Respiratory Protection Program

Introduction

Regulations

Respirator Users

Respiratory Protection

Supervisors

Use for Animal Care

Introduction

Harmful chemicals, particles, and biological contaminants can be released into the air while employees and students do their jobs. Inhalation is one of the primary ways these contaminants enter the body. Respirators are the last line of defense. Exposures should first be reduced through engineering and administrative controls. Wearing respirators may be necessary only if controls are inadequate, not feasible, or are in the process of being installed or implemented.

Engineering controls or substitution include:

• Substitution with a less toxic material
• Local exhaust, including the use of chemical fume hoods or other types of specialized ventilation systems
• General dilution ventilation
• Isolation or enclosure of a process or work operation
• Tools and machinery designed to minimize dust such as water saws or drills with dust collection systems

Administrative controls include:

• Use of standard operating procedures such as wet methods and the use of high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) vacuums to reduce the generation of dust
• Work scheduling to minimize the length of exposure
• Employee training

Respirators are the last line of defense and worker knowledge and proper use are critical. Constant supervision is required to make sure respirators are being used, maintained, and stored properly. Workers may become ill from exposure to air contaminants or even die from a lack of oxygen when respirators are not used correctly. Not all respirators work in every situation, so it is critical to understand the nature of the air contaminant, the concentration level, the legal exposure limits, and the oxygen-level.

Regulations - Applicable

• Washington State Respiratory Protection Standard
  Chapter 296-842 WAC
http://www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/Rules/respirators/default.htm
• Additional respiratory protection requirements may apply if your operations are covered by other health & safety standards addressing contaminant-specific or industry-specific work.

Respirator Users - Instructions for Obtaining Respirators

I. Medical Qualification

You will receive a Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire and self addressed envelope marked from your supervisor after an EH&S industrial hygienist has assessed your work environment and reviewed the Respirator Request Form submitted by your supervisor. Please answer all of the questions on the Questionnaire, even if you feel that they may not apply to you.

Please place the Questionnaire in the provided "CONFIDENTIAL" self-addressed envelope. Please seal the envelope and give it to your supervisor or mail to Campus Health Services. You will be provided an opportunity to discuss the questionnaire with a Campus Health Services (CHS) Licensed Health Care Provider. The Medical Questionnaire is a confidential health history and can only be viewed by Campus Health Services.

When the industrial hygienist receives a Medical Clearance Form from Campus Health Services, your supervisor will be contacted to arrange for the respirator training and fit-testing. A copy of the Medical Clearance Form will be provided to you and to your supervisor. You must have a respirator medical clearance before you can be trained and fit-tested for a respirator.

II. Training and Fit-Testing

If you have a respirator already, bring it to the fit-testing appointment. If you do not have a respirator, do NOT buy one before you come to class. You will be fit-tested with different models and sizes to ensure that you are provided with a respirator that is best for you. You must be clean-shaven to wear a tight-fitting respirator because facial hair can interfere with the seal of your respirator. Mustaches inside the laugh lines may not interfere and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. You will be provided with a Respirator Authorization Card after fit-testing. This card will identify the manufacturer, model, type, and size respirator(s) for which you were trained and fit-tested.

III. Obtaining Respirators

The University of Washington purchases respiratory protection equipment for employees. You can wear only the type, model, and size of respiratory protection equipment for which you have been trained and fitted as indicated on your Respirator Authorization Card. Any concerns with the use or fit of a respirator should be immediately reported to your supervisor.

IV: Respirator Use

• Use only the brand, model, and size respirator for which you were fitted. Inspect the respirator and parts prior to donning.
• For tight-fit respirators, perform negative and positive-pressure fit checks each time the respirator is worn.
• Use the cartridges recommended for the contaminant involved. Contact EH&S if you are uncertain about which respirator or cartridges is appropriate for a specific contaminant.
• Be aware that a respirator has limitations that govern its ability to protect you.
• Maintain the respirator in a sanitary condition.
• Follow manufacturer instructions.
• Notify your supervisor if you detect increased breathing resistance, an odor or taste, or experience throat irritation.

Resources for Respiratory Protection

• Respirator Information from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries

  http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/AtoZ/RespProtection/default.asp

• OSHA Respiratory Protection Page

  http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=12716

• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Information from OSHA

  http://www.osha.gov/dep/sars/

• NIOSH Respirator Information

  http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/

Supervisors - Instructions for Obtaining Respirators

Complete these steps in the order below at least 30 days prior to the start of work requiring respirators. See the Flow Chart (pdf) for obtaining respirators. Neither surgical masks nor the voluntary use of disposable dusk masks require these steps. This process must be completed every year for your respirator users.

