respiratr.htm

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PLAN

PURPOSE:

To establish a Respirator Protection Program with regard to the proper use of respirators.

OBJECTIVE:

The primary objective is to prevent excessive exposure to airborne contaminants. Where feasible, this shall be accomplished through engineering controls ( for example, enclosure or isolation, general or local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials.) When effective engineering controls are not feasible or while they are being instituted or evaluated, the use of appropriate respiratory protection will be required.

EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY

Respirators shall be provided by Plymouth State University when such equipment is necessary to protect the employee.
Plymouth State University shall provide the respirators that are applicable and suitable for the purpose intended.
Plymouth State University shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a respiratory protection program that shall meet the requirements of appropriate regulatory standards.
A respirator wearer shall be permitted by the employer to leave the hazardous area for any respiratory-related cause. Reasons may include but are not limited to the following:

- failure of the respirator to provide adequate protection;

- malfunction of the respirator;

- detection of leakage of air contaminant into the respirator;

- increase in resistance of respirator during breathing;

- severe discomfort in wearing the respirator;

- illness of the respirator wearer, including: sensation of dizziness, nausea, weakness, breathing difficulty, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, fever, and chills.

- to wash his/her face and the respirator face piece to minimize skin irritation;

- to change the air-purifying elements or other components, whenever needed;

- to take periodic breaks in an uncontaminated area.

Malfunctions of respiratory protective equipment shall be investigated by the employer to determne the cause and to assure corrective measures are taken. Suspected manufacturing defects should be reported to the manufacturer and certifying agency

EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITY

The employee shall use the provided respiratory protection in accordance with instructions and training received.
The employee shall guard against all damage to the respirator.
If a respirator malfunction occurs, the employee shall immediately leave the contaminated area and report the malfunction to his/hersupervisor or the safety officer designated.
The employee shall report to his/her supervisor any change in his/her medical status that may impact the employee's ability to wear a respirator safely.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

The coordinator of the Respirator Program shall be the Office of Environmental Services. It is the responsibility of the coordinator to assure that the elements outlined in this program are adhered to by all affected employees of Plymouth State University.

Responsibilities include:

- Identifying areas requiring respiratory protection

- Evaluation of areas where respiratory protection is required

- Selection of appropriate level of respiratory protection

- Provide employee training in the use, selection, storage and maintenance of respiratory protection equipment

- Evaluate employees for suitability for respirator use and provide adequate fit testing procedures

- Coordinate the respirator inspection process

- Perform annual evaluation of the respirator program

- Maintain documentation on equipment certification and inspection, and employee training

MEDICAL MONITORING

A physician shall determine whether or not an employee has any medical conditions that would preclude the use of respirators. The physician shall follow the guidance in ANSI Z88.6 (Appendix A) on the frequency and content of the examination. The program administrator shall advise the physician of the following conditions to aid in the determination of the medical evaluation required:

- The types of respirators for normal and emergency use;

- Typical work activities, environmental conditions, frequency and duration of use;

- The hazards for which the respiratory equipment will be worn including the potential exposures to reduced oxygen environments.

EMPLOYEE TRAINING PROGRAM

Respirators users shall be instructed and trained in the proper use of respirators and their limitations. The elements of the training program are as follows:
Classes of Respirators:

A. Supplied Air Respirators (SAR) have a supply of pure, clean air that is fed directly to the respirator face piece. They are used in atmospheres where any of the following are present or possible:

- oxygen deficiency

- highly toxic contaminants

- IDLH conditions

- unknown type and quantities of contaminants

- contaminants with poor warning properties

B. Air Purifying Respirators (APR) do not have their own supply of air, rather, they function by cleaning, or purifying the ambient or surrounding air. Hence, the use of APR's has many limitations and restrictions. Air purifying respirators are worn ONLY when:

- oxygen concentration in the atmosphere is <_ 19.5%

- contaminant has adequate warning property

- types and levels of contaminant in atmosphere is not above IDLH or cartridge specifications

AIR PURIFING RESPIRATOR LIMITATIONS:

Air purifying respirators DO NOT SUPPLY OXYGEN.

