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Requirements:
Roles and Responsibilities (5.1.7)

Respiratory Protection Program Manager

The respiratory protection program manager will

• Conduct industrial hygiene surveys and designate areas and operations where respirators are required
• Recommend respirator and cartridge types according to the identified or anticipated respiratory hazard
• Recommend protective measures to minimize exposure of personnel to respiratory hazards
• Assist in the selection of signage to identify visually designated respirator use areas
• Review plans for new operations and significant changes to ongoing operations as needed to control respiratory hazards
• Conduct or oversee practical training and fit tests for respirator wearer certification
• Properly maintain fit testing equipment
• Maintain fit test results, respirator user forms, and equipment calibration logs.

Medical Department

The Medical Department will

• Administer medical evaluations to personnel who wear respirators as specified by the respiratory protection program
• Maintain medical records of all personnel for the duration of the person's employment plus 30 years

Managers and Supervisors

Managers and supervisors will

• Ensure the respiratory protection program manager has evaluated their work areas as needed to identify any designated respirator use areas
• Contact the respiratory protection program manager when there is any change in production, process, or equipment that may increase contaminant levels and therefore respiratory protection requirements
• Ensure that personnel wear respiratory protection when working in designated areas or during operations requiring respiratory protection
• Ensure that personnel required to use a respirator properly use, maintain, and store their respirators
• Ensure that personnel who work in designated respiratory protection areas are enrolled in and successfully complete required training, medical evaluation, and practical courses (see Section 5.3, “Training”)
• Update personnel's SLAC Training Assessment with required respiratory protection courses when new personnel are hired for jobs in designated respiratory protection areas or for operations requiring it
• Ensure that personnel denied authorization by the Medical Department or industrial hygiene group to wear a respirator, as indicated on the respirator user form (see Respiratory Protection: Respirator User Form [pdf] [word]), are not issued respirators
• Ensure that employees who voluntarily wear a respirator first complete the requirements of this chapter (see Section 5.1.4.1 - Voluntary Respirator and Dust Mask Use) and become familiar with 29 CFR 1910.134, Appendix D, "Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under Standard"

In addition, it is recommended that managers and supervisors complete the general respiratory safety course (see Section 5.3, “Training”) before any of their personnel wear a respirator

Respirator Users

Personnel who wear respirators will

• Successfully complete required initial training, medical evaluation, and practical fit test prior to first wearing a respirator (see Section 5.3, “Training”)
• Annually renew training and fit testing courses and ensure the SLAC Training Assessment is updated accordingly
• Maintain a clean-shaven face where the respirator facepiece seals effectively against the skin
• Report to the respiratory protection program manager any physical changes that may reduce the effectiveness of the face seal (such as weight loss or gain of 20 or more pounds, scarring, dental changes such as multiple extractions without prosthesis or dentures, or cosmetic surgery)
• Maintain the respirator in good condition by properly washing and storing it as instructed by the manufacturer and not sharing it with or loaning it to others
• Use respirators for processes and operations that have been reviewed and approved by the industrial hygiene group and then only if certified as a respirator wearer

Dust Mask Users

Personnel who voluntarily wear dust masks (where respiratory protection is not required) will 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

continue to Procedures and Specific Requirements (5.2)