 Why
am I required to take this course?
Your
workplace has been identified as having potential respiratory
hazard(s) that could result in an employee exposure. An employee
exposure is an exposure to an airborne contaminant that would
occur if the employee were not using respiratory protection.
What
will I learn from this course?
 Respirators
protect workers from respiratory hazards by preventing exposures
to harmful airborne chemical and biological agents. However, a
respirator that is not used properly will fail to provide adequate
protection, and may even cause certain hazardous conditions. This
training program is intended to teach you the basic information
you need to know in order to use a respirator correctly and safely.
At a later date, this online training course will be supplemented
with hands-on training using the specific respirator that is selected
for you to use.
Why
do I need a respirator?
If your job
involves the potential for exposure to atmospheric contaminants,
then UK Occupational Health and Safety policy requires that certain
controls must be implemented. This policy is driven by the University's
obligation to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) Respiratory Protection Standard, or 29 CFR 1910.134. A
Respirator is one type of control that is usually implemented
when ventilation controls such as fume hoods are not feasible.
Respirators are designed to protect the respiratory system from
inhalation of atmospheric hazards either by removing contaminants
from the air before they are inhaled or by supplying an independent
source of "clean" air.
What
are atmospheric hazards?
In order to
answer this question, we must first review some basic properties
of hazardous chemicals. There three states in which an atmospheric
hazards may exist, including:
A gas is one
of the phases of matter. Like liquids, gases are fluids: they
have the ability to flow and do not resist deformation, although
they do have viscosity. Unlike liquids, however, unconstrained
gases do not occupy a fixed volume, but instead expand to fill
whatever space they occupy. A vapor is the gaseous state of a
substance which under ordinary conditions exists as a liquid or
solid. A particle is a very small speck of solid or liquid matter.
There are several types of air contaminants that would fall under
the category of particles. These include smoke, mist, fume,
and dust. Smoke is a suspension in air of small particles
resulting from incomplete combustion of a fuel. A mist is a collection
of liquid droplets suspended in air. A mist can be formed when
spraying or splashing a liquid. It can also be formed when a vapor
condenses into liquid droplets in the air, as with fog. A fume
is a solid particle that has condensed from the vapor state. For
instance, when metal is vaporized in welding or cutting processes,
it becomes a vapor then condenses into tiny particles, or metal
fumes.
One other
important atmospheric hazard is oxygen deficiency. The air we
breathe normally contains 20.9% oxygen by volume. In confined
spaces or other poorly ventilated atmospheres, oxygen can become
rapidly depleted. Serious adverse health effects begin when the
oxygen concentration reaches around 15%. The only type of respirator
that can be used in an oxygen deficient environment is self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), similar to the kind worn
by firefighters when they enter burning buildings.
Why
is it important to understand the different states of atmospheric
hazards?
 Because
the type of respirator and filtering media you select is determined
based upon the type of contaminant in your work environment. Gases
and vapors are adsorbed using activated charcoal. Dusts, mists,
and fumes are absorbed using a filtering material. Some respirators
may use a combination activated charcoal and filtering media when
particles and vapors / gases are anticipated. The media
is interchangeable and is installed onto the facepiece of the
respirator depending on the anticipated contaminants in the work
environment. As an important reminder, an atmosphere-purifying
respirator will not protect you
in an oxygen deficient environment. If the oxygen concentration
is unknown, you must have an SCBA respirator to enter the atmosphere.
SCBA respirators must also be used if the concentration of a hazardous
air contaminant is unknown, but entry into the hazardous atmosphere
must be made, as in a hazardous chemical release or other emergency.
Never presume that an entry into
a hazardous atmosphere is safe!
I
have allergies and I work outside where there are common allergens
such as pollen and grass seed. Even though there are technically
no atmospheric hazards in my workplace, I still want to wear a
respirator to control my allergies. Does this training course
apply to me?
Yes. Even
though there may not be any hazardous vapors, gases, or particles
in your work environment, you still need to be aware of certain
use factors and limitations of respirators. The use of a respirator
by someone who doesn't understand these limitations and use factors
could lead to dangerous conditions even in the absence of atmospheric
hazards. For instance medical clearance to wear a respirator is
required because there are certain medical conditions that could
cause you to be physically unable to do your job while wearing
a respirator. Another potential problem unrelated to atmospheric
hazards is surface contamination. If routinely used respirators
are not cleaned and disinfected regularly, unhealthful conditions
and infections could result.
