Respirator Flashcards
When are respirators needed?
- use only when engineering controls
- in an oxygen deficient atmosphere
- When chemical permissible exposure limits (PEL) are exceeded
- When required by a pesticide label
- in situations where air contamination is suspected, but levels are unknown (confined spaces, large, chemical spills, hazardous waste sites)
- When you require it by company policy
What is oxygen deficiency?
- oxygen deficiency can occur in confined or enclosed spaces, during fires or large chemical releases
- Normal air contains 21% oxygen
- an area with oxygen conte below 19.5% is considered oxygen deficient
- Only a supplied air, respirator can protect against the effects of oxygen deficiency
What are permissible exposure limits (PELs)?
- most chemicals and dust have limits in the air that will cause adverse health effects if exceeded
- if airborne levels cannot be reduced below these limits by other means, respirators must be provided to protect exposed employees
What are they types of respirators?
- Air purifying respirators
- Powered air purifying respirators
- Airline respirators
- Self contained, breathing apparatus (SCBA)
- Escape respirators
What are air purifying air respirators?
filters, air through cartridges or filtering face pieces (dust masks)
- traps air contaminants in a cartridge or filter when the wearer inhales
- Particulate respirators capture dust, mist, and welding fumes
- Chemical cartridge respirators capture gases, and vapors
What are the limitations of air purifying respirators?
- the right cartridge for the right contaminant
- Cartridges must be changed periodically
- Respirators provide protection up to 10 or 100 times the PEL. Cannot be
used beyond its rated protection factor - cannot be used in oxygen deficient
- Cannot be used for unknown concentrations
- Cannot be used for chemicals with poor warning properties
- Not adequate in major leak/spills or for certain highly toxic chemicals
- half face cartridge and dust mask operators only provide protection to level 10 times above the chemical or dust permissible limit known as assigned protection factors, (APF)
What are air purifying respirators?
filters, air through cartridges with assistance of a blower.
- an air purifying respirator that uses a blower to force the ambient air
through air purifying elements to the inlet covering
What are airline respirators?
provides unlimited, clean air from a compressor
- clean air comes from a compressor or tank and provides the highest
protection to user
*less air
What are self contained breathing apparatus’s (SCBA)?
provides 30 to 60 minutes of
clean air from a tank
- clean air comes from a compressor or tank and provides the highest
protection to user
*more air
When are supplied respirators required?
- oxygen deficiency
- High levels of toxic chemicals in the air – above “IDLH” levels
- Other conditions of high levels of highly toxic chemicals in the air
- Firefighting
What is the air quality for supplied respirators?
- air for tanks or from compressors must be grade D air
- Tank air is purchased from vendors
- compressor supply air for airline respirators
- Low pressure compressors may not provide adequate amount of air
What are plant air compressors?
- be careful – these do not provide clean air without a filter system
- Oil lubricated compressors are especially hazardous. You must test for carbon monoxide or have a high temperature alarm.
- locate air intake away from engine exhaust, which can contaminate
breathing air
What are escape respirators?
provides air for escape on a small bottle
-a respirator intended to be used only for emergency exit
-Can either be attached to airline respirator system or carried
What are assigned protection factors?
The number of times above the exposure limit for which a given respirator provides protection
Why/when are medical evaluations required for using an air respirator?
- must provide a medical evaluation to determine employees ability to use a respirator, before fit testing and use
- Annual review of medical status is not required
What are the basic steps for a medical evaluation for respirators?
- Confidential, medical questionnaire
- Employee completes it and sends it directly to medical provider
- Medical provider decides if medical exam needed
- The results are only to determine if respirators can be worn
What are the rules for making sure a respirator fits properly?
- prior to assignment, and after medical evaluation
- Testing must be done before first wearing a tight fitting respirator
- tight-fitting respirators must fit properly to leaks around the edges
- Checking, fit of respirator on individual employees
- Beards are not allowed when wearing a tight fitting respirator because
they will leak - Annual fit testing requirement
What is the maintenance & cleaning for respirators?
- must be cleaned and inspected and maintained regularly
- Maintenance and repair are essential for proper functioning
- Store and a clean, dry place
- Cartridges are not cleaned only disposed of. Regular cleaning is especially
important in dusty conditions.
What is a respirator program?
- develop a written program with work site specific procedures, when respirators are necessary or required by the employer
- Must provide respirators, training, and medical evaluations at no cost to the employee
What is program evaluation for respirators?
- must conduct evaluations of the workplace as necessary to ensure effective implementation of the program
- Must regularly consult employees required to use respirators to assess their views on program effectiveness and to identify & correct any problems
When is respirator use not required?
- employee may provide: employees request or permit to use their own, if
employer determines such use will not create a hazard - Must make sure employee is medically able to use the respirator, and does
not present a health hazard
What are the record keeping requirements for respirators?
- records of medical evaluations must be retained & made available (29 CFR 1910.1020
- a record of fit test must be established and retained until the next fit test is administered
- a written copy of the current program must be retained
- written materials required to be retained, must be made available upon request to affected employees & OSHA
What are the responsibilities of employees using respirators?
- use respirators in accordance with instructions received in training class
- Maintain, clean, inspect and store respirators as instructed in class
- Report any malfunction of your respirator to your supervisor
- Immediately discontinue use of respirator malfunctions, and immediately go to an area with respirable air
What are the responsibilities of supervisors when it comes to respirators?
- ensure personnel use respirators and accordance with instructions, received in training class
- Ensure respirators are clean, disinfected and stored in a clean sanitary condition
- Ensure respirators are in good working condition
Why are respirators the last choice?
- they can be hot, uncomfortable, and make it hard to see or communicate
- They can be hard to breathe through
- They are easily remove in contaminated air
- They can leak, wear out or be the wrong kind
How do you avoid using respirators? (use 1 or more)
Stage 1:
-eliminate use of chemical
-substitute with a less toxic chemical
stage 2:
-ventilation
-dust suppression with water
-isolate or enclose the chemical processes
-other processing change
-respirators should be used only if these methods are not feasible, or don’t reduce exposure
