Page 47 - Occupational Health & Safety, December 2017

should first see whether the exposure can be controlled through engineering controls (e.g., workplace ventilation, fume extrac- tors, etc.) or administrative controls (e.g., use of relief workers, rotation of workers, or work breaks). If there is no way to effective- ly reduce the exposure to acceptable levels, respiratory protection must be provided.
Respiratory Protection—
Getting Started
OSHA in 29 CFR 1910.134 details the re- quirements for a respiratory program. Employers who will be using respirators at their facility must read and understand these regulations.
A written program is also required by OSHA and is a core component to an ef- fective and complete respiratory protection program. Per 29 CFR 1910.134, the written program must address work site-specific procedures for:
■ Respirator selection
■ Medical evaluation of the wearer
■ Fit testing
■ Use of respirators in both routine
and emergency situations
■ Maintenance, cleaning, disposal,
and care of the respirators
■ Ensuring adequate air quality if sup-
plied air respirators are used
■ Training of the worker on the respi-
ratory hazards they may encounter and the proper use, care, and maintenance of the respirator they will use
■ Program evaluation to ensure prop- er functioning
Respirator Selection and APFs
After identifying the hazards, the exposure levels from the exposure assessment must be compared to the permissible exposure limit, or PEL, as set by OSHA, to determine whether respiratory protection is needed. Occupational exposure limits are good practice recommendations set by product manufacturers or other professional societ- ies and also can be considered if exposure levels are below the PEL.
Any respirator used in a U.S. workplace must be approved by the National Insti- tute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which has an assigned protection factor (APF). The APF is the workplace lev- el of respiratory protection that a respirator or class of respirators is expected to provide to employees when a complete respiratory
protection program is implemented, and it ranges from 10 to 10,000. An APF of 10, for example, means that, when selected and used correctly, a particular class of respira- tors can reduce exposure levels that are up to 10 times the contaminant PEL to a level determined by OSHA to be acceptable. When considering respiratory products, first identify the necessary APF for each job application that will be performed.
Medical Evaluation and Fit Testing
In some instances, there could be health conditions that could prevent a worker from being able to wear a respirator. OSHA requires workers to have a medical evalu- ation to help ensure they can safely wear the respirator. The process includes, first, for them to complete a questionnaire re- garding health conditions that could affect their ability to wear a respirator, as well as the workplace conditions and hazards they face. A licensed health care professional then must evaluate the employees’ respons- es and advise whether they are able to wear the class of respirator being considered.
After being medically approved, the worker should then undergo fit testing for tight-fitting respirators. Fit testing must be conducted annually or whenever a change occurs that may affect the fit (e.g., signifi- cant change of weight that affects the face, significant dental work, or change in model of facepiece). Refer to 29 CFR 1910.134 for more details.
Respirator Training
For maximum benefit from any piece of PPE, it pays to focus on user acceptance and proper use. In addition, OSHA man- dates that employers ensure that workers are trained annually. At a minimum, train- ing should cover:
■ Why employees need to use respira- tors
■ What a respirator can and cannot do to protect them
■ How to properly inspect, put on, take off, and use a respirator
■ How to perform a user seal check
■ How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including what to do if it does not work properly
■ How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent work- ers from using a respirator
■ How improper fit, use, or mainte-
nance can reduce the effectiveness of the respirator
■ Maintenance and storage proce- dures
■ The requirements for federal/state OSHA respiratory protection standards
Respiratory Maintenance
Respirators should be inspected before each use and during cleaning. Users must follow the manufacturer’s user instructions for specific inspection and maintenance procedures, which commonly point to the following considerations:
■ Respiratory function
■ Tightness and connection
■ Pliability of elastomeric parts
■ The condition of various parts, in-
cluding the face piece, head straps, valves, connecting tube, cartridges, canisters, or filters
Program Evaluation
All elements of a respiratory protection program should be evaluated regularly. The respiratory protection administrator should examine all records to make sure tests, training, and inspections are up to date. They also should observe and talk to users of respiratory protection equipment to ensure respirators are meeting their needs and that workers understand and follow procedures for using and maintain- ing them. It is important to make a record of evaluations and findings, to note any deficiencies, and to document all necessary corrective measures. All of these observa- tions and records help when updating a written respiratory protection program.
Managing an effective respiratory pro- tection program not only keeps companies compliant with relevant regulations, but a well-run program also is the best way to help ensure that your welders are protected from respiratory hazards.
Michael Hallock is a 3M Technical Service Engineer.
REFERENCES
1. A Strategy for Assessing and Managing Oc- cupational Exposures 4th ed. (2015) American Industrial Hygiene Association (www.aiha.org)
2. 29 CFR 1910.134 – Respiratory Protection
(www.osha.gov)
3. www.3M.com/PPESafety
www.ohsonline.com
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