TRAINING HAS BEEN GIVEN AND DOCUMENTED AND A MEDICAL EVALUATION HAS BEEN RENDERED INDICATING THAT THE EMPLOYEE IS PHYSICALLY FIT TO WEAR THE REQUIRED RESPIRATORY PROTECTION DEVICE (s).