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Developing an Effective Respirator Program

An 11 Step Guide to Compliance

According to OSHA, if you use - or should be using - any form of respiratory protection, you must have a respiratory protection program in place. The specific guidelines for establishing and maintaining your program can be found in OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.134. The eleven steps in this article will give you a general outline of that standard.

1. Establish Written Operating Procedures
   A formal document outlining every aspect of your respirator program must be developed. This program should describe the instruction/training of employees, fit-test procedures, and plans for emergency situations.

2. Respirator Selection
   Proper selection of respirators should be made according the guidance of ANSI Z88.2-1992. Selection considerations include the nature and extent of the hazard, the work requirements and conditions, and the characteristics/limitations of the respirators available.

3. Train Respirator Users
   Teach respirator users how to select, use, clean, maintain, and store their respirators. Such training must provide the respirator user with an opportunity to handle the respirator, have it properly fitted, test its facepiece-to-face seal, wear it in normal air for a long familiarity period, and wear it in a test atmosphere.

4. Assign Individual Respirators When Possible
   When respirators are assigned individually there is less chance that a worker will use one that doesn't give him/her the best protection. This practice can also help overcome the unwillingness of some employees to wear a respirator because of concerns as to whether the unit has been properly sanitized.

5. Regularly Clean and Sanitize Respirators
   Employees will feel much more positive about using the respirators when they understand how much care is taken in cleaning. Clean and sanitize respirators according to the instructions provided with each respirator or facepiece.

6. Respirator Storage
   Storing respirators in clean bags or other suitable containers in a clean and sanitary location maintains the integrity of your cleaning/maintenance program.

7. Respirator Inspection and Maintenance
   Inspection and maintenance of respirators following the Manufacturer's instructions will help ensure that the respirators will give the wearer the level of protection for which it was designed.

8. Monitor the Work Area
   Make sure the right respirator is being used! If there are any changes in materials, changes in the processes in the work area, changes in the concentration of contaminants, or the introduction of completely new contaminants, appropriate changes must be made to the established program.

9. Continually Enforce & Evaluate the Program
   No matter how well the written standard operating procedures are drawn up, the program can't be effective if it's not enforced. Frequent, random inspections should be conducted by a qualified individual to assure that respirators are properly selected, used, cleaned, and maintained.

10. Medical Evaluation of Respirator Wearers
    If a potential respirator wearer is not physically able to perform work using a respirator, the use of a respirator may create more problems than it solves. Work closely with a physician to make sure each respirator wearer is physically qualified.

11. Use Approved or Accepted Respirators
    The respirators used in the work environment must be NIOSH/MSHA certified, where applicable, or be otherwise accepted to provide adequate protection for the hazards encountered.

Written by:

Patty Quaglia
Marketing Manager, Argus Group

Article Provided by: The Argus Group

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