Respiratory Protection

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…...

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…...

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…...

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…...

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...

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…...

OSHA recently posted a Letter of Interpretation where they reference their Compliance Directive, Inspection Procedures for the Respiratory Protection Standard, CPL 02-00-158, and the standard’s preamble in establishing the medical evaluations for “voluntary use” of negative pressure (tight-fitting) respirators.  This issue has been made clear in the CPL for years, but I thought I would share the LOI…...