Respiratory Protection for Respirator Wearers

Why you wear it, and who pays

A respirator is not the first line of defense. The first goal is to keep the air clean with engineering controls, such as enclosing the operation, ventilation, or switching to a less toxic material.

Respirators are used when effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being put in place. When a respirator is needed to protect your health, one must be provided to you.

Improper fit, use or maintenance can take away the protection your respirator gives you.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.134(a)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.134(a)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(4) · 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(i)

Medical evaluation, fit test and training come first

1. Medical evaluation

Your employer must provide a medical evaluation of your ability to use a respirator before you are fit tested or required to use it at work.

2. Fit test (tight-fitting facepieces)

You must be fit tested with the same make, model, style and size you will wear. Fit testing happens:

• Before you first use the respirator
• Whenever you use a different facepiece (size, style, model or make)
• At least annually after that

Your employer must also conduct an additional fit test whenever you report, or your employer, PLHCP, supervisor or program administrator observes, changes in your physical condition that could affect fit, for example facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight.

3. Training

You must be trained before you are required to use a respirator. You must be retrained annually, and also when changes in the workplace or the type of respirator make your previous training obsolete, when your knowledge or use of the respirator shows you have not kept the understanding or skill, or in any other situation where retraining appears necessary.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.134(f) · 29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.134(f)(3) · 29 CFR 1910.134(f)(4) · 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(3) · 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(5) · 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(5)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(5)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(5)(iii)

Nothing between you and the seal

A tight-fitting facepiece only works if it forms a complete seal with your face.

What breaks the seal

• Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface and your face, or that interferes with valve function. Your employer may not let you wear a tight-fitting respirator with it.
• Any other condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function.
• Glasses, goggles or other PPE must be worn so they do not interfere with the seal.

Seal check every time

Do a user seal check each time you put on a tight-fitting respirator. Use the positive and negative pressure checks on the next page, or the manufacturer's method if your employer has shown it is as effective.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.134 Appendix B-1

Right respirator, right cartridge

Your respirator was selected for a specific hazard. It must be appropriate for the chemical state and physical form of the contaminant, such as a gas, a vapor or a dust. If your job or the chemical changes, ask before you assume your respirator still works.

Cartridges for gases and vapors run out

An air-purifying respirator used for gases and vapors needs one of these:

• An end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI) certified by NIOSH for the contaminant, or
• If there is no ESLI appropriate for conditions in your workplace, a change schedule your employer sets so cartridges and canisters are changed before the end of their service life

Follow the indicator or the change schedule. Do not wait until you smell something.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.134(j)

When you must leave the area

Your employer must make sure you leave the respirator use area:

• When you detect vapor or gas breakthrough (you smell or taste the chemical), changes in breathing resistance, or leakage of the facepiece
• To replace the respirator or its filter, cartridge or canister
• To wash your face and facepiece as needed to prevent eye or skin irritation

Good practice: move out of the contaminated area before you take the respirator off.

If you detect breakthrough, a change in breathing resistance or a leak, your employer must replace or repair the respirator before you return to the work area.

Listen to your body

If you notice medical signs or symptoms that affect your ability to use a respirator, report them. When you report them, your employer must provide an additional medical evaluation.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(2)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(2)(ii)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(2)(ii)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(2)(ii)(C) · 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(2)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.134(e)(7) · 29 CFR 1910.134(e)(7)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(vi)

Inspect before each use

A respirator used for routine work must be inspected before each use and during cleaning.

Facepiece

Check its condition. Look for cracks, tears, holes or a distorted shape that could keep it from sealing.

Head straps

Check their condition. Look for breaks, lost stretch and worn buckles.

Valves

Check their condition. A curled, torn or missing valve flap or a missing valve cover lets air leak around the cartridges.

Cartridges, canisters or filters

Check their condition and that they are the ones your job calls for, with the NIOSH label still on and legible.

Connections

Check the tightness of connections, and the connecting tube on respirators that have one.

Elastomeric parts

Flex the rubber or silicone parts. Check that they are pliable and show no signs of deterioration, such as cracking or stickiness.

The examples of damage in each panel are good-practice signs to look for; the standard lists the parts and checks, not every defect.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.134(h)(3)(i)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.134(h)(3)(ii)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.134(h)(3)(ii)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.134(j)

Clean, store, and take bad ones out of service

Cleaning

• A respirator issued only to you is cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to keep it sanitary.
• A respirator shared by more than one person is cleaned and disinfected before someone else wears it.

Storage

Store it so it is protected from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture and damaging chemicals, and so the facepiece and exhalation valve are not deformed.

Failed inspection

A respirator that fails inspection or is defective is removed from service, then discarded or repaired. Repairs are made only by people trained to do them, using the manufacturer's NIOSH-approved parts for that respirator.

Good practice: if you are not trained to make the repair, tag the respirator and hand it in.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.134(h)(4) · 29 CFR 1910.134(h)(4)(i)