Respirators
Chapter 296-842, WAC |
Effective
Date: 04/01/07 |
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WAC 296-842-12005
Develop and maintain a written program
 |
Exemption:
This section does not
apply to respirator use that is voluntary. See WAC
296-842-11005 for voluntary use program requirements. |
(1) Develop a complete worksite-specific
written respiratory protection program that includes the applicable
elements listed in Table 3.
| 
|
Note:
Pay for respirators, medical evaluations,
fit-testing, training, maintenance, travel costs, and wages. |
(2) Keep your program current and effective
by evaluating it and making corrections. Do all
of the following:
(a) Make sure procedures and program
specifications are followed and appropriate.
(b) Make sure selected respirators continue to be effective
in protecting employe. For example, if changes in work area conditions,
level of employee exposure, or employee physical stress have
occurred, you need to reevaluate your respirator selection.
(c) Have supervisors periodically monitor
employee respirator use to make sure employees are using them
properly.
(d) Regularly ask employees required to use respirators
about their views concerning program effectiveness and whether
they have problems with:
- Respirator fit during use
- Any effects of respirator use on work performance
- Respirators being appropriate for the hazards encountered
- Proper use under current worksite conditions
- Proper maintenance.
(e) When developing your written program include applicable elements listed in Table 3.
Table 3
Required Elements for Required-Use Respirator Programs
|
Selection:
- Procedures for respirator selection
- A list specifying the appropriate respirator for each
respiratory hazard in your workplace
- Procedures for issuing the proper type of respirator,
if appropriate
|
| Medical evaluation
provisions |
| Fit-test
provisions and procedures, if tight-fitting respirators are
selected |
|
Training provisions that addresses:
- Respiratory hazards encountered
during:
• Routine activities
• Infrequent activities, for example, bi-monthly
cleaning of equipment
• Reasonably foreseeable emergencies, for example,
rescue, spill response, or escape situations
- Proper use of respirators, for example,
how to put on or remove respirators, and use limitations
Note:
You do not need to repeat training on
respiratory hazards if employees have been trained on
this in compliance with other rules such as WAC
296-800-170, Employer Chemical Hazard Communication
in the WISHA Safety and Health Core Rules.
|
Respirator
use procedures for:
- Routine
activities
- Infrequent activities
- Reasonably foreseeable emergencies |
| Maintenance:
- Procedures and schedules for respirator
maintenance covering:
• Cleaning and disinfecting
• Storage
• Inspection and repair
• When to discard respirators
- A cartridge or canister change schedule if
air-purifying respirators are selected for use against gas
or vapor contaminants and an end-of-service-life-indicator
(ESLI) isn't available. In addition, provide:
• The data and other information
you relied on to calculate change schedule values (for
example, highest contaminant concentration estimates,
duration of employee respirator use, expected maximum
humidity levels, user breathing rates, and safety
factors).
|
| Procedures
to ensure a safe air quantity and quality if
atmosphere-supplying respirators (air-line or SCBA) are selected.
|
|
Procedures for evaluating program
effectiveness on a regular basis |
WAC 296-842-12010
Keep respirator program records
(1) Keep records of your current respirator program.
(2) Employee's current fit test record, if fit testing
is conducted. Fit test records must include:
- (a) Employee name
- (b) Test date
- (c) Type of fit-test performed
- (d) Description (type, manufacturer, model, style, and size)
of the respirator tested
- (e) Results of fit tests, for example, for quantitative fit
tests include the overall fit factor and a print out, or other
recording of the test.
(3) Keep training records that include employee’s names
and the dates trained
(4) Keep written recommendations from the LHCP.
(5) Allow records required by this section to be examined
and copied by affected employees and their representatives.
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