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Respirator Safety Training

Written policies and programs to be put in place

 

The improper use of a respirator can have devastating effects on the life or health of the user. In order to protect yourself and others against respiratory hazards, it is necessary to understand the respiratory risk and their primary characteristics that make it dangerous.

In the control of those occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors, the primary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination. This shall be accomplished as far as feasible by accepted engineering control measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials). When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators shall be used pursuant to this section.

The Respiratory Protection Program

We have said that the Occupational Safety sector of your company should have a specific respiratory protection program, suited to your needs. The establishment of a program is needed when it requires the use of respirators.

This program includes, but is not limited to:

  1. Procedures for selecting respirators.
  2. Medical Reviews.
  3. Test good seal of respirators.
  4. Procedures for proper use of respirators.
  5. Schemes and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, storage,
  6. inspection, repair, disposal and maintenance of respirators.
  7. safe quality procedures when using air respirators.
  8. Training in respiratory hazards.
  9. Training in the use of respirators, maintenance and knowledge of their limitations.
  10. Procedures to ensure that the established program is effective and is being used properly.

Who Should Use a Respirator?

You do not always see or feel the smell or the taste of dust, fumes, mists, fumes, sprays, fumes or gases which may be harmful to your health. His work safety technician is responsible for determining when the respirators are needed in the workplace. This decision is based on:

  1. Exposure limits on contaminants – safe levels to which employees may be exposed daily work without bringing health risks.
  2. Scientific measurements of the exposure limits on the desktop.
  3. The amount of oxygen in the work area.

What Types Of Respirators Are Available?

There are two types of respirators: air purifiers and suppliers of air.

An estimated 5 million workers are required to wear respirators in 1.3 million workplaces throughout the United States. Respirators protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors, and sprays. These hazards may cause cancer, lung impairment, diseases, or death. Compliance with the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard could avert hundreds of deaths and thousands of illnesses annually.

Respirators protect the user in two basic ways. The first is by the removal of contaminants from the air. Respirators of this type include particulate respirators, which filter out airborne particles, and air-purifying respirators with cartridges/canisters which filter out chemicals and gases. Other respirators protect by supplying clean respirable air from another source. Respirators that fall into this category include airline respirators, which use compressed air from a remote source, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which include their own air supply.

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