LBNL Respiratory Protection Program - Lawrence Berkeley National ...

when used by a fully trained worker. For a list of APFs, refer to Appendix B, Assigned
Protection Factors.
Atmosphere-supplying respirator: a respirator that supplies the respirator user with breathing
air from a source independent of the ambient atmosphere, and includes supplied-air respirators
(SARs) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units.
CFR: Code of Federal Regulations
Cartridge (air-purifying): A container with a filter, sorbent, or catalyst, or any combination
thereof, which removes specific contaminants from the air drawn through it.
Cartridge change schedule: A calculation based on objective information and data to ensure
that cartridges are changed before the end of their service life.
Ceiling Limit (C): The airborne concentration that should not be exceeded during any part of
the working exposure.
Contaminant: A harmful, irritating, or nuisance material that is foreign to the normal
atmosphere.
Dust mask: The common name for a filtering facepiece respirator.
Emergency situation: Any occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of
containers, or failure of control equipment that may or does result in an uncontrolled significant
release of an airborne contaminant.
End of service life indicator (ESLI): An indicator on a respirator cartridge that is certified by
NIOSH for a contaminant, to indicate when the cartridge service life is ended.
Exhalation valve: A device that allows exhaled air to leave a respirator and prevents outside air
from entering through the valve.
Exposure Assessment: The process of defining exposure profiles and judging the acceptability
of workplace exposures to environmental agents. These assessments may be; quantitative, semiquantitative,
or qualitative. These assessments are generally conducted by an ES&H
Professional, which may include Industrial Hygienists, Safety Engineers, or in some cases,
others. These assessments may be conducted for representative employees and are not required
to be conducted for each individual. In all cases, employees have full access to exposure
monitoring information, including situations where an individual’s exposure is not monitored.
Facepiece: That portion of a respirator that covers the wearer's nose and mouth.
Filter or air-purifying element: A media component used to remove solid or liquid particles
from the inspired air.
Filtering facepiece (disposable dust mask): a negative pressure particulate respirator with a
filter as an integral part of the facepiece or with the entire facepiece composed of the filtering
medium. These respirators are sometimes inaccurately referred to as N95 respirators, because
that is the most common efficiency and filter designation used in filtering facepiece respirators.
With the exception of some limited Health Care activities, these devices are only used when for
voluntary use situations.
Fit test: The use of a protocol to qualitatively or quantitatively evaluate the fit of a particular
respirator to a specific person. A fit test must be repeated annually.
LBNL Respiratory Protection Program Page 2
V2.4 Revised 3/28/12