A firefighter experienced a significant medical issue during a training exercise due to residual nitrogen after hydro-testing that diluted oxygen in his self-contained breathing apparatus SCBA cylinder to dangerously low levels. We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. Education and training. Online course. No items are currently available. Rules and rule-related. Adopted Rules.
Administrative Order Rule text. Purpose: The purpose of this instruction is to revise and clarify Oregon OSHA's policy regarding issuance of citations for violation of "paperwork" and "written program" requirements.
Purpose: This instruction provides uniform inspection procedures and guidelines to be followed when conducting inspections and issuing citations for workers potentially exposed to formaldehyde.
Purpose: This directive describes policies and procedures for implementing a Local Emphasis Program LEP to reduce and eliminate the workplace incidence of silicosis resulting from occupational exposure to crystalline silica. Purpose: This instruction establishes policies and provides clarification to ensure uniform enforcement of the Occupational Exposure to Methylene Chloride Standard, OAR Purpose: This instruction establishes agency interpretations and enforcement policies, and provides instructions to ensure uniform enforcement of the Respiratory Protection Standard, Purpose: To remind users of possible defects in the above-mentioned Scott SCBAs and to inform them of procedures for verifying proper operation of the units.
A properly fitted respirator can help protect you. Choosing a respirator that fits properly and provides the protection required for a specific type of contaminant is essential.
Prior to the fit test, you must be cleared medically by Occupational Health. Millions of workers are required to wear respirators in various 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. Respirators protect the user in two basic ways.
The first is by the removal of contaminants from the air. 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. This instruction cancels CPL Action Information. Responsible Office. Telephone number Action Offices. Information Offices. Not applicable to this directive. Federal Program Change. This instruction describes a Federal Program Change for which State adoption is not required. Significant Changes.
These hazards include a wide range of airborne contaminants and in some cases represent immediately dangerous to life or health IDLH conditions. Respiratory Protection Program. Administration of Program. Each region must assign a program administrator to oversee the respiratory protection program for its Area Offices as well as Regional Office employees requiring respiratory protection.
The regional program administrator is responsible for evaluating the program's effectiveness. Each Area Office also must have a program administrator to coordinate the various aspects of the respiratory protection program on a local level. The responsibilities detailed in Section B, which appear below, are guidelines for the Regional and Area Offices to follow in setting up a respirator program. Their implementation and coordination can be adapted to the offices' specific circumstances.
The program administrator's job is to ensure consistent coordination and direction of the program as well as to maintain the integrity of the respirator program. National Office - Directorate of Technical Support. Update this instruction as necessary; Provide advice to assist Regional Administrators and National Office personnel in complying with the program; Recommend appropriate respiratory protective equipment.
Regional Office - Regional Administrator. Appoint a regional program administrator to establish and implement a respirator program for Regional Office staff and ensure that each Area Office implements a consistent program; Assist the Area Offices in complying with the program; The Regional Administrator will monitor Area Office adherence to the program and evaluate the program region-wide to determine its effectiveness.
Delegate authority for program coordination to a designated person trained in the use and care of respirators. This individual will be named as the program administrator for the Area Office; Ensure that the CSHOs adhere to the program; and Provide an annual evaluation of the respiratory protection program to the regional program administrator. Program Administrator Regional and Area Offices.
Conduct evaluations of the respiratory protection program as necessary, and update written programs as needed; and Maintain records required by the program. Compliance Safety and Health Officers.
Have the responsibility to wear respirators when and where required, and to care for and maintain the respirators in the manner in which CSHOs are trained. Before going into hazardous areas, employees should identify those work areas, processes, or tasks that require respiratory protection. Should conduct a pre-inspection evaluation for their potential exposure to chemicals. They should review all pertinent information contained in the establishment file and appropriate reference sources to become knowledgeable about the industrial processes and potential respiratory hazards that may be encountered.
During the opening conference, a list of hazardous substances should be developed or obtained, along with any air monitoring results that the employer has. The CSHO should determine if he or she has the appropriate respirator to protect against chemicals present at the work site. CSHOs must notify their supervisor or the program administrator: If their respirators no longer fit well, and should request replacements that fit properly; If the CSHOs encounter any respiratory hazards during inspections or onsite visits that they believe have not been previously or adequately addressed; and If they have any other concerns regarding the program.
Program Elements. The respiratory protection program must cover the following basic elements, as applicable: Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace; Medical evaluations of CSHOs required to use respirators; Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators; Use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency escape situations; Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, and otherwise maintaining respirators; Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity and flow of breathing air for self-contained breathing apparatus SCBA ; Training employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed; Training employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and maintenance procedures; and Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.
Selection Procedures. Respirator selection requires correctly matching the respirator with the hazard, the degree of hazard, and the user. The respirator selected must be adequate to effectively reduce exposure of the respirator user under all conditions of use, including reasonably foreseeable emergency escape situations.
Proper respirator selection involves choosing a device that will protect the CSHO from the respiratory hazards to which he or she may be exposed, yet permits the CSHO to perform the job with the least amount of physical burden. General Requirements. Many factors must be carefully considered in selecting a respirator. In choosing the appropriate respirator, one must consider the nature and extent of the hazard, work requirements and conditions, and the characteristics and limitations of the available respirators.
For protection against gases and vapors in atmospheres that are non-IDLH, an air-purifying respirator should be used. When an air-purifying respirator is selected, a system must be in effect that will reliably protect respirator wearers from contaminant breakthrough. These systems are: A respirator equipped with a NIOSH-approved end-of-service life indicator ESLI for the particular contaminant; or If there is no ESLI appropriate for the conditions encountered at a worksite, the CSHO follows a sorbent change schedule for canisters and cartridges based on reliable information or data ensuring that canisters and cartridges are changed before the end of their service life.
Use of SCBAs. In addition, CSHOs must be adequately trained in the use of the equipment and the equipment must be properly maintained. OSHA personnel are not emergency responders and are not authorized to act in such a manner. Evaluation methods i. Escape-only respirators must be carried by all individuals when there is a potential for exposure to IDLH atmospheres. This type of situation may exist in portions of refineries, chemical plants, sewage treatment plants, and hazardous waste sites, etc.
All escape-only respirators have limitations and these limitations must be taken into account when selecting them. Medical Evaluation. CSHOs assigned to tasks that require the use of a respirator must be physically able to perform the work while using a respirator.
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