Is Your Respirator Really Protecting You?

Transcription

1 Is Your Respirator Really Protecting You? 2018 Wisconsin Safety Council Safety & Health Conference, Presentation by Tim Gackle, OSHA Training Institute April 18, Objectives Define Respirator Discuss the Hierarchy of Controls Review management of a Respiratory Protection Program Discuss types of respirators Review respirator features Dispel myths about respirators Discuss proper selection of respirators 2 What is a Respirator? A personal device designed to protect the wearer from the inhalation of hazardous atmospheres. (ANSI Z ) Any device designed to provide the wearer with respiratory protection against inhalation of a hazardous atmosphere. (NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84, FR 6/8/95) 3 1

2 What is a Respirator? (cont.) Respirators are devices that protect employees from inhaling harmful substances, including chemical, biological, and radiological agents. These substances can be in the form of airborne vapors, gases, dust, fogs, fumes, mists, smokes, or sprays. Some respirators also ensure that employees do not breathe air that contains dangerously low levels of oxygen or that is otherwise immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH), (e.g., life-threatening exposures during interior structural firefighting.) (OSHA s Small Entity Compliance Guide, 2011) 4 MYTH #1 Dust masks are NOT respirators! 5 Definition: Filtering Facepiece (Dust Mask) Negative pressure particulate respirator with a filter as an integral part of the facepiece or with the entire facepiece composed of the filtering medium. 6 2

3 MYTH #2 I provide respirators to my employees, therefore they are protected! 7 Exposure Control Priority (8) Engineering Control Options 1st 9 3

4 Engineering Control Options 2nd 10 Respirator Program Elements-- 29CFR (c)(1) Summary 1. Selection 2. Medical evaluation 3. Fit testing 4. Use 5. Maintenance and care 6. Breathing air quality and use 7. Training 8. Program evaluation 9. Recordkeeping requirements 11 Respirator Program (c)(1) Must develop a written program with worksite-specific procedures when respirators are necessary or required by the employer Does your company perform Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)? 12 4

5 Respirator Program (c)(1) (cont.) Must update program as necessary to reflect changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use 13 MYTH #3 The Respirator Program Administrator must be a Safety Professional! 14 Respirator Program (c)(1) (cont.) Must designate a program administrator who is qualified by appropriate training or experience to administer or oversee the program and conduct the required program evaluations 15 5

6 Respirator Program (c)(1) (cont.) Note: OSHA s Small Entity Compliance Guide contains criteria for selection of a program administrator and a sample program. 16 Respirator Program (c)(1) (cont.) OSHA will look at: Level of appropriate training Knowledge of the standard Complexity of the program Previous experience Evaluations conducted by the administrator Effectiveness of the program Time factor considerations 17 Respirator Program (c)(1) (cont.) The employer must provide respirators, training, and medical evaluations at no cost to the employee 18 6

7 Program Evaluation (l) Must conduct evaluations of the workplace as necessary to ensure effective implementation of the program * Recall discussion of Myth #2 19 Program Evaluation (l) (cont.) Must regularly consult employees required to use respirators to assess their views on program effectiveness and to identify and correct any problems 20 Program Evaluation (l) (cont.) Factors to be assessed include, but are not limited to: respirator fit (including effect on workplace performance) appropriate selection proper use proper maintenance 21 7

8 Respirator Program Where Respirator Use is Not Required (c)(2) Employer may provide respirators at employee s request or permit employees to use their own respirators, if employer determines that such use in itself will not create a hazard 22 Respirator Program Where Respirator Use is Not Required (c)(2) (cont.) If voluntary use is permissible, employer must provide users with the information contained in Appendix D 23 MYTH #4 Appendix D is posted on the All-Employee Bulletin Board, so I have met the OSHA requirement. 24 8

9 Respirator Program Where Respirator Use is Not Required (c)(2) (cont.) Must establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that employee is medically able to use the respirator and that it is cleaned, stored, and maintained so it does not present a health hazard to the user 25 Respirator Program Where Respirator Use is Not Required (c)(2) (cont.) Exception: Employers are not required to include in a written program employees whose only use of respirators involves voluntary use of filtering facepieces (dust masks). 26 Respirator-Use Requirements per 29 CFR (c) Flow Chart JHA 1 st >>> 27 9

