1910.134(g): Proper Use of Respirators

(g) Use of respirators. This paragraph requires employers to establish and implement procedures for the proper use of respirators. These requirements include prohibiting conditions that may result in facepiece seal leakage, preventing employees from removing respirators in hazardous environments, taking actions to ensure continued effective respirator operation throughout the work shift, and establishing procedures for the use of respirators in IDLH atmospheres or in interior structural firefighting situations. 678 citations

(1) Facepiece seal protection. Open (g)(1) 639 citations

(i) The employer shall not permit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have: Open (g)(1)(i) 605 citations

(A) Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function; or Open (g)(1)(i)(a) 523 citations

(B) Any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function. Open (g)(1)(i)(b) 23 citations

(ii) If an employee wears corrective glasses or goggles or other personal protective equipment, the employer shall ensure that such equipment is worn in a manner that does not interfere with the seal of the facepiece to the face of the user. Open (g)(1)(ii) 6 citations

(iii) For all tight-fitting respirators, the employer shall ensure that employees perform a user seal check each time they put on the respirator using the procedures in appendix B-1 or procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer that the employer demonstrates are as effective as those in appendix B-1 of this section. Open (g)(1)(iii) 28 citations

(2) Continuing respirator effectiveness. 3 citations

(i) Appropriate surveillance shall be maintained of work area conditions and degree of employee exposure or stress. When there is a change in work area conditions or degree of employee exposure or stress that may affect respirator effectiveness, the employer shall reevaluate the continued effectiveness of the respirator. 2 citations

(ii) The employer shall ensure that employees leave the respirator use area: 1 citations

(A) To wash their faces and respirator facepieces as necessary to prevent eye or skin irritation associated with respirator use; or

(B) If they detect vapor or gas breakthrough, changes in breathing resistance, or leakage of the facepiece; or

(C) To replace the respirator or the filter, cartridge, or canister elements. 1 citations

(iii) If the employee detects vapor or gas breakthrough, changes in breathing resistance, or leakage of the facepiece, the employer must replace or repair the respirator before allowing the employee to return to the work area.

(3) Procedures for IDLH atmospheres. For all IDLH atmospheres, the employer shall ensure that: Open (g)(3) 14 citations

(i) One employee or, when needed, more than one employee is located outside the IDLH atmosphere; 2 citations

(ii) Visual, voice, or signal line communication is maintained between the employee(s) in the IDLH atmosphere and the employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere; 4 citations

(iii) The employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere are trained and equipped to provide effective emergency rescue; 2 citations

(iv) The employer or designee is notified before the employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere enter the IDLH atmosphere to provide emergency rescue;

(v) The employer or designee authorized to do so by the employer, once notified, provides necessary assistance appropriate to the situation;

(vi) Employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmospheres are equipped with: 3 citations

(A) Pressure demand or other positive pressure SCBAs, or a pressure demand or other positive pressure supplied-air respirator with auxiliary SCBA; and either 2 citations

(B) Appropriate retrieval equipment for removing the employee(s) who enter(s) these hazardous atmospheres where retrieval equipment would contribute to the rescue of the employee(s) and would not increase the overall risk resulting from entry; or 1 citations

(C) Equivalent means for rescue where retrieval equipment is not required under paragraph (g)(3)(vi)(B).

(4) Procedures for interior structural firefighting. In addition to the requirements set forth under paragraph (g)(3), in interior structural fires, the employer shall ensure that: Open (g)(4) 19 citations

(i) At least two employees enter the IDLH atmosphere and remain in visual or voice contact with one another at all times; 7 citations

(ii) At least two employees are located outside the IDLH atmosphere; and 6 citations

(iii) All employees engaged in interior structural firefighting use SCBAs. 3 citations

One of the two individuals located outside the IDLH atmosphere may be assigned to an additional role, such as incident commander in charge of the emergency or safety officer, so long as this individual is able to perform assistance or rescue activities without jeopardizing the safety or health of any firefighter working at the incident.

Nothing in this section is meant to preclude firefighters from performing emergency rescue activities before an entire team has assembled.