Respiratory Protection – Page 14 – Safety Engineering (SAFTENG)

OSHA’s new guidance document focuses on mandatory respirator selection provisions added to existing Respiratory Protection standard

March 14, 2012 / Respiratory Protection / Bryan Haywood

Assigned Protection Factors (APF), a new guidance document published by OSHA, provides employers with vital information for selecting respirators for employees exposed to contaminants in the air. OSHA revised its existing Respiratory Protection standard in 2006 to add APFs and Maximum Use Concentration (MUC) provisions. APF means the workplace level of respiratory protection that a respirator […]

The Myth… at higher altitudes, there’s less Oxygen

February 14, 2012 / OSHA Compliance, Permit Required Confined Spaces, Respiratory Protection / Bryan Haywood

Simply stated… We inhale the exact same proportion of oxygen at high altitude as you do at sea level, but because the gas is at a lower pressure, the oxygen molecules are not pushed into our bloodstream with enough force to adequately oxygenate your tissue. Whether you are at sea level or standing on the

What type of respirator do I need?

February 3, 2012 / Respiratory Protection / Bryan Haywood

One of the most common questions I used to get on emergency response scenes is: “How do you determine when we can stop wearing SCBAs and begin wearing Air Purifying Respirators”? The decision is often a heated debate due to the user’s lack of knowledge. The scary part is that these are trained HAZMAT Technicians

Respirators…the early days

May 16, 2011 / Respiratory Protection / Bryan Haywood

Respiratory Protection Program Administrator

May 4, 2011 / Respiratory Protection / Bryan Haywood

Does OSHA require an “individual” be appointed as the “respiratory protection program administrator,” or can the written respirator program state the “safety department,” “EHS Department,” or “safety team members” are the program administrator?

FREE Respirator Software from NIOSH

April 13, 2011 / Respiratory Protection / Bryan Haywood

MultiVapor is a computer tool for estimating breakthrough times and service lives of air-purifying respirator cartridges manufactured to remove toxic organic vapors from breathed air. It can also be used for larger filters and for carbon beds of any size prepared for laboratory studies. MultiVapor replaces the program, Breakthrough, which performs the same function for

Facial Hair, Respirators, and Fit Testing

March 26, 2011 / Respiratory Protection / Bryan Haywood

A fundamental requirement of using respirators is NO facial hair that could interfere with the respirator’s operation or the respirator’s fit. OSHA states: 1910.134(g)(1)(i) The employer shall not permit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have: 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A) Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face

Is your Respirator Cleaning methods compliant?

March 26, 2011 / Respiratory Protection / Bryan Haywood

Does your workplace use the handi-wipes for cleaning respirators? Do you feel this is compliant? After all it is a very common practice and how could it be so widely used if it is not compliant?????

Protecting Respiratory Health: What Should be the Constituents of an Effective RPE Programme?

March 20, 2011 / Respiratory Protection / Bryan Haywood

Richard Graveling, Araceli Sánchez-Jiménez, Craig Lewis and Sheila Groat If your facility uses respirators, this study is a MUST READ!!!

Normal Respirator Use vs. Emergency Response Team use

April 10, 2006 / Respiratory Protection / Bryan Haywood

I recently worked with a client on their emergency response efforts, and we continue to find businesses that do not understand the different requirements of qualifying a worker to use a respirator under CONTROLLED workplace exposures vs. UNCONTROLLED emergency response exposures. So, I wanted to write this article to make it as straightforward as possible…