1.0  INTRODUCTION

To control occupational diseases caused by air contaminates the primary objective is to prevent atmospheric contamination. This will be accomplished as far as feasible by engineering control measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials). When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators must be used. A respirator is a safety device covering at least the nose and mouth that protects the wearer against hazardous atmospheres containing particulates/dusts, toxic vapors and gases, and oxygen deficiency. Approximately five million employees in the U.S. use respirators. Improper use of respirators can result in overexposure to hazardous contaminants, oxygen deficiency, or acute and chronic health effects.

2.0  DEFINITIONS

Air-purifying respirator- a respirator with an air-purifying filter, cartridge, or canister that removes specific air contaminants by passing air through an air-purifying element.

Atmosphere-supplying respirator- a respirator that supplies the user with breathing air from a source independent of the ambient atmosphere, and includes supplied-air respirators (SARs) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units.

Canister or cartridge- a container with a filter, sorbent, or catalyst, or combination of these items, which removes specific contaminants from the air passed through the container.

Demand respirator- an atmosphere-supplying respirator that admits breathing air to the facepiece only when a negative pressure is created inside the facepiece by inhalation.

Emergency situation- any occurrence such as equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment that results in an uncontrolled significant release of an airborne contaminant.

Employee exposure- exposure to a concentration of an airborne contaminant that would occur if the employee were not using respiratory protection.

End-of-service-life indicator (ESLI)- a system that warns the respirator user of the approach of the end of adequate respiratory protection, for example, that the sorbent is approaching saturation or is no longer effective.

Escape-only respirator- a respirator intended to be used only for emergency exit.

Filter or air purifying element- a component used in respirators to remove solid or liquid aerosols from the inspired air.

Filtering facepiece (dust mask)- a negative pressure particulate respirator with a filter as an integral part of the facepiece or with the entire facepiece composed of the filtering medium.

Fit factor- a quantitative estimate of the fit of a particular respirator to a specific individual, and typically estimates the ratio of the concentration of a substance in ambient air to its concentration inside the respirator when worn.

Fit test- the use of a protocol to qualitatively or quantitatively evaluate the fit of a respirator on an individual.

Helmet- a rigid respiratory inlet covering that also provides head protection against impact and penetration.

High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter- a filter that is at least 99.97% efficient in removing particles of 0.3 micrometers in diameter. The equivalent NIOSH particulate filters are the N100, R100, and P100 filters.

Hood- a respiratory inlet covering that completely covers the head and neck and may also cover portions of the shoulders and torso.

Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH)- an atmosphere that poses an immediate threat to life, would cause irreversible adverse health effects, or would impair an individual's ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere.

Loose-fitting facepiece- a respiratory inlet covering that is designed to form a partial seal with the face.

Negative pressure respirator (tight fitting)- a respirator in which the air pressure inside the facepiece is negative during inhalation with respect to the ambient air pressure outside the respirator.

Oxygen deficient atmosphere- an atmosphere with an oxygen content below 19.5% by volume.

Physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP)- an individual whose legally permitted scope of practice allows him or her to independently provide, or be delegated the responsibility to provide, some or all of the health care services required by this standard.

Positive pressure respirator- a respirator in which the pressure inside the respiratory inlet covering exceeds the ambient air pressure outside the respirator.

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.

Pressure demand respirator- a positive pressure atmosphere-supplying respirator that admits breathing air to the facepiece when the positive pressure is reduced inside the facepiece by inhalation.

Qualitative fit test (QLFT)- a pass/fail fit test to assess the adequacy of respirator fit that relies on the individual's response to the test agent.

Quantitative fit test (QNFT)- an assessment of the adequacy of respirator fit by numerically measuring the amount of leakage into the respirator.

Respiratory inlet covering- that portion of a respirator that forms the protective barrier between the user's respiratory tract and an air-purifying device or breathing air source, or both. It may be a facepiece, helmet, hood, suit, or a mouthpiece respirator with nose clamp.

Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)- an atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the breathing air source is designed to be carried by the user.

Service life- the period of time that a respirator, filter or sorbent, or other respiratory equipment provides adequate protection to the wearer.

Supplied-air respirator (SAR) or airline respirator- an atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the source of breathing air is not designed to be carried by the user.

Tight-fitting facepiece- a respiratory inlet covering that forms a complete seal with the face.

User seal check- an action conducted by the respirator user to determine if the respirator is properly seated to the face.

3.0  RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM

Respirator Use Required

1. Where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee, the Safety Office will establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures.

2. The program will be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use.

3. The following provisions will be included in the program:

• Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace.
• Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators.
• Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators.
• Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations.
• Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, and maintaining respirators.
• Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators.
• Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations.
• Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance.
• Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

4. The Safety Manager will administer the respiratory protection program and conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness.

