Page 24 - OHS, May 2021

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
Each employer has his or her own unique concerns and needs depending on the industry, whether it be health care, general industry, construction, or emergency response.
appropriate training or experience that is commensurate with the complexity of the program to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness. It means key elements of an OSHA- compliant respiratory protection program must be customized based on hazard assessments of a specific workplace to prevent exposure from air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, vapors or sprays. Your programs needs to be updated if new challenges occur.
Our latest challenge is the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019- nCoV) or Patients Under Investigation for 2019-nCoV in Healthcare Settings.
Respiratory Protection CDC Review
■ Use respiratory protection (i.e., a respirator) that is at least as protective as a fit-tested NIOSH-certified disposable N95 filtering facepiece respirator before entry into the patient room or care area.
■ Disposable respirators should be removed and discarded after exiting the patient’s room or care area and closing the door. Perform hand hygiene after discarding the respirator.
■ We need to stop referring to N-95 Respirators as Masks. They are Filtering Facepiece Respirators.
■ If reusable respirators (e.g., powered air purifying respirator/ PAPR) are used, they must be cleaned and disinfected according to manufacturer’s reprocessing instructions prior to re-use.
■ Respirator use must be in the context of a complete respiratory protection program in accordance with OSHA Respiratory Protection standard. Staff should be medically cleared and fit-tested if using respirators with tight-fitting facepieces (e.g., a NIOSH-certified disposable N95) and trained in the proper use of respirators, safe removal and disposal, and medical contraindications to respirator use.
Want to learn more about the respiratory protection standard? Can you reuse a N-95 respirator? Ever heard of Extended or Reuse of N-95 Respirators in Pandemic Planning?
According to OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134), key elements are necessary for compliance. In my respiratory protection program, I have included eleven elements. They are:
1. A written plan detailing how the program will be 20 Occupational Health & Safety | MAY 2021
administered.
2. ThThe selection of respirators based on hazards that will be
encountered in the job-specifific workplace.
3. A medical evaluation must be provided to determine an
employee’s ability to use a respirator before fifit testing and use.
4. Fit testing must be provided to all employees using a negative or positive pressure respirator, and the respirators must pass an appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit
test (QNFT) procedure.
5. Respirators must be correctly used based on site-specific
job hazards.
6. Maintenance and care of respirators must be appropriate,
based on the procedures in Appendix B-2, or equally effective or greater manufacturer’s procedures.
7. Breathing air quality and use shall meet the requirements for Type 1-Grade D breathing air as described in ANSI/CGA Commodity Specification for Air, G-7.1-1989.
8. All filters, cartridges, and canisters used in the workplace must be labeled and color-coded with the NIOSH approval label.
9. Training and information must include:
■ Why the respirator is necessary
■ The limitations and capabilities of the respirator
■ Proper use in emergency situations
■ How to inspect the respirator
■ Procedures for donning and doffing respirators
■ Seal checks
■ Procedures for maintenance and storage
■ How improper fit, use, or maintenance can compromise
the protective effect of the respirator
■ Recognition of medical signs and symptoms that may
limit or prevent effective use of the general requirements of this standard
10. A Respiratory Protection Program Evaluation must conduct evaluations of the site-specific workplace as necessary to ensure proper implementation of the program and consult with employees to ensure proper use.
11. Recordkeeping. Records of medical evaluations must be retained and made available per 29 CFR 1910.1020. A record of fit tests must also be established and retained until the next fit test and a written copy of the current program must be retained.
To meet these challenges, it is necessary that the program administrator is qualified based on the complexity of the specific site and job activities to be better prepared to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness. Fullfilling these items will help to create an effective program.
Dennis A. Terpin, Ph.D., O.H.S.T., EMT-P, is a Retired Senior Industrial Hygienist and Emergency Manager at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Terpin is a member of the ASTM F23.65 committee on Protective Clothing and Respiratory Protection and is a Master Level Instructor for FEMA/DHS at the Center for Domestic Preparedness.
REFERENCE
1. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/ standardnumber/1910/1910.134
www.ohsonline.com