Respirator Protection Manual

6 Respiratory Protection Program A. Introduction The prevention of occupational disease and illness caused by breathing contaminated air, should be accomplished through engineering or administrative controls. For example, general and local ventilation, isolation of a process, or substitution of a less hazardous material are all effective engineering or administrative controls that can eliminate or reduce airborne hazards. Respirators should not be used if engineering or administrative controls are feasible. However, when these controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, respirator protection is an appropriate means of protecting an employee. The issuance of respirators to employees must be done as specified in this manual to ensure proper respirator selection, fitting, medical surveillance, and to meet regulatory requirements. Purpose The purpose of the Iowa State University (ISU) Respiratory Protection Program is to: • Provide written procedures that can be used to administer an effective respiratory protection program and prevent exposure to airborne contaminants, thus maintaining employee health. • Outline specific information to facilitate: ¤ Appropriate respirator selection. ¤ Employee respirator training, fit-testing, care, and use. ¤ Medical surveillance to evaluate an employee’s health and ability to wear a respirator. • Meet the requirements of a written respiratory protection program as outlined in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 29 CFR 1910.134. Scope The respirator program includes all respirator types, including: • Dust mask respirators (3M N95 dust mask). • Half-face cartridge respirators (MSA Comfo II and 3M 7500’s series half masks). • Full-face cartridge respirators (3M 6000’s series and MSA Ultra Twin full face masks). • Powered-air purifying respirators (PAPR) (3M PAPR). • Air-line respirators (also known as supplied air respirators). • Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) (Scott Airpack). Definitions of respirator types and related items are listed in the Definitions section .