Air purifying respirators may not be used in oxygen deficient atmospheres or atmospheres immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).When using air purifying respirators for protection against gases and vapors, the contaminants MUST have adequate warning properties. Air purifying respirators are to be used in accordance with instructions, labels, and limitations pertaining to the device. Failure to do so voids the NIOSH/MSHA approval and the manufacture's stated protection

The respirator seal must be checked prior to entering the contaminated work area. Failure to do so may result in leakage which voids or limits protection. The work area is to left immediately if breathing becomes difficult, dizziness or other distress occurs, or if any odor, taste, or irritation is noticeable. Never alter or modify respirators. Only spare parts and filters from the manufacturer's line may be used. Air purifying respirators are not to be used against gaseous materials which are extremely toxic in small concentrations. Chemical cartridge respirators cannot be used for protection against gaseous materials which are not effectively stopped by the activated carbon, regardless of the concentration. Air purifying respirators are not to be used unless the wearer has been trained in the selection, use, and maintenance of these devices. Air purifying respirators are not to be assigned to an individual for use unless it has been determined that he/she is physically capable of using the respirator. The determination is to be made by a physician.

Respirators, even when worn conscientiously, do not provide the wearer 100% protection. The protection is, however, increased when the employee has an understanding of the warnings and limitations of these devices.

RESPIRATOR SLECTION PROCESS

The selection of the proper type(s) of respirator(s) shall be based upon:

- the nature of the hazardous operation or process;
- the type of respiratory hazard (including physical properties, oxygen deficiency, physiological effects on the body, concentration of toxic levels, established limits for the toxic materials, and the established exposure limits for the toxic materials, and the established immediately dangerous to life or health concentration for the toxic material);
- the location of the hazardous area in relation to the nearest area having breathable air;
- the period of time for which the respiratory protection must be worn;
- the activities of the workers in the hazardous area;
- the physical characteristics and functional capabilities and limitations of the various types of respirators;
- respirator-assigned protection factors.

TRAINING

Each respirator wearer shall be given documented training and retraining, which shall include explanations and discussions of:

- the respiratory hazard and the effect on the wearer if the respirator is not used properly;
- the engineering and administrative controls being used and the need for respirators to provide protection;
- the reason for selecting a particular type of respirator;
- the function, capabilities, and limitations of the selected respirator;
- the method of donning the respirator and checking its fit and operation;
- the proper wearing of the respirator;
- respirator maintenance, inspection, and storage;
- recognizing and handling emergency situations;
- applicable governmental regulations for specific substances.

RESPIRATOR FIT

Each person shall be fit tested before being assigned a tight-fitting respirator. Each person using a tight-fitting respirator shall conduct a fit check of the respirator by appropriate means each time the respirator is donned or adjusted. All respirator fit testing must be documented.

MAINTENANCE, INSPECTION, AND STORAGE

Maintenance shall be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction and on a schedule that insures that each respirator wearer is provided with a respirator that is clean, sanitary, and in good operating condition. Each respirator shall be inspected by the wearer prior to its use to ensure that it is in proper working condition. Respirators shall be stored in a convenient, clean, and sanitary location.

PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION

All documents produced to meet the documentation requirements of this program (employee training, employee fit testing, equipment inspection etc. ) shall kept with the safety officer (program administrator).

AIR PURFYING RESPIRATOR DONNING AND FIT TESTING

DONNING INSTRUCTIONS

Always make certain that the respirator is assembled correctly, has the appropriate cartridge for the work assignment, and a full inspection is made. All straps should be fully loosened. ( a respirator must be inspected by the wearer before and after each use to ensure good working condition.)

HALF-MASK: Secure lower strap around neck, place respirator under the chin and over the nose. Secure upper strap over the cradle of your head. Adjust straps from bottom to top of head for proper fit; be sure not to over tighten.

