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Requirements:
General (5.1)

Successful implementation of the respiratory protection program supports a safe and healthy work environment by

• Anticipating, recognizing, and evaluating respiratory hazards before they exist (such as during design review)
• Implementing recommended engineering controls where feasible
• Implementing administrative controls when engineering controls are not feasible
• Surveying work areas to identify respiratory hazards (such as toxic agents or ventilation problems) and taking appropriate measures to reduce them
• Training personnel to recognize hazards and to take appropriate safety measures when working under potentially hazardous conditions
• Choosing the appropriate respiratory protection, taking into account the protection factor, cartridge type used, and other factors
• Determining which personnel should complete respiratory safety training, medical surveillance, and fit testing based upon their job hazard analysis and mitigation (JHAM) and occupational exposure surveys

Respiratory protection is coordinated by the respiratory protection program within the Chemical and General Safety (CGS) Department in the Environment, Safety, and Health (ES&H) Division. Respirator usage surveys and fit tests may be performed by a qualified technician, but the process must be overseen by respiratory protection program manager, who will also be available to evaluate and assist in the design of ventilation systems, work practices, and selection and use of respirators.

Hazard Recognition

The respiratory protection program consists of identifying and properly evaluating and identifying respirable hazards, then providing recommendations to reduce the potential for exposure and improve health in the workplace. (See Industrial Hygiene: Hazard Recognition Guidelines [pdf].)

Industrial Hygiene Surveys

Before respiratory protection may be worn, the respiratory protection program manager must perform baseline IH surveys of work areas and operations as needed to identify and evaluate potential worker health risks and make respirator use recommendations. (See Industrial Hygiene: Surveying and Monitoring Guidelines [pdf].)

Exposure Limits

Respirators are required when the respiratory protection program manager has determined that the occupational exposure limit (OEL) is or could be exceeded.

Designated Respirator Use Areas and Operations

The respiratory protection program manager designates areas and operations where respirators are required, based on survey results. (See Respiratory Protection: Designated Respirator Use Area List [pdf].)

The following requirements apply to designated respirator use operations or areas:

• The respiratory protection program manager must resurvey designated respirator use operations or areas whenever notified that changing conditions (such as the addition or relocation of equipment or chemical processes) may increase contaminant concentrations.
• Personnel who work in designated respirator use operations or areas or who otherwise need to wear respirators must first complete training, undergo a medical exam (including medical questionnaire and spirometry), and complete the practical fit test and instruction. (See Section 5.3, “Training”.) They then must wear respirators in these areas when processes requiring respiratory protection are occurring.

Respirator Use

Respirators are the last resort for control of exposures and are only to be used when engineering controls, process modification, and other measures are not practical or have proved inadequate. Respirators may be used at SLAC only after training, medical evaluation, fit-testing, and specific approval of the operation by the respiratory protection program manager.

An industrial hygienist will determine the type of respirator to be used for the hazard identified and will provide a customized cartridge change schedule to each group or individual using respirators based on cartridge service life, contaminant concentrations, and other factors as identified in the corresponding industrial hygiene survey. (See Respiratory Protection: Use, Maintenance, and Storage Requirements [pdf].)

Voluntary Respirator and Dust Mask Use

Note: All persons who choose to wear respirators or dust masks voluntarily must become familiar with the contents of 20 CFR 1910.134, Appendix D, "Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under Standard".

Voluntary Respirator Use

When a survey or other determination by the industrial hygiene group has shown that respiratory protection is not required, personnel who wish to wear a respirator voluntarily must first contact their supervisor and the respiratory program manager to discuss the concern and obtain approval. If voluntary use is approved, the individual must comply with the requirements of this chapter (including required training, medical evaluation, practical fit test, and roles and responsibilities). The above requirements do not apply to the voluntary use of dust masks.

Voluntary Use of Dust Masks

When a respirator is not required, an individual may choose to use a dust mask for comfort. Dust mask users may elect to take the respirator safety training course but will not undergo a medical evaluation, spirometry test, or practical fit test unless required for other respirator use. There is no formal approval process for wearing a dust mask.

If voluntary dust mask use is elected, SLAC will provide the wearer with a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approved dust mask from SLAC Stores.

Voluntary dust mask users must become familiar with and follow the guidance of 29 CFR 1910.134, Appendix D, "Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under Standard", before wearing a dust mask.

Warning

Negative-pressure respirators are not to be worn in IDLH or oxygen-deficient atmospheres, or for protection against contaminants with poor warning properties.

