(1) When the operation of machines expose any
employee to dusty conditions and an air-purifying respirator or filtering
facepiece is used for personal protection, the respirator must have a N-95
filter rating unless employees are monitored under typical work conditions and
found to be exposed to total dust levels less than 10 milligrams per cubic
meter of air per 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).
(2) When the use of a respirator is required
by the standard, the employer must provide respirators, medical evaluations and
training, at no cost to the employee.
(3) Before any employee is permitted to use
an air-purifying respirator, they must complete a medical evaluation performed
by a physician or other licensed health care professional.
NOTE 1: This evaluation can be performed by
using:
(a) A medical questionnaire,
or
(b) An initial medical
examination that obtains the same information as the medical
questionnaire.
(c) A medical
evaluation is not required if the employee is voluntarily using an approved
respirator.
NOTE 2: Use Appendix 7-G, Respiratory Medical
Evaluation Questionnaire (Mandatory).
(4) The employer must train employees:
(a) About the respiratory hazards to which
they are potentially exposed during routine work.
(b) In the proper use of respirators,
including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use,
maintenance and storage.
(5) Respirators must be clean and maintained
in good working order.
(6)
Respirators must be stored in a dry and sanitary place.
(7) Respiratory protection must be:
(a) NIOSH-certified.
(b) Used in compliance with the conditions of
its certification.
(8)
When wearing air purifying respirators for personal protection:
(a) Facial hair must not come between the
sealing surface on the facepiece and the face.
(b) Facial hair must not interfere with valve
function.
(c) Conditions must not
interfere with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function (facial
characteristic, glasses, etc.).
(9) A qualitative fit test (QLFT) must be
performed before employees use a tight fitting air purifying respirator.
NOTE: This is a pass/fail fit test to assess the
adequacy of respirator fit that relies on the individual's response to the test
agent.
(10) Employees using
a tight fitting air-purifying respirator must perform a user seal check to
ensure that an adequate seal is achieved each time the respirator is put
on.
(11) Employees must use either
the positive and negative pressure check method, or follow the respirator
manufacturer's recommended user seal check method.
(12) Positive pressure checks must be
performed by closing off the exhalation valve and exhale gently into the
facepiece.
NOTE 1: The face fit is considered to be
satisfactory if a slight positive pressure can be built up inside the facepiece
without any evidence of outward leakage of air at the seal.
NOTE 2: For most respirators this method of leak
testing requires the wearer to first remove the exhalation valve cover before
closing off the exhalation valve and then carefully replacing it after the
test.
(13) Negative
pressure checks must be performed by closing off the inlet opening of the
canister or cartridge(s) by covering with the palm of the hand(s) or by
replacing the filter seal(s), and then inhaling gently so that the facepiece
collapses slightly.
NOTE 1: If the facepiece remains in its slightly
collapsed condition and no inward leakage of air is detected, the tightness of
the respirator is considered satisfactory.
NOTE 2: The design of the inlet opening of some
cartridges cannot be effectively covered with the palm of the hand. The test
can be performed by covering the inlet opening of the cartridge with a thin
latex or nitrile glove.
