Respirator Protection Program

POLICY:

Monmouth University desires to maintain the safest possible working environment for all employees. One method of meeting this goal is the development of this Respirator Protection Program.

Monmouth University in general does not have the types of hazardous situations that are found in heavy construction or other types of business. However, there are job responsibilities and occasions to enter confined spaces which require the use of respiratory protection. It is the University’s intent to limit tasks and the number of employees who are assigned tasks which require the use of respirators when possible.

This plan contains the necessary procedures and has been developed to comply with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 134.

OPERATING PROCEDURES:

Designated Person:

The Director of Affirmative Action, Human Relations, and Compliance is designated to manage the Respirator Protection Program.

Selection of Respirator Equipment:

Respirators shall be provided by the University when such equipment is necessary to protect the health of the employee. Before selecting respirators, the following information will be gathered:

Walk through surveys shall be conducted to identify employee groups or work environments where the use of respiratory protective equipment may be required.  In addition, if need warrants, industrial hygiene monitoring will be conducted.

When a confined space has been identified, the following information shall be collected:

	what contaminants are present, their physical state and concentration in the air;
	their OSHA, NIOSH or ACGIH exposure limits;
	if they are gases or vapors, what warning properties they have, including taste, odor, eye irritation, or respiratory irritation; and
	conditions including work rate, mobility required for work, work space available and whether oxygen deficiency is possible.

When all hazardous spaces have been identified and evaluated, the latest NIOSH Certified Equipment List will be used to identify respirators for specific jobs.

Fitting Respirators:

Once employees have been medically cleared, an appropriate respirator will be selected from the approved list. A fit test will be conducted and the appropriate brand, style, and size for the employee shall be ordered and assigned exclusively to that employee.  Fit testing procedures may be found in Appendix C of the most recent OSHA Asbestos Standard 29 CFR 1910.1001, 1990. A copy is available in the office of Affirmative Action, Human Relations and Compliance.

Care of Respirators:

Cleaning: Employees who are issued respirators shall be trained in the proper cleaning and storage of respirators. The manufacturer’s instructions will be followed concerning disinfectants, rinsing and drying.

Storage:   Respirators shall be stored to protect them from dust, sunlight, heat, extreme cold, and excessive moisture. After cleaning, respirators shall be stored in heat sealed or re-sealable plastic bags until reissue. They shall be stored in single layer with facepiece and exhalation valve in a normal position to prevent rubber or plastic from taking a permanent distorted "set".

Inspection and Repair:  All respiratory protective equipment must be inspected before and after each use and during cleaning. Emergency use respirators shall be inspected at least monthly and a written record shall be maintained. Inspections shall focus on rubber facepieces, headstraps, inhalation and exhalation valves, filter elements, and corrugated breathing tubes. These components shall be checked for tears, holes, dirt, distortion, scratches, loose particles and other irregularities.  Should replacement parts be necessary, only the manufacturer’s parts shall be used by qualified service agents.

MEDICAL SCREENING :

Employees will not use respirators or be assigned to identify hazardous areas without first receiving medical evaluation to determine the employee’s ability to use a respirator.

Medical Evaluation Procedures:

At the University Health Center, employees will meet with a physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) to complete a medical evaluation using a medical questionnaire or receive an initial medical examination that obtains the same information as the medical questionnaire in accordance with OSHA Standard 29 CFR.134.

Follow-up Medical Examination:

An employee will be provided a follow-up medical examination if a positive response is given to any question among questions 1 through 8 in Section 2, Part A of Appendix C or whose initial medical examination demonstrates the need for a follow-up medical examination. The follow-up medical examination shall include any medical tests, consultations, or diagnostic procedures that the PLHCP deems necessary to make a final determination.

Clearance:

Once an employee is medically cleared by the University Health Center, the Office of Affirmative Action, Human Relations and Compliance will schedule fit testing and training.

TRAINING:

Since the very life and safety of the employees is at stake, the training program is one of the most important parts of the respirator program.

It is the intent of Monmouth University to require training by the manufacturer of the respirator as a specification and condition of purchase. Training will be provided for employees who have cleared medical screening and who have been fitted for a respirator.

RESPIRATORS MAY NOT BE USED UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE HAS RECEIVED TRAINING.

Training shall include the following topics:

The importance of correct respirator selection and use, health effects and consequence of improper use.

	Limitations of respirators
	Rationale for respirator selection
	Proper use (hands on demonstration)
	Daily positive and negative pressure fit checks
	Qualitative and/or quantitative fit testing
	Cleaning, inspection and repair
	Proper storage

Retraining shall be administered annually and when the following situations occur:

	Changes in the workplace or the type of respirator render previous training obsolete
	Inadequacies in the employee’s knowledge or use of the respirator indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill
	Any other situation arises in which retraining appears necessary to ensure safe respirator use.

EVALUATION OF RESPIRATOR PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS:

The Monmouth University Respirator Protection Program shall be evaluated annually. These operating procedures will be modified to reflect the evaluation of the program. The designated person shall be responsible for monitoring the program on an on-going basis as stated:

	Conduct evaluations of the workplace as necessary to ensure that the provisions of the current written program are being effectively implemented and that it continues to be effective.
	Regularly consult employees required to use respirators to assess the employees’ views on program effectiveness and to identify any problems. Any problems that are identified during this assessment shall be corrected. Factors to be assessed include, but are not limited to:

  Respirator fit (including the ability to use the respirator without interfering with effective workplace performance);

  Appropriate respirator selection for the hazards to which the employee is exposed;

  Proper respirator use under the workplace conditions the employee encounters;

  Proper respirator maintenance

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