Respirator use, maintenance, and inspection are critical components of a comprehensive respiratory protection program. OSHA and NIOSH provide guidelines to ensure proper respirator use and effectiveness.
A respiratory protection program, as required by OSHA, must include written procedures for proper respirator selection, medical evaluations, fit testing, use, cleaning, storage, and maintenance of respirators, as well as procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow for supplied-air respirators. [2]
Key requirements include:
- Respirator Selection: Employers must select respirators based on the specific hazards and airborne concentrations, using NIOSH-approved respirators.
- Workers with beards, long sideburns, or even stubble may not wear respirators because the hair breaks the seal between the skin and the respirator mask. Wearing eyeglasses could also break the respirator seal. Also, if a worker has facial scars or acne, the facial skin may not be able to form a good seal with a respirator mask.
- Medical Evaluations: Employees must undergo medical evaluations to determine their ability to safely use a respirator.
- Fit Testing: Employers must ensure proper fit by providing qualitative or quantitative fit testing.
- Training: Employees must be trained on how to wear a respirator, understand its limitations, and know when to replace filter elements.
- Maintenance and Storage: Respirators must be regularly cleaned, inspected, and stored properly to maintain their effectiveness.
[1] Respirators should be inspected regularly. Key inspection points include:
- Facepiece: Check for holes, tears, cracks, and loose-fitting lenses.
- Head Straps: Examine webbing for breaks, fraying, and loss of elasticity.
- Valves: Ensure valves and valve seats are free of dust and dirt.
- Filter Elements: Verify the filter is approved for the hazard and inspect threads for wear.
- Air Supply System: Inspect hoses and fittings for breaks, cracks, or kinks.
[3] Additionally, a user seal check must be performed each time a respirator is worn to ensure proper sealing.
There are two main types of seal checks:
- Negative pressure seal check: Block the inlet and inhale; the facepiece should collapse slightly.
- Positive pressure seal check: Block the exhalation valve and exhale; the facepiece should bulge slightly.
Important Safety Note:
Always verify safety information with your organization's specific guidelines and local regulations.