Dust masks are not to be worn as protection against harmful gases or vapor, toxic contaminants, high concentrations of contaminants (such as those released during sandblasting,) or in IDLH or oxygen-deficient atmospheres.

Fit Testing

Fit testing must occur only after a person has been medically cleared to wear a respirator. The Respiratory Protection: Respirator User Form [pdf] [word] must be completed and signed off by the respiratory protection program manager, and the training record updated, before a person can wear the respirator as required by the job.

Fit testing must occur annually. An additional fit test must be administered whenever the individual selects a different respirator or when changes occur to the person's physical condition that could prevent an effective face seal. Such conditions include facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight (a guideline is the loss or gain of 20 pounds).

Fit testing must be conducted in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.134 (f). At the time of publication, only quantitative fit testing is conducted at SLAC for negative-pressure respirators. (See Respiratory Protection: Respiratory Protection Evaluation and Certification Procedure [pdf].)

Equipment

Types

Only air purifying half-mask and full-face respirators and dust masks are approved for industrial purposes at SLAC.

There are no approved air line or other supplied air systems in use at SLAC.

Maintenance and Care of Respirators

Personnel who are required to wear a respirator must properly maintain their equipment, which includes

• Performance of a leak check each time the respirator is put on, prior to using for protection
• Periodic inspection for defects
• Periodic cleaning and disinfecting
• Proper storage
• Replacement and repair as needed

(See Respiratory Protection: Use, Maintenance, and Storage Requirements [pdf].)

Fit Testing Equipment

Respirator fit test equipment (such as the Portacount) must be maintained, serviced, and calibrated according to manufacturer recommendations. Equipment must be sent out for factory service and calibration at a frequency established by the manufacturer.

The equipment must be marked with a sticker or tag indicating the most recent calibration date, and when calibration is due again. Before- and after-use calibrations by the industrial hygiene group need not be marked on the unit.

Equipment that is broken, inaccurate, or past-due for calibration must be tagged out of service until repaired or recalibrated. The tag must provide the date, the person's name, reason the unit was taken out of service, and the planned disposition of the unit.

Personnel

Qualifications

Respirator usage surveys and fit tests may be performed by a qualified technician, but the process must be overseen by the respiratory protection program manager.

Medical Surveillance

All personnel working in a designated respirator use area, or who are otherwise required to wear a respirator as a part of their job, must first obtain required the medical evaluation and clearance before doing the practical fit test and wearing a respirator. (See Respiratory Protection: Evaluation and Certification Procedure [pdf].)

Medical evaluations are required for respirator wearers before being issued a respirator and every three years thereafter. However, should the wearer experience difficulty in respirator use, the supervisor must immediately refer the wearer to the Medical Department and the respiratory protection program manager for medical reevaluation before allowing further respirator use. Conditions which would indicate a need for reevaluation include

• Wearer has difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a severe psychological reaction during respirator use or any phase of fit testing
• Wearer reports signs or symptoms that are related to respirator use
• Any change in individual exposure or stress, physical difficulty in respirator use, or change in work conditions such as physical work effort, protective clothing, or temperature.

The SLAC Medical Department performs all required medical surveillance (see Chapter 3, "Medical"). As part of the SLAC Training Assessment (STA), initial medical evaluations [pdf] for respirator use (including medical questionnaire and spirometry) are triggered for personnel enrolled in ES&H Course 241ME, Respirator Safety Medical Exam. Medical questionnaires and exams will be conducted in compliance with 29 CFR 1910. 134(e) and 29 CFR 1910.134, Appendix C, "OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire".

Recordkeeping

Fit Tests

Paper copies of respirator fit test results must be kept on file until the next fit test is administered. They are located in the CGS Department and are indexed for easy retrieval. Fit test records must include the following:

• The name or identification of the person tested
• Type of fit test performed
• Specific make, model, style, and size of respirator tested
• Date of test
• The pass/fail results for qualitative fit tests or the fit factor and strip chart recording or other recording of the test results for quantitative fit tests

Medical Questionnaires and Exam Records

Paper copies of medical history questionnaire forms and medical exam records must be maintained on file for the duration of the affected person's employment plus 30 years. The Medical Department maintains these records.

Equipment Calibration Logs and Records

The industrial hygiene group maintains an equipment calibration inventory. This identifies fit testing equipment, the date of most recent calibration, and the next calibration due date.

continue to Requirements, Roles & Responsibilities (5.1.7)