I. Conduct a Hazard Assessment

Evaluate your workplace for chemical or biological products/agents and work activities that may require the use of respiratory protection. Identify employees and students who may need respiratory protection.

II. Submit a Respirator Request Form

• Supervisors can submit a respirator request by completing a Respirator Request Form. Enter information for all employees and students. The employee identification number (EID) or the student identification number (SID) is required for each respirator user.
• Use the EID for students employed by the University of Washington (including work study students).
• Use the SID for students who are not employed by the UW.



• Download Respirator Request Form as a Word Document
• Click on this link to download the Respirator Request Form (Word). Use the "Tab" key to move from box to box to fill in the form. The completed form can be saved electronically on your computer and submitted to the UW Respirator Program Administer via email to ehsdept@u.washington.edu, via campus mail to Box 354400, or faxed to 206-543-3351.



• Download Respirator Request Form as a PDF Document
• The Respirator Request Form (pdf) can also be downloaded as a PDF document. The completed form can be mailed or faxed to the UW Respirator Program Administrator at Box 354400 or 206-543-3351.
• Include material safety data sheets (MSDS) with each Respirator Request Form for products that may require the use of a respirator.

III. Industrial Hygiene Assessment

An EH&S industrial hygienist (IH) will be assigned to the request. The IH will evaluate it and contact you to arrange a workplace assessment, to schedule exposure monitoring if applicable, and to discuss respirator training and fit testing.

IV. Medical Qualification

• After completing the industrial hygiene assessment, EH&S will mail you confidential forms for all listed respirator users: the Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaires and confidential self-addressed envelopes. The completed forms are for the Campus Health Services (CHS) Employee Health Clinic. The Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire is a confidential health history and can be viewed only by CHS.


• Give each employee and student a Respirator Medical Questionnaire and self-addressed envelope. Employees and students can contact CHS directly to discuss the form.
• Instruct employees and students to complete the Respirator Medical Questionnaire, seal it in the "CONFIDENTIAL" envelope, and write their name on the outside of the envelope. You must not view answers on the questionnaire.
• Instruct employees and students to mail the envelope. Alternatively, you may collect the sealed envelopes and mail them together. You may keep track of who has submitted a questionnaire by maintaining a roster. If you choose to collect the sealed envelopes yourself, place them unopened in a larger envelope. Mark the envelope "CONFIDENTIAL" and mail to Campus Health Services.



• Campus Health Services (CHS) will conduct a medical evaluation to determine an individual's ability to use a respirator. In some cases CHS will require a scheduled visit to the Employee Health Clinic. This may take additional time.


• If cleared, the Respirator Medical Clearance Form is completed by CHS with copies provided to you, the employee or student, and EH&S.
• Restrictions may be imposed for some individuals for the type of respirator they can use or for performing certain tasks while wearing a respirator. The supervisor must adhere to these restrictions when purchasing respirators and assigning work.
• If not medically cleared, employees and students may not work in an environment that requires the use of a respirator. The Respirator Medical Questionnaire is retained by Campus Health Services as part of the individual's medical history record.

V. Training and Fit-Testing

An EH&S industrial hygienist will contact you to schedule respirator training and fit-testing. The training will last approximately two hours. The fit-testing will last approximately 30 to 60 minutes per person.

• Respirator training is required before initial use and at least annually after that. Retraining is also required if new hazards are introduced or if it appears that the user has not retained the skill necessary for safe respirator use. Supervisors and Leads must attend training annually.
• Beards and other facial hair can interfere with the proper fit of tight-fitting respirators. Bearded individuals will not be fitted with any respirator that requires fit-testing. However, mustaches trimmed inside the laugh lines may not interfere with the seal and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Training includes information on the use, donning, doffing, limitations, cartridge selection, maintenance, and care of respirators.

Purchase ONLY the type, model, and size of respiratory protection equipment for which your employee or student has been trained and fit-tested. EH&S will provide you and the employee or student a copy of the training record that shows this information. Any concerns with the use or fit of a respirator should be immediately reported to the supervisor and EH&S for follow-up.

VI. Records

Maintain copies of the approved Respirator Request Form, Respirator Medical Clearance Forms, and results of the training and fit-testing. Table 1 below provides a summary of the required forms.