Elastomeric respirators offer further flexibility for use in other national emergencies ranging from natural disasters to national security threats or other novel public health emergencies.
One elastomeric could do the work of hundreds of N95s, maybe thousands, and would occupy a fraction of the storage space. Over time, the elastomeric masks cost 10 times less. Fill out the form, and an MSA safety expert will contact you to discuss the respiratory products your program needs.
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 9 3 , Sign up to get the latest industry resources, product information, monthly newsletter, and related topics. Reduction of Storage Space Reusable elastomeric respirators may occupy a fraction of the storage space needed for stockpiling disposable N95 respirators. Lower Total Cost of Ownership A comparative cost analysis found reusable elastomeric half-face respirators to be less costly to stockpile than disposable masks and that stockpiling both disposable N95 respirators and reusable half-face respirators may be the best option.
Flexibility in Protection Elastomeric respirators offer further flexibility for use in other national emergencies ranging from natural disasters to national security threats or other novel public health emergencies. Further, according to OSHA, a written respiratory protection program is required because it helps employers, employees, and compliance officers gauge the adequacy and effectiveness of the program.
As part of a respiratory protection program, employers should evaluate respiratory hazards in the workplace, including use factors, personal exposure monitoring, and particulate concentration levels. Performing a simple calculation of worst-case exposures and factoring the results in with workplace size, ventilation, operation type, and worker proximity to emission source, can yield critical information for choosing the correct type and level of respiratory protection for the job.
Control of Respiratory Hazards When possible, controlling contaminants at the outset is an effective way to reduce hazards and improve worker safety. But that requires an honest evaluation of relevant processes and equipment, as well as plant design. Selection of Appropriate Respirator Types Respirators fall under two classifications: air-purifying and air-supplied.
Which to use depends on the workplace, the wearer, the hazards, and the particulates—which means that other than being NIOSH-approved, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. There are many types of respiratory protective devices, each varying in design, application, and protective capability, so a sound respiratory protection program will tailor respirator selection based on several unique factors, including toxicity, IDLH concentration, wearer fit, mobility requirements, and a whole lot more.
Workers also must be trained on the actual use of the respiratory protection equipment. And, according to OSHA, each wearer must be fit-tested for any half or full face-mask using an eight-point quantitative fit test. What does that look like? Inspecting equipment before and after each use, and recording the date of all inspections. As such, employers should include both medical evaluation and ongoing medical surveillance as part of their written respiratory protection program.
This guide includes:. In addition to the annual medical evaluation there are a number of circumstances that may require reevaluating a CSHOs ability to use a respirator.
Medical reevaluations will be provided under the following conditions: when the CSHO reports medical signs or symptoms that are relevant to the CSHOs ability to use a respirator; when OSHA management informs the examining physician that a CSHO needs to be reevaluated; when information from the respirator program, including observations made during fit testing or program evaluation, indicates a need for CSHO reevaluation; or when a change in workplace conditions occurs e.
Reporting Results of Examinations. The examining physician must forward to the Office of Occupational Medicine the results of the medical examination. The Office of Occupational Medicine will review the findings of the examination and determine whether or not the CSHO is fit to use a respirator. Fit Testing. The primary purpose of fit testing is to identify the specific make, model, style, and size of respirator best suited for each CSHO.
In addition, fit testing also reinforces respirator training by having wearers review the proper methods of donning and wearing the respirator. CSHOs must be medically evaluated and found eligible to wear the respirator selected for their use prior to fit testing. Fit testing is required for all negative or positive pressure tight-fitting facepiece respirators. The OSHA respiratory protection standard requires that fit testing be performed before an employee first starts wearing a respirator in the work environment, whenever a different respirator facepiece is used, and at least annually thereafter.
Demonstrating and Selecting a Respirator Model. Prior to the actual fit test, the CSHO must be shown how to put on a respirator, position it on the face, set strap tension, and determine an acceptable fit. Next, the CSHO must be allowed to choose a respirator from a sufficient number of models and sizes so that the CSHO can find an acceptable and correctly fitting respirator.
Once an acceptable respirator has been found -- which takes into account the position of the mask on the face, nose, and cheeks; room for eye protection; and room to talk -- a user seal check must be conducted refer to next section on "Respirator Use". Protocol Descriptions. QLFT may only be used to fit test negative-pressure air-purifying respirators that must achieve a fit factor of or less. If the fit factor, as determined by QNFT fit testing, is equal or greater than for tight-fitting half facepieces, or equal to or greater than for tight-fitting full facepieces, then the QNFT has been passed with that respirator.
Preliminary Steps. Prior to the commencement of the fit test, the CSHO must be given a description of the fit test and a description of the exercises that he or she will be performing during fit testing. The respirator to be tested must be worn for at least five minutes before the start of the fit test. The CSHO must be fit tested with the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used.