FULL FACEPIECE; Place respirator under chin, pull headgear over the head. Adjust straps from bottom to top of head for proper fit; be sure not to over tighten.

Perform negative and positive fit tests.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Every respirator wearer shall receive fitting instructions including demonstrations and practice in how the respirator should be worn, how to adjust it, and how to determine if it fits properly. Respirators shall not be worn when conditions prevent a goo face seal. Such conditions may be a growth of beard, sideburns, a skull cap that projects under the face piece, or temple pieces on glasses. Also the absence of one or both dentures can seriously affect the fit of a face piece. Also, contact lenses should not be worn with a respirator.

Factors preventing a good seal:

GLASSES SKULL CAP

FACIAL HAIR PERSONAL FITNESS/WEIGHT

FACIAL SCARS SWEAT

LACK OF FALSE TEETH

FIT TESTING

NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE FIT TESTING - to be performed by employee. Both positive pressure and negative pressure fit checks must be performed by the employee after donning a respirator.

Place palm of hand over the exhalation valve cover and gently exhale to create slight pressure inside the face piece. Check the respirator seal by listening and feeling for leakage of air from the face piece. If leakage is detected, reposition the respirator on the face and/or readjust the tension of the headbands. Repeat until a satisfactory seal is obtained.

- Negative Pressure Fit Check

Place palms of hands over the cartridge (inhalation ports) and inhale gently to create negative pressure inside face piece. Hold breath for five to ten seconds. As the face piece collapses slightly, check the respirator seal by listening and felling for leakage of air from the face piece. If leakage is detected, reposition the respirator on the face and/or readjust the tension of the headbands. Repeat until a satisfactory seal is obtained.

Qualitative fit testing (to be performed annually by program coordinator)

Qualitative fit testing must be performed initially for all respirator wearers and again if the person's facial contour changes. Qualitative fit testing is performed to test the seal of the face piece.

Organic Vapors

(1) Use face piece equipped with organic vapor cartridge only; conduct test in area with no noticeable air movement.

(2) Saturate a tissue or cloth with isoamyl acetate (banana oil). Check that subject can detect the smell.

(3) Subject dons respirator; tester moves saturated tissue or cloth slowly around entire sealing surface of the respirator at a distance three to six inches while subject breathes shallowly, jog in place, stretches, and moves head from side to side and up and down.

Particulates

(1) Use face piece equipped only with high efficiency filters; conduct test in area with no noticeable air movement.

(2) Break both ends of a smoke tube, inserting one end into an aspirator bulb. Squeeze aspirator bulb to generate the test aerosol (stannic chloride). Check that subject can detect the presence of the irritant smoke.

(3) Subject dons respirator; tester directs smoke around entire sealing surface of the respirator a distance of three to six inches while subject breathes shallowly, jogs in place, stretches, and moves head from side to side and up and down.

(4) If subject detects the irritant smoke, record fit testing as unsatisfactory. Reinspect the respirator and face to face piece seal and retest. If wearer fails again, look into a different size and/or different manufacturer's respirator.

AIR PURIFYING RESPIRATOR INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, STORAGE

Inspection

Respirators must be inspected and cleansed after each use. All detachable parts are removed and cleaned separately. They can be used again if their service life has not been exhausted. A log or record of inspections should be maintained.

To cleanse the face piece and other respirator parts, wash parts separately in sanitized solution. Parts should go through two water rinses and left to air dry on a paper towel or clean cloth. When dry. parts are assembled and the respirator fully inspected, placed in a clean, dry, airtight, plastic bag.

Maintenance

If any part of the respirator needs repair, be sure to go directly back to the manufacturer. Do not interchange parts from one manufacturer's respirator to another. This void all approval codes issued to that respirator. Make all notes about repairs on the inspection report.

Storage

Respirators must be stored where they are protected from conditions that could alter the shape of the mask. Avoid storing respirators in areas of high heat, direct sunlight, extreme cold, very dusty environments, excessive moisture, or where objects may fall or be place on top of the respirator.

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