Respiratory Protection

Recently, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received numerous reports of issues concerning SCBA respirators suspected of not meeting the necessary NIOSH performance requirements. We have observed that SCBA problems often can be attributed to a lack of, or improperly performed, preventative maintenance. Correct inspection, maintenance, and service procedures are all vital…...

Earlier this year, I wrote an article titled “What type of respirator do I need?” in which I explained how respirator users and administrators can use data to determine the proper type of respiratory protection that would be needed.  But this article was written under the assumption that the user/administrator had the most essential piece…...

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 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 or…...

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…...

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?… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

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…...

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…...

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?????… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Richard Graveling, Araceli Sánchez-Jiménez, Craig Lewis and Sheila Groat If your facility uses respirators, this study is a MUST READ!!!… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...