Safe Use and Removal of Respirators

For printing

WAC 296-842-18005

Prevent sealing problems with tight-fitting respirators

(1) Make sure employees use the procedure in WAC 296-842-22020 to perform a user seal check each time they put on their tight-fitting respirator.
(2) Make sure you do not permit respirator use if employees have a characteristic that interferes with the respirator facepiece seal or valve function. For example, stubble, moustaches, sideburns, bangs, hairlines, or scars between the face and the sealing surface of the respirator will affect the seal.
(3) Make sure corrective glasses or personal protective equipment (PPE) do not interfere with the facepiece seal. Examples of PPE include safety glasses, goggles, faceshields, clothing, and hard hats.

WAC 296-842-18010

Make sure employees leave the use area before removing respirators

Make sure employees leave the use area for any of these reasons:

– To replace air-purifying filters, cartridges, or canisters

– When they smell or taste (detect) vapor or gas leakage from, for example, cartridges, canister, or the facepiece seal

– When they detect changes in breathing resistance

– To readjust their respirators

– To wash their faces and respirators as necessary to prevent skin or eye irritation

– If they become ill

– If they experience sensations of dizziness, nausea, weakness, breathing difficulty, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, fever, or chills.