I really don’t understand the mindset of these companies… they have a horrible accident, and rather than recognize something failed and needs to be fixed, they hire lawyers to fight all the OSHA citations rather than competent/qualified safety professionals to fix it all. These citations were like “taking candy from a baby” because the company…...
Several cases of counterfeiting have already been reported. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has listed out some suspect characteristics of counterfeit respirators. Table 1 below summarizes the main suspect characteristics of counterfeit compared to appropriate FFR. Among the suspect features, there are ear loops designs, the absence of markings or references to…...
OSHA has expanded temporary guidance provided in a March 14, 2020, memorandum regarding supply shortages of N95s or other filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This expanded guidance applies to all workplaces covered by OSHA where there is required respirator use. OSHA field offices will exercise enforcement discretion concerning annual fit-testing requirements,…...
This memorandum expands temporary enforcement guidance provided in OSHA’s March 14, 2020, memorandum to Compliance Safety and Health Officers for enforcing annual fit-testing requirements of the Respiratory Protection standard, 29 CFR § 1910.134(f)(2), with regard to supply shortages of N95s or other filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.[1] The March…...
MEMORANDUM FOR: REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS, STATE PLAN DESIGNEES THROUGH: AMANDA EDENS, Deputy Assistant Secretary FROM: PATRICK J. KAPUST, Acting Director Directorate of Enforcement Programs SUBJECT: Enforcement Guidance for Use of Respiratory Protection Equipment Certified under Standards of Other Countries or Jurisdictions During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic This memorandum provides interim guidance to Compliance…...
So what is the Assigned-Protection Factor (APF) for an air-line respirator, commonly used inside PRCSs which has, or has the potential to have an IDLH atmosphere? Is it 1,000 or 10,000? I have always been taught/trained that the simple air-line respirator (Pressure-demand/Positive pressure mode) WITHOUT the Auxilary/Back-up cylinder the APF is 1,000, but the addition…...
Air-Line respirator with Auxiliary bottle has an APF of 1,000 or 10,000? Read More »
OSHA has dined a Delaware Rail Car Tank Cleaning And Repair Facility $371,276 for Safety and Health Hazards. This same company, different location, was cited last year after a PRCS fatality inside a Rail Car (PRCS fatality cleaning a railcar (Oxygen Deficient and $551K): Membership Content). This inspection was initiated due to a complaint, but surely…...
OSHA issues Willful for Respirator use associated with entering a PRCS Read More »
Background: The employer has truck drivers that drive in and out of oil/gas refineries. Drivers are provided with a North 7900 series air-purifying disposable mouthpiece type respirator for use as an escape-only respirator. The owner’s manual to the North 7900 Series disposable mouthpiece type escape respirator warns employers to be aware of any physical limitations or…...
OSHA answers questions regarding Escape-ONLY respirators (2019 LOI) Read More »
A client got dinged on an audit because they were not having their employees medically evaluated before being provided a respirator. They contacted their local medical facility to seek help with this and of course, the facility said they could do the medical evaluation. This morning I received their first batch for me to sign-off…...
A sign you may need a new LHCP for your Respirator Medical Evaluations! Read More »
For those of you who are SAFTENG members and manage a Respiratory Protection program, this is NOT news to you, as we have discussed this many times before, and if you have been to my 1.5 Day Respiratory Protection Administrator course, you got this beat into your head! But for those less fortunate, here is…...
Respiratory Protection Program and Records Retention Read More »
Question 1: If an employer pays for and allows respirators to be worn on a voluntary basis when respiratory protection is not required to meet any OSHA standard, is it then regarded as though the employer is mandating the use of the respirators?… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready...
OSHA clarifies positions on “Voluntary Respirator Use” Read More »
Nov 02, 2018 MEMORANDUM FOR: REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS FROM: KIMBERLY STILLE, Acting Director Directorate of Enforcement Programs SUBJECT: Enforcement Policy for Respiratory Hazards Not Covered by OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits As you are aware, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) is occasionally used to cite respiratory hazards from exposure to an air contaminant…...
