Respiratory Protection

Question 1

Why would respiratory protection be used if engineering controls are in place?

Answer 1

Engineering controls are insufficient

Question 2

What types of activities/work warrants RP use?

Answer 2

Maintenance, repair, construction, abatement, emergency, health care

Question 3

What is considered approved RP?

Answer 3

Approved by NIOSH (no substitutions with non-certified parts)

Question 4

Examples of air purifying respirators?

Answer 4

Dust mask, half/full face respirators, gas masks, PAPRs

Question 5

Examples of atmosphere supplying respirator?

Answer 5

Supplied air respirator (i.e. airline), SCBA

Question 6

What are the three characteristics of a respirator?

Answer 6

Facepiece (half or full), pressure relative to atmo (pos or neg), mode of operation (continuous or pressure demand)

Question 7

How to APRs work?

Answer 7

Filters particulates and/or adsorbs gases and vapors

Question 8

What are the limitations to an APR?

Answer 8

Does not change O2 concentration, cannot be used in IDLH environment

Question 9

What is a P100 filter?

Answer 9

Oil proof particulate filter with 99.97% efficiency

Question 10

What is an R99 filter?

Answer 10

Oil proof for one shift with 99% efficiency

Question 11

What is an N95 filter?

Answer 11

Non oil resistant filter with 95% efficiency

Question 12

What are HEPA filters?

Answer 12

High efficiency particulate filters, 99.97% efficiency and are required for toxic particulates

Question 13

What is inertial impaction (filtration)?

Answer 13

Dense particles resist change in airflow and hit filter as a result.

Question 14

What is diffusion (filtration)?

Answer 14

Brownian motion causes very small particles to hit filter.

Question 15

What is interception (filtration)?

Answer 15

Particle hits filter despite being able to track airflow.

Question 16

What is sedimentation (filtration)?

Answer 16

Particles settle onto surface due to gravity. Larger mass particles settle faster.

Question 17

Why does filtration efficiency decrease at ~0.3 um?

Answer 17

Particles have a certain mass where it is not strongly influenced by impaction or diffusion.

Question 18

What is the difference between an N95 and a surgical mask in a healthcare setting?

Answer 18

N95s protect workers from aerosol transmissible diseases while surgical masks protect patients and are not APRs

Question 19

What are the characteristics of N95s?

Answer 19

Single use, need fit testing, use both straps, need RPP

Question 20

What are vapor and gas cartridges designed for?

Answer 20

Acid gases, organic vapors, ammonia

Question 21

What is a vapor/gas cartridge maximum use concentration?

Answer 21

APF x PEL

Question 22

What are the limits of a VG cartridge?

Answer 22

1000 ppm, can never exceed IDLH

Question 23

How would you use the MUC to determine what kind of respirator to use?

Answer 23

Compare the MUC to the air concentration in the work area

Question 24

What are the GV cartridge removal mechanisms?

Answer 24

Adsorption (stick to surface) and absorption (incorporated into substrate)

Question 25

Cartridge color code: black

Answer 25

Organic vapor

Question 26

Cartridge color code: white

Answer 26

Acid gas

Question 27

Cartridge color code: yellow

Answer 27

OV + acid gas

Question 28

Cartridge color code: green

Answer 28

Ammonia

Question 29

Cartridge color code: orange

Answer 29

Mercury vapor

Question 30

Cartridge color code: olive green

Answer 30

Multi-contaminant

Question 31

Cartridge color code: magenta

Answer 31

P100

Question 32

When should a change out schedule be established?

Answer 32

When no end of service life indicator is present

Question 33

Why does air concentration affect cartridge life?

Answer 33

Higher concentrations increase the amount of contaminant for that use time

Question 34

Why does intensity of work affect cartridge life?

Answer 34

Work intensity determines how often/how much volume is pulled through the cartridge, thus how much contaminant is loaded

Question 35

Why do temperature and humidity affect cartridge life?

Answer 35

Not sure. My guess: it affects the adsorption characteristics of the filter.

Question 36

What are warning properties for respirators?

Answer 36

Odor (if below PEL), taste, slight nose/throat irritation indicates breakthrough

Question 37

What is a gas mask?

Answer 37

A type of APR

Question 38

What is a CBRN gas mask?

Answer 38

Chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear

Question 39

What are 2 characteristics of gas mask canisters?

Answer 39

Lasts longer than cartridges and can be chin/belt mounted

Question 40

How are PAPRs different from non-powered APRs?

Answer 40

Provides airflow and can accommodate beards/glasses (for hood type PAPRs, not loose fitting)

Question 41

What face pieces provide a PAPR with 25 APR?

Answer 41

Loose fitting face piece, helmet, hood

Question 42

What face pieces provide a PAPR with 1000 APR?

Answer 42

full face piece and helmet/hood with manufacturer test data

Question 43

What is required for a continuous flow atmo supplying respirator?