10 Filtering Facepiece (Dust Mask) Concerns Is this a respirator? Is it a tight fitting respirator? 28 Tight-fitting facepiece A respiratory inlet covering that forms a complete seal with the face. 29 Filtering Facepiece (Dust Mask) Concerns Can it be fit tested? Is medical evaluation required: For voluntary use? For required use? Can a user seal be performed? 30 10

11 User Seal Check: An action conducted by the respirator user to determine if the respirator is properly seated to the face. 31 Elastomeric Facepiece Facepieces that are made of butyl or natural rubber, neoprene, silicone, man-made plastics, etc. Usually the air-purifying elements can be replaced 32 Two Classes of Respirators Air - purifying (APR) respirators, which remove contaminants from the air by passing ambient air through a filter, cartridge, or canister. Atmosphere - supplying respirators, which provide clean air from a source independent of the ambient atmosphere

12 Myth #5 (Be careful with this one) When I smell the chemical through the respirator, it s time to change the cartridge Considerations: Is it actually a filter? Cartridge change schedule in place? What are the odor properties of the chemical? Is the seal bad? Is this a usage issue? Training? 34 Two Operational Modes Negative Pressure - A respirator in which the air pressure inside the facepiece is negative during inhalation with respect to the ambient air pressure outside the respirator. Positive Pressure - A respirator in which the air pressure inside the respiratory inlet covering exceeds the ambient air pressure outside the respirator. 35 Tight - Fitting Respiratory Inlet Coverings Quarter Mask Half Mask Full Facepiece Mouthpiece/Nose Clamp (no fit test required) 36 12

13 Myth #6 OSHA says respirator wearers must be clean shaven to wear a tight-fitting respirator, or OSHA says no facial hair is allowed No facial hair or any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function per (g)(1)(i) 37 Protective Features If a respirator is a tight fitting APR, negative pressure: - Effective seal to prevent inward leakage - Purifying element (filter, cartridge, or canister) (Applies to filtering facepieces also) - Continuing effective RPP + applicable elements * Tight fitting + Required Use = Fit Test Required 38 Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) An air-purifying respirator that uses a blower to force the ambient air through air-purifying elements to the inlet covering

14 Protective Features If respirator is tight or loose fitting PAPR, positive pressure: - Positive pressure to prevent inward leakage - Purifying element (filter, cartridge, or canister) - Continuing effective RPP + applicable elements - Proper battery maintenance to ensure correct air flow (maintain positive pressure) 40 Loose-Fitting Coverings Hoodd Helmets Loose-fitting Facepiece 41 There are only two types of respirators approved for entry into IDLH [per (d)(2)(i)(A) & (B)]. Full facepiece PD SCBA for 30 min or more Combo FF PD SAR with auxiliary self-contained air supply 42 14

15 Selecting Respirators Don t forget the hierarchy of controls Evaluate respiratory hazard (job analysis) Type of respiratory hazard (particulate, gas/vapor, O2 Deficient) Routine and emergency use Must use Assigned Protection Factors (APF) Sufficient variety Work environment (heat, cold, confined spaces, rescue constraints, others) User factors (e.g. vision requirements, worker mobility, communication, safety, comfort) NIOSH-certified (when respirator is required) 43 Selecting Respirators Example 44 Assigned Protection Factor (APF) OSHA definition - The workplace level of respiratory protection that a respirator or class of respirators is expected to provide to employees when the employer implements a continuing, effective respiratory protection program 45 15

16 Respirator Standard: (d)(3)(i)(A) Assigned Protection Factors (APFs) Employers must use the assigned protection factors listed in Table 1 to select a respirator that meets or exceeds the required level of employee protection. When using a combination respirator (e.g., airline respirators with an air-purifying filter), employers must ensure that the assigned protection factor is appropriate to the mode of operation in which the respirator is being used. 46 Table 1 Assigned Protection Factors 47 Primary Respirator Program elements to check during a program evaluation. 1. Review paper : Written program, records (fit testing, medical evaluation, emergency use respirators monthly inspection, etc.) 2. Observation: Are respirators being properly maintained, stored, are workers performing user seal checks and wearing respirators correctly, etc. 3. Employee Interviews: Is training adequate (do workers know why they are wearing respirators, respirator capabilities and limitations, where to go if there is a problem, know about the program, etc.) & is someone regularly consulting the employees about the effectiveness of the program 48 16

17 Questions? Tim Gackle, Industrial Hygienist Safety & Health Instructor, OSHA Training Institute, Arlington Heights, IL Contact Information: Ph: Thank you WSC and attendees! 49 17