CSHOs assigned more than one respirator must be fit tested for each respirator assigned. Changing Respirator Model Selection, Retesting. If the CSHO finds the fit of the respirator to be unacceptable, he or she must be given a reasonable opportunity to select a different respirator and to be retested. In addition, retesting is required whenever there are changes in a CSHO's physical condition that could affect respirators fit.
Such conditions include, but are not limited to, facial scarring, dental changes e. Respirator Use. It is necessary to ensure that respirators are used properly on inspections.
CSHOs must use their respirators under conditions specified by the respiratory protection program and in accordance with the training they receive. In addition, the respirator must not be used in a manner for which it is not certified by NIOSH or by its manufacturer.
Facepiece Seal Protection. All CSHOs must conduct a user seal check formerly known as a fit check every time a tight-fitting respirator is put on or adjusted to ensure that the respirator is seated properly on the face with no noticeable leaks. If leaks are present, the CSHO should adjust the respirator and try again.
Skin or Eye Irritation. Skin or eye irritation can result from wearing a respirator in hot, humid conditions as well as in contaminated environments. Such irritation can cause considerable distress to CSHOs, causing them to remove or adjust the respirator or to refrain from wearing the respirator at all, thereby rendering it ineffective. To prevent skin or eye irritation associated with respirator use, CSHOs should leave the respirator use area to wash their faces and respirator facepieces as needed.
Vapor or Gas Breakthrough. Similarly, CSHOs must leave the respirator use area if they are replacing cartridge or canister elements according to a change schedule, or when the end-of-service-life indicator shows that the canister or cartridge s must be changed.
Because respirators must be in good working condition to function, they should not be used if they have been impaired in any way. Impairments include a broken strap, loss of respirator shape, and a face seal that can no longer be maintained. Respirators that are not properly functioning must be replaced, repaired, or discarded. Maintenance and Care Program.
To ensure that the respirator remains serviceable and delivers effective protection, a maintenance program must be in place prior to respirator use.
In addition to the OSHA requirements, the manufacturer's instructions for inspecting, cleaning, and maintaining should be consulted to ensure that the respirator continues to function properly. A proper maintenance program ensures that the CSHO's respirator remains as effective as when it was new. The maintenance program should be tailored to the type of facilities, working conditions, and hazards involved, but all programs are required to include at least: Cleaning and disinfecting procedures; Proper storage; Regular inspections for defects; and Repair methods.
CSHOs must clean and inspect their own respirators in accordance with the provisions of this program. Maintenance involves a thorough visual inspection for cleanliness and defects. Worn or deteriorated parts must be replaced prior to use. No components are to be replaced or repairs made beyond those recommended by the manufacturer. Repairs to regulators or alarms of atmosphere-supplying respirators are to be conducted by the manufacturer.
Cleaning and sanitizing respirators is necessary to prevent skin irritation and dermatitis. Where the contaminant is a dust, mist, or fume, its build-up on the respirator face-to-facepiece seal or within the respirator can reduce the protection provided by the respirator because the contaminant is in the breathing zone or has compromised the seal.
In addition, the build-up of contamination on the respirator can contribute to the deterioration of the respirator's materials, which can lead to reduced protection. All respirators must be stored so that they are protected against damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals. Filter cartridges must be stored separately from respirator facepieces that have been cleaned. This is to prevent contamination of the interior of the respirator facepiece from hazardous particulate matter e.
When respirators are packed or stored, the facepiece and exhalation valve must be stored in a manner that will prevent deformation. Each respirator should be positioned so that it retains its natural configuration. Synthetic materials and even rubber will warp if stored in an unnatural shape, thus affecting the fitting characteristics of the facepiece.
To ensure the continued reliability of respiratory equipment, they must be inspected on a regular basis. All Respirators. For all respirators, inspections must include a check of respirator function, tightness of connections, and the condition of the various parts including, but not limited to, the facepiece, head straps, valves, connecting tube, and cartridges, canisters, or filters.
In addition, the elastomeric parts must be evaluated for pliability and signs of deterioration. SCBAs require monthly inspections. In addition, the regulator and warning devices must be inspected to ensure that they function properly.
For SCBAs maintained for emergency use a record of the monthly inspection must be maintained by the program administrator. The record must include the date of the inspection, the name of the inspector, the findings of the inspection, any required remedial action, and a serial number or other means of identifying the inspected respirator.
Inspection Frequency. The frequency of inspection and the procedures to be followed depend on whether the respirator is intended for routine use or emergency escape. Routine Use. All respirators used in routin e situations must be inspected before each use and during cleaning.
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