What
type of respirator will I need?
There are a great variety
of respirator types available, and each is designed based on the
specific contaminant(s) encountered, the characteristics of the
work environment, and the needs of the user. Respirators with
tight-fitting facepieces or coverings produce a protective
seal around the face of the user. Air is purified when it passes
through a filtering media at the inlet cover of the facepiece.
This is by far the most commonly used type of respirator.
Tight fitting
coverings, or "facepieces", come primarily in two
basic configurations: half-mask and full facepiece. Half-mask respirators cover the facial area from the bridge
of the nose to just below the chin. Full facepiece respirators
cover the same facial area as the half-mask, but there
is also a supplemental seal around the perimeter of the face and
a protective see-through shield.
|
|
|
|
Half
face respirator |
Full
face respirator |
Half-masks
are the simplest form of respirator and can be used for protection
against gases, vapors, or particulates. The cartridges on the
sides of the respirator contain a filtering and / or adsorbing
media that removes contaminants from the air. Thus the type of
cartridge is selected based on the anticipated contaminant(s)
in the work environment. The cartridges attach to the respirator
inlets, so all of the air entering the facepiece is purified before
it is inhaled by the respirator wearer. On the front of the mask
is an exhalation outlet with a one way valve that allows air to
leave the facepiece.
Full facepiece respirators
are used when a higher level of respiratory protection is needed,
or when protection of the eyes and face is important. Jobs that
could necessitate the use of a full facepiece respirator include
hazardous waste bulking, in which there may be high atmospheric
concentrations of vapors; jobs involving chemicals that are irritating
to the eyes; pesticide or herbicide spraying, where overspray
may contact the eyes; or research animal care, where allergens
can affect the eyes as well as the respiratory system. Like the
simpler half-face respirator, full facepieces have interchangeable
cartridges that are selected on the basis of the anticipated respiratory
hazard(s).
A respirator
type that is popular in the healthcare setting is the disposable
filtering facepiece, or N-95. The "N" means that the
respirator is not resistant to oil, and the "95" means
that the respirator is at least 95% efficient at filtering particles
of a specific size. N-95 is the minimum level of efficiency that
is acceptable for protection against hazardous particulates. Filtering
facepiece respirators with greater filtration efficiency are
available (e.g. N-97 and N-100). An N-100 filter is also called
a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter because it is
nearly 100% effective at filtering particles of a specific size.
Filtering facepiece respirators are intended to protect against
particles, although some models may contain an activated charcoal
media to control odors or vapors. However, this type of respirator
is not recommended if you have potential exposure to gases or
vapors.
I
need the higher level of protection provided by a full facepiece,
but my work environment is not well suited for this type of respirator.
What are my alternatives?
Full facepiece respirators are not adaptable for certain work environments.
For instance, if the work environment is hot with high humidity,
then the face shield may "fog up" rapidly, causing discomfort
and obstructed vision. In such cases there are alternatives. One
such alternative uses the same facepiece configuration, but utilizes
a battery powered blower motor to pull air through a purifying
element, then push the air into the full facepiece. This design
is called a Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) and is particularly
useful when comfort in hot, humid conditions is an issue. Air
is circulated through the facipiece producing a cooling effect
that improves comfort and reduces fogging. Additionally the blower
motor does the work of pulling air through the filtering media,
resulting in less physical stress on the user. When maximum comfort
and communication ability is needed, a loose-fitting covering
or hood can be used with a PAPR blower motor and air purifying
element.
Powered
air purifying respirator
Is
there any way to determine exactly how much protection a specific
respirator type will provide?
