Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Oregon OSHA Online Course 203

This material is for training purposes only. Its purpose is to inform Oregon employers of best practices in occupational safety and health and general Oregon OSHA compliance requirements. This material is not a substitute for any provision of the Oregon Safety Employment Act or any standards issued by Oregon OSHA. For more information on this online course and other OR-OSHA online training, visit the Online Course Catalog.

1. ___________________________
2. ___________________________
3. ___________________________

The regulations contained herein are not optional for the employee. To comply with OSHA regulations, the company considers this policy mandatory and a condition of employment for each employee.

Availability of Respirators:

Each employee that requires a respirator will be issued one at the company’s expense with replacement parts, cartridges and filters upon request. The following types of respirators are available:

1. ____________________________
2. ____________________________
3. ____________________________

Use of Respirators

Each employee that requires a respirator must wear an approved respirator, properly fitted at all times while performing an operation defined as hazardous; or within 10 feet of hazardous operations if a work period of over five minutes is anticipated. The following operations are considered hazardous:

1. ___________________________
2. ___________________________
3. ___________________________

Selection of Respirators

Only NIOSH/MSHA approved respirators will be selected for use in this program. The choice of respirator is dependent upon the airborne contaminant present, the hazardous operation performed, and on the basis of comfort and ease of obtaining a proper personal fit. The company will provide all respirators which will be maintained in the general office area. The useful life of each respirator will depend mainly on the employee’s job duties and the actual time the unit is in use. Generally, useful life would be expected to vary from _________ to ________.

These respirators are also noted to have the following limitations:

1. _________________________
2. _________________________
3. _________________________

Training

Each respirator user will be trained by their immediate supervisor or other qualified person on the proper use and care of each respirator they use. Training will include fit testing, practice, and verification of the employee’s ability to use the respirator for related task.

Employee’s proof of the training and instructions received will consist of the following: In addition to the training and instruction received, the respirator user must have read, understood and be able to apply the contents of this respirator program in the daily use, care and safekeeping of each respirator.

To make sure the availability of this respirator program at all times, copies will be distributed as follows:

a. 1 copy - posted on shop bulletin board.
b. 1 copy - kept in the office file.
c. 1 copy - given to respirator user.

Fitting Respirators

Properly fitting respirator is essential if employees are to receive maximum protection against airborne contaminants. Air which passes around the edges of the respirator, rather than through it, is not filtered air. In order to make sure a good face seal is obtained, the following rules must be observed:

1. The respirator and straps must be in place and worn in the appropriate position. To adjust head bands, pull the free ends tight until a comfortable fit is obtained. All straps must be secure.

2. To adjust face piece properly, simply position the chin firmly in the chin cup and manually shift rubber mask until the most comfortable position is located. Make final adjustments in the head band and do not break the nasal seal. Modification to the respirator or straps shall not be made.

3. Proper fit must be checked each time the respirator is worn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Respirators must not be worn when projections under the face piece prevents a good face seal. Note: Such conditions may be a growth of beard, sideburns, temple pieces on glasses or skull cap that projects under the face piece.

4. The fitted respirator must be tested using the appropriate qualitative fit tests. For example, Isoamyl acetate should be used to check respirator fit when using organic vapor respirators by determining if the wearer can detect the “banana oil” odor. Irritant fume tests can be used with particulates respirators to ensure proper fit.

In the event that an employee is unable to obtain satisfactory fit with the type of respirator furnished, the employer must make efforts to correct the problem.

Maintaining Respirators

Respirators should be cleaned after each day’s use and placed in a plastic bag and stored in the container provided for this purpose.

At the end of each week (or more often, if needed) respirators should be completely cleaned and disinfected by carrying out the following procedures:

a. Remove the air-purifying elements from the respirator. Air purifying elements must never be washed and disinfected.

b. Immerse the respirator in a warm (140-160 degrees F) aqueous solution of a germicidal detergent. The respirator face piece and parts may be scrubbed gently with a cloth or soft brush. Make sure that all foreign matter is removed from all surfaces of the rubber exhalation valve flap and plastic exhalation valve seats.

c. After washing and disinfecting the respirator, rinse the same with clean, warm water and then allow the respirator to dry.

d. After the respirator is dry, attach the air-purifying elements.

e. Store the respirator in the container provided for the purpose.

Any malfunction on the respirator must be reported to the user’s immediate supervisor. Replacement parts will be available in the general office.

After normal use or inspection, respirators must not be hung on nails on the wall, but must be stored in its plastic bag and in the provided container. In storing the respirator, the face piece and exhalation valve must be in a normal position so as to prevent the abnormal set of elastomer parts during storage.

Each worker assigned to use a respirator must maintain and routinely inspect it before and after each use. Respirators will be inspected and certified in good condition monthly by area supervisors to assure they are kept clean and in satisfactory working condition. Respirator inspection must include:

a. Tightness of connections
b. Condition of face piece
c. Condition of head bands
d. Condition of cartridges
e. Condition of valves
f. Rubber or elastomer for pliability
g. Rubber or elastomer for deterioration

Note: Stretching and manipulating rubber or elastomer parts with a massaging action will keep them pliable and flexible and prevent them from taking a set during storage.

Worn out parts will be replaced with approved parts immediately.

Evaluating the Program

The company will monitor the effectiveness of this program by:

1. Frequent unscheduled observation and feedback of employee activities throughout the plant to confirm proper respirator use.

2. Training and observation of new employees including respirator use responsibility and accountability.

3. Periodic supervisor and manager training on respirator care and use.

Reviewed by ______________________________	Date ____________________
Approved by ______________________________	Date ____________________