5. Respirators, training, and medical evaluations will be provided at no cost to the employee.

Respirator Use Not Required

1. Respirators may be provided at the request of employees when a respirator is not required. If a respirator is used voluntarily, the respirator user will be provided with the information contained in Appendix D of the OSHA regulations.

2. In addition, the university will ensure that the employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator is cleaned, stored, and maintained properly. Fit testing and training is not required. The university will not include in its respiratory protection program those employees whose only use of respirators involves the voluntary use of filtering facepieces (dust masks).

General Requirements

1. Appropriate respirator will be supplied based on the respiratory hazards.

2. Only NIOSH-certified respirator will be used. The respirator will be used in compliance with the conditions of its certification.

3. Respiratory hazards in the workplace will be identified and evaluated by the Safety Office. This evaluation will include a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and an identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form. If the employee exposure cannot be identified or reasonably estimated the exposure will be considered IDLH.

4. Respirators will be selected from a sufficient number of respirator models and sizes so that the respirator is acceptable to, and correctly fits, the user.

5. Compressed breathing air will meet at least the requirements for Grade D breathing air.

6. All filters, cartridges and canisters used in the workplace will be labeled and color coded with the NIOSH approval label.

Respirators For IDLH Atmospheres

1. The following respirators will be provided for employee use in IDLH atmospheres:

• A full facepiece pressure demand SCBA certified by NIOSH for a minimum service life of thirty minutes, or
• A combination full facepiece pressure demand supplied-air respirator (SAR) with auxiliary self-contained air supply.

2. Respirators provided only for escape from IDLH atmospheres will be NIOSH-certified for escape from the atmosphere in which they will be used.

3. All oxygen-deficient atmospheres will be considered IDLH.

Respirators For Atmospheres That Are Not IDLH

1. A respirator that is adequate to protect health and complies with all other OSHA requirements will be provided to employees.

2. The respirator selected shall be appropriate for the chemical state and physical form of the contaminant.

3. The following will be provided for protection against gases and vapors:

• An atmosphere-supplying respirator, or
• An air-purifying respirator, provided that is equipped with an end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI) certified by NIOSH for the contaminant. If there is no ESLI, a change schedule that is based on objective information that will ensure that cartridges are changed before the end of their service life will be implemented. The information relied upon and the basis for the cartridge change schedule will be included in the respirator program.

4. For protection against particulates, the following will be provided:

• An atmosphere-supplying respirator; or
• An air-purifying respirator equipped with a filter certified by NIOSH as a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, or an air-purifying respirator equipped with a filter certified for particulates by NIOSH.

5.0  MEDICAL EVALUATION

General

1. A medical evaluation will be performed to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. Medical evaluations are not required for those who use escape only respirators. Users of non-voluntary filtering facepiece respirators (dust masks) must be medically evaluated. Voluntary users of dust masks are not required to be medically evaluated. All users of air-supplied and PAPR respirators must also be medically evaluated. Medical evaluations are not required annually unless deemed necessary by a physician.

Procedures

1. The university will use a physician to perform medical evaluations. The physician will use a medical questionnaire or a medical examination that obtains the same information as the medical questionnaire.

2. The medical evaluation shall obtain the information requested by Appendix C of the OSHA regulations.

3. Employees who refuse to be medically evaluated cannot be assigned a respirator.

Follow-Up Medical Examination

1. A follow-up medical examination will be provided for an employee who gives a positive response to any question among questions 1 through 8 in Section 2, Part A of Appendix C or whose initial medical examination demonstrates the need for a follow-up medical examination.

2. The follow-up medical examination shall include any medical tests, consultations, or diagnostic procedures that the physician deems necessary to make a final determination.

Administration Of  Medical Questionnaire and Examinations

1. The medical questionnaire and examinations will be administered confidentially during the employee's normal working hours or at a time and place convenient to the employee. The medical questionnaire will be administered in a manner that ensures that the employee understands its content.

2. The employee will have an opportunity to discuss the questionnaire and examination results with the physician.

Supplemental Information For Physicians

1. The following information will be provided to the physician before the physician makes a recommendation concerning an employee's ability to use a respirator:

• The type and weight of the respirator to be used by the employee.
• The duration and frequency of respirator use.
• The expected physical work effort.
• Additional protective clothing and equipment to be worn.
• Temperature and humidity extremes that may be encountered.

2. A copy of the written respiratory protection program will be provided to the physician.

Medical Determination

1. In determining the employee's ability to use a respirator, the university will obtain a written recommendation regarding the employee's ability to use the respirator from the physician. The recommendation shall provide only the following information:

• Any limitations on respirator use related to the medical condition of the employee, or relating to the workplace conditions in which the respirator will be used, including whether or not the employee is medically able to use the respirator;
• The need, if any, for follow-up medical evaluations; and
• A statement that the physician provided the employee with a copy of the physicians written recommendation.