A respirator's
protective capacity is rated based on Assigned Protection Factors,
or APF's. The higher the concentration of airborne contaminants,
the greater the need for a high APF. APF's are numerical
ratings that express the respirators anticipated protective ability
against a given contaminant. The higher the APF, the greater the
protection provided by the respirator. For instance, if the established
occupational exposure limit for a particular chemical is 10 ppm
(parts of the contaminant vapor per million parts of air), a full
facepiece respirator, with an APF of 50, can safely be used in
airborne concentrations of up to 500 ppm:
Occupational Exposure
Limit x APF = Maximum Airborne Contaminant Concentration
in which Respirator can be Used
APF's for different
classes of respirators for protection against gases / vapors are
given below:
| Assigned
Protection Factor |
Type
of Respirator |
Example |
| 10 |
Any air-purifying
half-mask respirator equipped with gas / vapor cartridges |
|
| 25 |
Any powered
air-purifying respirator with a loose-fitting hood |
|
| 50 |
Any air-purifying
full facepiece respirator with equipped with gas / vapor
cartridges |
|
 Does
UK or OSHA require that I have knowledge of all respirator types,
even though I will only be using one certain type in performing
my job?
Only to the
extent that knowledge of other respirator types helps you or your
supervisor to make the correct choice regarding the best type
of respirator for your work environment. For example, if you initially
select a half face respirator and then a new contaminant is introduced
to the work environment, one that causes a need to protect the
eyes and face, then a general awareness the protective capacity
and general uses of full face respirators will help you to realize
that there is a better, more protective choice in respirators
for your work environment. You may already know the exact type
of respirator you will be using or you may even know the exact
manufacturer and model number. In each case, this training program
will enable you to click on internet links to obtain information
regarding the specific type, make, and model of respirator so
that you can understand exactly how the general requirements of
a respiratory protection program apply to the respirator(s) you
will use.
I
have asthma. Will this cause a problem when I am wearing a respirator?
Possibly. In fact,
there are a number of conditions that could cause potential adverse
health effects for respirator wearers, including respiratory diseases,
history of heart attack or stroke, claustrophobia, and high blood
pressure to name a few. Each of these conditions may adversely
affect the health of some employees who wear respirators. A physician
or other licensed health care professional operating within the
scope of his/her practice needs to medically evaluate employees
to determine under what conditions they can safely wear respirators.
Thus, it is necessary to ensure that you are physically capable
of wearing a respirator.
How
will I know if my respirator is fitting properly?
 Fit
testing must be conducted to determine proper respirator fitting.
Even the best designed and manufactured respirator will not protect
the wearer if there is an improper match between facepiece and
wearer or improper wearing practices by the user. Since there
are different brands of a particular type of facepiece available
it is important to determine which one fits best. It is also important
to know how to correctly wear your respirator. Choosing the correct
respirator and knowing how to wear it are accomplished by fit
testing which is required by OSHA.
It is important to
remember that no one respirator marketed will fit everyone. Therefore,
more than one brand of a given type of respirator should be purchased
to take advantage of the different characteristics of each type,
and to ensure a correct fit for everyone. Also, having more than
one facepiece to choose from gives the worker a better chance
of finding a respirator that is comfortable while providing good
protection.
Quantitative
fit testing is the preferred method for determining proper fitting.
This test is conducted using sophisticated equipment by trained
personnel. The purpose of fit testing is to detect facepiece
leakage. The quantitative test does not rely on subjective responses,
and is highly sensitive and assures correct fit. This is especially
important when working in highly hazardous atmospheres which can
be immediately dangerous to life or health.
After
my initial fit testing how do I know that my respirator is continuing
to function correctly?
Inspection,
Cleaning, Maintenance, and Storage of respirators is vital to
assure that they are functioning correctly and that they are safe
to use. Meticulous respirator maintenance must be made
a fundamental part of the overall respirator program. Manufacturers'
instructions for caring for your respirator should be followed
to ensure correct function. It is important to remember that poorly
maintained or malfunctioning respirators do not protect the wearer
and can be more dangerous than not wearing a respirator at all.
To maintain your respirator certain guidelines should be followed.
These guidelines may change due to the needs of your facility
and how often you are using respirators and for what purpose.
