Respiratory Protection

Introduction 

• Harmful chemicals, dusts, biological contaminants can be released into the air while people are doing their jobs.
• These hazards can be controlled using exhaust ventilation or some other type of control such as substituting one toxic compound with a less toxic one.
• If the controls don't work completely or while these controls are being installed or implemented, it may be necessary to wear respirators.
• Respirators are the last line of defense and worker knowledge and proper use are critical.
• Respirator use requires constant supervision to make sure they are being used properly. When respirators are not used correctly, workers may become ill from exposure to the air contaminants or even die from a lack of oxygen.

Regulatory Information

• In Washington State, the requirements for all other industries relating to respiratory protection have been moved to Chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, and Chapter 296-841 WAC, Respiratory hazards.
• The requirements in WAC 296-62-071 through 296-62-07295 apply only to agriculture.
• Extra respiratory protection requirements may apply if your workplace is covered by other health & safety standards addressing contaminant-specific or industry-specific work.
  

Using respirators

• Before relying on respirators for protection you must reduce exposures using engineering controls such as exhaust ventilation or administrative controls such as standard operating procedures. You may rely on respirators while you are installing or implementing these controls.
• Not all respirators will work in every situation. You need to understand the nature of the air contaminant including such things as the concentration, any legal limit, oxygen-level, among others.
• Respirators must be maintained in order to work properly and the respirator itself may harm some individuals.
• It is necessary to develop a complete respiratory protection program to make sure that the respirators will protect workers and that wearing them does not harm the workers.
• A complete respiratory protection program includes information and specific actions covering

  - Selecting respirators

  - Medical evaluations

  - Fit testing respirators (applies if tight fitting respirators are required)

  - Maintaining and caring for respirators

  - Using respirators including routine and emergency use procedures

  - Supplied Air quality (applies if airline or SCBAs will be used)

  - Training users and supervisors

  - Evaluating the Respirator Program

• When respirators are voluntarily used, limited program requirements may apply.

Resources

• The following link will take you to a sample respiratory protection program that you can view, edit, download and print. If you use these sample programs remember to tailor them to fit your workplace activities.
• Respiratory Protection Training Kit - Developed by WISHA's Training and Outreach Services. Provides slide presentations to comply with the training requirements of the WISHA Respirators Rule ( WAC 296-842). There are three modules: Module 1 - Filtering Facepieces (dust masks), Module 2 - Cartridge Respirators, and Module 3 - Supplied-air Respirators.
• The L&I Safety & Health Video Library also offers a number of videos on Respiratory Protection.  You can browse the available Respiratory Protection videos here.
• A list of respirator manufacturers is now available here.

Additional resources will become available in the near future.

Additional Links

Additional information on respiratory protection can be found at the following sites.

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Web site
• Occupational Safety & Health Administration's Web site for respiratory protection

Ask an Expert

• Email a Specialist if you have additional questions about respiratory protection.