OSHA Respiratory Protection

About this course

Hazards overview

• Physical
• Biological
• Chemical
• Ergonomic

OSHA overview

Hazard controls

• Engineering controls
• Administrative controls
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Hierarchy of controls

About the respiratory protection standard

• Employers must provide to each employee an applicable and suitable respirator
• The employer must establish and maintain a written respirator program
• The program must be administered by a trained, qualified individual
• Respirators, training, and medical evaluations shall be provided at no cost

Contaminated air

• Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH)
• Chemical and biological substances
• Asphyxiant atmospheres

Respiration

Engineering Controls

• Ventilation
• Air quality monitoring systems and alarms
• Structures or systems to enclose or confine air contaminants
• Substitution of less harmful substances

Administrative controls

• Permitting process
• Exposure limits
• Housekeeping tasks
• Medical evaluations

Personal Protective Equipment

• Types of respirators
  • Atmosphere-supplying
  • Air-purifying

Respirator terms

Atmosphere-supplying respirators

• When must atmosphere-supplying respirators be used
• Atmosphere-supplying respirator classifications
  • Supplied-Air Respirator (SAR)
  • Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
• Atmosphere-supplying respirator Classes
  • Continuous flow
  • Demand
  • Pressure demand
• Requirements for IDLH atmospheres
• Air compressors

Air-purifying respirators (APR)

• Removes particulates or gases/vapors from the air
• Designed to handle specific contaminants
• Types
  • Filter
  • Cartridge or canister
  • Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR)
• End of Service Life Indicator (ESLI)

Assigned Protection Factor (APF)

• Workplace level of respiratory protection
• Maximum Use Concentration (MUC)

Medical evaluation

• Determines an employee’s ability to use a respirator
• Must be done before the employee performs a fit test
• Must be administered confidentially

Fit testing

• Qualitative Fit Test (QLFT)
• Quantitative Fit Test (QNFT)

Respirator use

• Procedures for the proper use of respirators
• User seal check

Respirator effectiveness

IDLH atmosphere procedures

Interior structural firefighting

• Personnel requirement
• Respirator requirement

Respirator maintenance and care

• Cleaning and disinfecting
• Storage
• Inspection
• Repair

Respirator storage

Respirator inspection

• Check of respirator function
• Tightness of connections
• Condition of the various parts
• Special SCBA requirements

Respirator repairs

Other requirements

Final Exam

All employees required by OSHA (or their employer) to wear respirators to protect them from occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors.

The length of time for which the training is valid is determined by OSHA 29 CFR § 1910.134:

(k) (vii) The general requirements of this section.
(3) The employer shall provide the training prior to requiring the employee to use a respirator in the workplace.
(4) An employer who is able to demonstrate that a new employee has received training within the last 12 months that addresses the elements specified in paragraph (k)(1)(i) through (vii) is not required to repeat such training provided that, as required by paragraph (k)(1), the employee can demonstrate knowledge of those element(s). Previous training not repeated initially by the employer must be provided no later than 12 months from the date of the previous training.
(5) Retraining shall be administered annually, and when the following situations occur:
(i) Changes in the workplace or the type of respirator render previous training obsolete;
(ii) Inadequacies in the employee’s knowledge or use of the respirator indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill; or
(iii) Any other situation arises in which retraining appears necessary to ensure safe respirator use.

This online course satisfies the training requirements of OSHA 29 CFR § 1910.134 Respiratory Protection Standard.