For example in a large respirator program in which respirators
are used routinely, they should be exchanged daily for cleaning
and inspection. However, in a small program involving only occasional
respirator use, this period could be weekly or monthly. It is
important to evaluate your specific needs regarding respirator
use to determine the best maintenance program. General maintenance
includes the following:
Inspection
of your respirator:
The facepiece of a routinely used respirator should
be checked before and after each use for:
- Excessive dirt
- Cracks, tears, holes,
or distortion from improper storage
- Inflexibility (stretch
and massage to restore flexibility)
- Cracked or badly
scratched lenses in full-facepieces
- Incorrectly mounted
full-facepiece lens or broken or missing mounting clips, and
- Cracked or broken
air-purifying element holder(s), badly worn threads, or missing
gasket(s) (if required).
The head
straps or head harness of a routinely used respirator should
be checked before and after each use for:
- Breaks
- Loss of elasticity
- Broken or malfunctioning
buckles and attachments, and
- Excessively worn
serrations on the head harness which might permit slippage (full
facepieces only)
The air-purifying
elements of a routinely used respirator should be checked
before and after each use for:
- Incorrect cartridge,
canister, or filter for the hazard
- Incorrect installation,
loose connections, missing or worn gaskets, or cross-threading
in holder.
- Expired shelf-life
date on cartridge or canister
- Cracks or dents
in outside case of filter, cartridge, or canister, and
- Evidence
of prior use of adsorbent cartridge or canister, indicated by
absence of sealing material, tape, foil, etc., over inlet.
OSHA states
"routinely used respirators shall be collected, cleaned,
and disinfected as frequently as necessary to insure that proper
protection is provided." and that emergency use respirators
"shall be cleaned and disinfected after each use."
If the respirator is dirty, it should be washed with detergent
in warm water using a brush. If the respirator is not visibly
soiled, it may still need to be disinfected using a solution of
one part bleach to 10 parts water. Placed the respirator in the
bleach solution for no less than 10 minutes, then rinsed it thoroughly
in clean water (140°F maximum) to remove all traces of detergent
or bleach. This is very important to prevent exposure that could
lead to dermatitis. The use of rubbing alcohol should be avoided
because alcohols will cause the rubber components of the facepiece to degrade. Drying of your respirator should be on a clean
surface. Respirators may also be hung to dry, but care must be
taken not to damage the facepiece. Do
not place the respirator back into an airtight container or storage
bag until it is completely dry, or mold growth will result.
Cleaning
of respirator
 Storage
of your respirator should be done in a clean, dry place free of
hazards. The respirator should be able to dry where it is stored
and respirator storage must protect against:
- Dust
- Sunlight
- Heat
- Extreme cold
- Excessive moisture,
and
- Damaging chemicals.
Clean, dry
respirators should be placed in reusable plastic bags or other
clean, sealable containers. They should be stored in a clean,
dry location away from direct sunlight. They should be stored
in a single layer with the facepiece and exhalation valve in
a more or less normal position to prevent the rubber or plastic
from taking a permanent distorted "set".
Can
I wear a respirator if I have facial hair?
No, a respirator
must have a good seal around the face to ensure maximum protection.
Facial hair that lies along the sealing area of the respirator,
such as beards, sideburns, moustaches, or even a few days of stubble
are not permitted when wearing a respirator. Facial hair between
the wearer's skin and the sealing surfaces of the respirator will
prevent a good seal. The wearer should be cleanly shaven when
wearing a respirator. The only exception would be a small moustache
that does not lie beneath the sealing surface of the respirator.
Can
I wear a respirator if I wear eye glasses?
No, ordinary eye glasses
should not be used with full-face respirators. Eye glasses with
bars or straps that pass through the seal of the respirator will
prevent a good seal. Special corrective lenses can be mounted
inside a full-facepiece respirator and are available from all
manufacturers of full-facepiece respirators. However, when wearing
a half face respirator glasses may be permitted because they do
not pass through the seal.
Can
I wear a respirator if I wear contact lenses?
There are several factors
that limit the use of contact lenses while wearing any type of
respiratory device. This is especially true of air-supplying respirators.
With full face respirators, incoming air directed toward the eye
can cause discomfort from dirt, lint, or other debris lodging
between the contact lens and the pupil. It is not recommended
that contact lenses be worn while using a respirator and that
other means be used such as special corrective lenses that are
mounted inside a full-facepiece respirator.
You have reached
the end of the program. If you have any questions about the content
of this program, please call Matthew Ellis at (859) 257-7600,
or email mrelli2@email.uky.edu. |