Answer 43

Compressor for air source

Question 44

What is grade D breathing air?

Answer 44

``` O2 19.5-23.5% CO <=10 ppm CO2 <=1000 ppm Oil <=5 mg/m3 Lack of noticeable odor ANSI/CGA Commodity Specification for Air G-7.1-1989 ```

Question 45

What must be minimized with non-oil lubricated compressors?

Answer 45

CO must not exceed 10 ppm

Question 46

What is accessory is included with oil lubricated compressor?

Answer 46

CO and/or high temperature alarms

Question 47

What should be minimized with air compressors in general?

Answer 47

Moisture

Question 48

What are breathing air couplings incompatible with?

Answer 48

Outlets for non-respirable worksite air or other gas systems

Question 49

What should be minimized with cylinders?

Answer 49

Moisture in air

Question 50

What must be done to meet DOT requirements for cylinders?

Answer 50

Labeling, testing, and maintenance

Question 51

Why should cylinder breathing couplings be incompatible with worksite air/other gas systems?

Answer 51

So you don't breathe shitty air lol

Question 52

What should the supplier provide with their breathing air cylinders?

Answer 52

Certificate of analysis

Question 53

When should atmo supplying respirators be used?

Answer 53

When no approved APR is available Abrasive blasting with sand/of toxic substances Escape from/work in IDLH atmospheres

Question 54

What kind of air is provided in an airline respirator?

Answer 54

Grade D

Question 55

What are the cfm requirements for an airline respirator?

Answer 55

4 if tight fitting, 6 if loose fitting

Question 56

What are air line respirators also called?

Answer 56

Type C

Question 57

How long should hoses be for airline respirators?

Answer 57

<=300 feet

Question 58

What is the max pressure for an airline respirator?

Answer 58

125 psig

Question 59

What is a closed circuit SCBA?

Answer 59

Rebreather, absorbs CO2, recycles O2, used in mine rescue, no NIOSH criteria

Question 60

What is an open circuit SCBA?

Answer 60

Pressure demand, grade D air, used in IDLH/emergency response/unknown atmospheres.

Question 61

What is an IDLH atmosphere?

Answer 61

Poses threat of death, immediate or delayed adverse health effects, prevents escape. Can cause these effects within 30 minutes.

Question 62

What are examples of IDLH?

Answer 62

Unknown atmo, firefighting, O2 deficiency, 2000x PEL, 500x PEL particulates, 10% LEL, NIOSH established IDLH levels

Question 63

What kind of RP do IDLH atmospheres require?

Answer 63

NIOSH certified full facepiece pressure demand SCBA with >=30 min air OR combo full facepiece pressure demand air line respirator with auxiliary bottle (15 min for entry and escape)

Question 64

When can an O2 deficient atmosphere NOT be considered IDLH?

Answer 64

If employer can demonstrate the [O2] can be maintained within certain ranges (see table 2), then any atmosphere supplying respirator may be used.

Question 65

What is the exception to the exception for O2 deficient atmospheres and IDLH conditions?

Answer 65

When altitude is >8,000 feet

Question 66

At what altitude must oxygen-enriched breathing air be supplied?

Answer 66

14,000 feet

Question 67

For RP selection, how would one address potential respiratory hazards?

Answer 67

ID airborne chems of concern, determine O2 and chem concentration, review: phys/chem properties, OELS, systemic effects, warning properties

Question 68

For RP selection, how would one address Workplace factors?

Answer 68

How are the chems used, how often, how long for any given task, how much, size of work area, and number of employees impacted.

Question 69

What is required for a user when using RP?

Answer 69

Initial and annual training, medical approval, successful annual fit test

Question 70

What are some considerations when picking a specific piece of RP?

Answer 70

APR vs air supply, facepiece/head gear type, APF, max use concentration, cartridge, filters, air supply

Question 71

What are RPP employer responsibilities?

Answer 71

Evaluate workplace hazards, implement RPP, provide: medical eval, training, respirators and supplies, fit testing, program eval, record keeping.

Question 72

What are RPP employee responsibilities?

Answer 72

Use respirators properly as trained, seal checks, inspect, clean, and maintain, protect equipment, store properly, report malfunction and changes in medical status.

Question 73

How do you clean a respirator?

Answer 73

Clean after each use. Use warm water with cleaning solution, disinfect with 50 ppm each bleach and iodine, rinse well and air dry OR clean with wipes.

Question 74

How do you store respirators?

Answer 74

In a sealed container separate from cartridges. Away from sunlight, moisture, and temperature extremes.

Question 75

In a quantitative fit test, what values are being compared?

Answer 75

Ratio of [particles] outside mask to [particles] inside mask.

Question 76

How does a condensation nucleus counter work?

Answer 76

Grows particles via condensation and counts through light scattering. Can be used for filtering face pieces.

Question 77

How does a controlled negative pressure test work?

Answer 77

Applies negative pressure and measures leak rate. Cannot be used for filtering face pieces.