SOP Manual - Cleveland Fire Department

Cleveland Fire Department
Operations Manual
Respiratory Protection Program
Selection of Respirators
A. All respirators shall be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) and must be used in compliance with the conditions of its certification.
B. Respirators shall be worn in any atmosphere that poses an immediate danger to life or health
(IDLH), would cause irreversible adverse health effects, or would impair an individual’s ability to
escape from a dangerous atmosphere. Structural Firefighting, beyond the incipient stage is an
IDLH atmosphere. Any atmosphere that cannot be identified or reasonably estimated shall be
considered IDLH. All oxygen-deficient atmospheres (less than 19.5% by volume) shall be
considered IDLH.
C. All respirators used in an IDLH atmosphere shall be full facepiece pressure demand self-contained
breathing apparatus (SCBA) certified by NIOSH for a minimum service life of thirty minutes.
Medical Evaluation
A. All personnel must complete an OSHA approved, medical evaluation performed by a physician or
other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) using a medical questionnaire or an initial
medical examination that obtains the same information as the medical questionnaire before fit
testing and use of SCBA.
B. The PLHCP shall provide the Cleveland Fire Department a written recommendation regarding the
employee’s ability to use a respirator.
C. Additional medical evaluations are required under the following circumstances:
1. An employee reports medical signs or symptoms related to his ability to use a respirator.
2. The PLHCP, program administrator, or supervisor recommends a reevaluation.
3. Information from the respirator program, including observations made during fit testing
and program evaluation.
4. A change occurs in workplace conditions that may substantially increase the
physiological burden on an employee.
Effective: June 1, 1997 Revised: 5/14/2009 Page | 301
Approved by: Chief Chuck Atchley