2. If the respirator is a negative pressure respirator and the physician finds a medical condition that may place the employee's health at increased risk if the respirator is used, a PAPR will be provided if the medical evaluation finds that the employee can use such a respirator.

Additional Medical Evaluations

1. Additional medical evaluations will be provided if:

• An employee reports medical signs or symptoms that are related to his/her ability to use a respirator.
• A physician, supervisor, or the Safety Manager determines that an employee needs to be reevaluated.
• Information from the respiratory protection program, including observations made during fit testing and program evaluation, indicates a need for employee reevaluation.
• A change occurs in workplace conditions (e.g., physical work effort, protective clothing, temperature) that may result in a substantial increase in the physiological burden placed on an employee.

6.0  FIT TESTING

1. Employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator must pass an appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT).

2. An employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator will be fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece is used, and at least annually thereafter.

3. An additional fit test will be performed whenever the employee reports, or the physician, supervisor, or Safety Manager observes changes in the employee's physical condition that could affect respirator fit.

4. If after passing a QLFT or QNFT, the employee notifies the Safety Manager, supervisor, or physician that the fit of the respirator is unacceptable, the employee will be given an opportunity to select a different respirator facepiece and to be retested.

5. The fit test will be administered using an OSHA-accepted QLFT or QNFT protocol. OSHA accepted protocols and procedures are contained in Appendix A of the OSHA regulations.

6. QLFT may only be used to fit test negative pressure air-purifying respirators that must achieve a fit factor of 100 or less.

7. If the fit factor is equal to or greater than 100 for tight-fitting half facepieces, or equal to or greater than 500 for tight-fitting full facepieces, the QNFT has been passed with that respirator.

8. Fit testing of tight-fitting atmosphere-supplying respirators and tight-fitting powered air-purifying respirators will be accomplished by performing quantitative or qualitative fit testing in the negative pressure mode, regardless of the mode of operation (negative or positive pressure) that is used for respiratory protection.

9. Qualitative fit testing of these respirators shall be accomplished by temporarily converting the respirator user's actual facepiece into a negative pressure respirator with appropriate filters, or by using an identical negative pressure air-purifying respirator facepiece with the same sealing surfaces as a surrogate for the atmosphere-supplying or powered air-purifying respirator facepiece.

10. Quantitative fit testing of these respirators shall be accomplished by modifying the facepiece to allow sampling inside the facepiece in the breathing zone of the user, midway between the nose and mouth. This requirement shall be accomplished by installing a permanent sampling probe onto a surrogate facepiece, or by using a sampling adapter designed to temporarily provide a means of sampling air from inside the facepiece.

11. Any modifications to the respirator facepiece for fit testing shall be completely removed, and the facepiece restored to NIOSH-approved configuration, before that facepiece can be used in the workplace.

7.0  USE OF RESPIRATORS

Facepiece Seal Protection

1. Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces will not be worn by employees who have:

• Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function; or
• Any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function.

2. PAPRs with loose-fitting hoods or helmets can be worn by employees with facial hair.

3. If an employee wears corrective glasses or goggles or other personal protective equipment, the equipment will be worn in a manner that does not interfere with the seal of the facepiece to the face of the user.

4. For all tight-fitting respirators, employees will perform a user seal check each time they put on the respirator using the procedures in Appendix B-1 of the OSHA regulations or procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer that the employer demonstrates are as effective as those in Appendix B-1.

Continuing Respirator Effectiveness

1. When there is a change in work area conditions or degree of employee exposure or stress that may affect respirator effectiveness, the continued effectiveness of the respirator will be reevaluated.

2. When employees leave the respirator use area they will:

• Wash their faces and respirator facepieces as necessary to prevent eye or skin irritation associated with respirator use.
• Replace the respirator or filter, cartridge, or canister elements if they detect vapor or gas breakthrough, changes in breathing resistance, or leakage of the facepiece.

Procedures For IDLH Atmospheres

1. One employee will be located outside the IDLH atmosphere.

2. Visual, voice, or signal line communication will be maintained between the employee in the IDLH atmosphere and the employee located outside the IDLH atmosphere.

3. The employee located outside the IDLH atmosphere will be trained and equipped to provide effective emergency rescue.

4. The Safety Manager will be notified before the employee located outside the IDLH atmosphere enter the IDLH atmosphere to provide emergency rescue.

5. Employees located outside the IDLH atmospheres will be equipped with:

• Pressure demand or other positive pressure SCBAs, or a pressure demand or other positive pressure supplied-air respirator with auxiliary SCBA; and either
• Appropriate retrieval equipment for removing the employee.

8.0  MAINTENANCE AND CARE OF RESPIRATORS

Cleaning and Disinfecting

1. Employees will be provided with a respirator that is clean, sanitary, and in good working order.

2. Respirators will be cleaned and disinfected using the procedures in Appendix B-2 of the OSHA regulations, or procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer.

3. Respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee will be cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition.

4. Respirators issued to more than one employee will be cleaned and disinfected before being worn by different individuals.

5. Respirators maintained for emergency use will be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

6. Respirators used in fit testing and training will be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

Storage

1. All respirators will be stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals, and they will be packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve.

2. Emergency respirators will be:

• Kept accessible to the work area.
• Stored in compartments or in covers that are clearly marked as containing emergency respirators.
• Stored in accordance with any applicable manufacturer instructions.

Inspection

1. Respirators will be inspected as follows:

• All respirators used in routine situations will be inspected before each use and during cleaning.
• All respirators maintained for use in emergency situations will be inspected at least monthly and in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, and will be checked for proper function before and after each use.
• Emergency escape-only respirators will be inspected before being carried into the workplace for use.

2. Respirator inspections will include the following:

• A check of respirator function, tightness of connections, and the condition of the various parts including, the facepiece, head straps, valves, connecting tube, and cartridges, canisters or filters.
• A check of elastomeric parts for pliability and signs of deterioration.

3. Self-contained breathing apparatus will be inspected monthly. Air and oxygen cylinders shall be maintained in a fully charged state and will be recharged when the pressure falls to 90% of the manufacturer's recommended pressure level. The regulator and warning devices will be inspected.

4. For respirators maintained for emergency use, the university will:

• Certify the respirator by documenting the date the inspection was performed, the name of the person who made the inspection, the findings, required remedial action, and a serial number or other means of identifying the inspected respirator.
• Provide this information on a tag or label that is attached to the storage compartment for the respirator, is kept with the respirator, or is included in inspection reports stored as paper or electronic files. This information will be maintained until replaced following a subsequent certification

Repairs

1. Respirators that fail an inspection or are otherwise found to be defective will be removed from service.

2. Repairs or adjustments to respirators will be made only by persons appropriately trained to perform such operations and shall use only the respirator manufacturer's NIOSH-approved parts designed for the respirator.

3. Repairs will be made according to the manufacturer's recommendations and specifications for the type and extent of repairs performed.

4. Reducing and admission valves, regulators, and alarms will be adjusted or repaired only by the manufacturer or a technician trained by the manufacturer.

9.0  TRAINING AND INFORMATION

1. The Safety Office will ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of at least the following:

• Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator.
• What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are.
• How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the respirator malfunctions.
• How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator.
• What the procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator.
• How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators.
• The general requirements of this standard.

2. The training will be conducted in a manner that is understandable to the employee.

3. Training will be performed prior to requiring the employee to use a respirator in the workplace.

4. Retraining shall be administered annually, and when the following situations occur:

• Changes in the workplace or the type of respirator render previous training obsolete.
• Inadequacies in the employee's knowledge or use of the respirator indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill.
• Any other situation in which retraining appears necessary to ensure safe respirator use.

5. The basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of the OSHA regulations, will be provided to employees who wear respirators when such use is not required by this program.

10.0  PROGRAM EVALUATION

1. The Safety Office will conduct evaluations of the workplace as necessary to ensure that the provisions of the written program are being effectively implemented.

2. The Safety Office will regularly consult employees required to use respirators to assess employees views on program effectiveness and to identify any problems. Any problems that are identified during this assessment will be corrected. Factors to be assessed include, but are not limited to:

• Respirator fit (including the ability to use the respirator without interfering with effective workplace performance).
• Appropriate respirator selection for the hazards to which the employee is exposed.
• Proper respirator use under the workplace conditions the employee encounters.
• Proper respirator maintenance.

11.0  RECORDKEEPING

1. Records of medical evaluations will be retained and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

2. A record of qualitative and quantitative fit tests administered to an employee will be maintained including:

• The name of the employee tested.
• Type of fit test performed.
• Specific make, model, style, and size of respirator tested.
• Date of test.
• The pass/fail results for QLFTs or the fit factor and strip chart recording or other recording of the test results for QNFTs.

3. Fit test records will be retained for respirator users until the next fit test is administered.

4. A written copy of the respirator program will be retained by the Safety Office.

5. Written materials required to be retained under this paragraph will be made available upon request to affected employees and to the Assistant Secretary or designee for examination and copying.

1. The Safety Office will ensure compliance with Appendix A, Appendix B-1, Appendix B-2, Appendix C, and Appendix D of the OSHA Respiratory Standard.