RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION
A REFRESHER CLASS

Welcome
to a self-guided refresher class for
respirator users needing annual
training.
This class consists of:
1. This Respiratory Protection Powerpoint
2. A Respirator Inspection Powerpoint
3. A short online quiz

To proceed with the class, you
the student, are in control. Slides
and text will progress with the
click of the mouse. In a few
cases, changes will happen
automatically.
Enjoy your session and
learn lots!

As a respirator user, each year
you are required to….
To meet these requirements……….
• Complete a refresher class
• Complete this session and test
• And have a successful respirator
fit test with the respirator you use
• Contact your EH&S representative to
schedule a respirator fit test or check
on the EH&SS web site calendar for
fit testing times at your facility.

The respiratory hazards in your
workplace should be evaluated by
your supervisor….
• At the time of hire
• If you are a new respirator user
• Before you begin working with new or different
chemicals
• Before you begin working with the same
chemicals under different conditions
If any of these change, inform your supervisor

Respiratory Hazard Assessment
Table…..
• Complete for each task, chemical or type of chemical
• Submit it to your EH&S representative
The Respiratory Hazard Assessment form
(and an example of a completed form) can be obtained by
contacting your EH&S representative or by downloading the
form here

When evaluating respiratory
hazards, your supervisor should
also…..
• Evaluate what type of respiratory protection
should be used such as
• Type of respirator
• Filter and cartridge needed
• How long the filter and cartridges can be used
•Evaluate other personal protective equipment needed
as well
Contact your EH&S representative for respiratory
protection recommendations

Before using respirators, always
evaluate the possibility of….
• Using engineering controls by
– Opening windows or doors
– Using local exhaust fans or chemical fume
hoods
• Using administrative controls by
– Substituting less hazardous chemical
– Reducing exposure time to the chemical
– Contracting out work
– Working outdoors

Evaluating your health is also
important when using a respirator,
because…
• Using a respirator adds stress to the
cardiovascular and respiratory system.
• This added stress could complicate or add
to some existing health conditions.
• Typically when using a respirator, other PPE
is also used, creating additional stress on
the body.
• To help evaluate your health risks……..

A medical questionnaire is required
• As a new respirator user
• Every two years or if directed differently by
the physician
• Whenever a user’s health changes
significantly

A respirator medical questionnaire
Is confidential and only seen by the health
care provider
• Is reviewed by a licensed health care provider
• Is obtained by contacting your EH&S
representative or at the following L&I website:
Check out L&I Website
Submit your completed questionnaire in the
provided self-addressed return envelope to
your EH&S representative

Selecting a proper respirator
• Important things to remember!
• EH&S has many makes and models to
try
• EH&S will assist in selection
• If you are a new user or you already use
a respirator and are having problems
with it, contact your EH&S
representative for assistance

Selecting a proper respirator
• MORE important things to remember!
• Know the contaminants and their concentrations
that you are being exposed to
• If there isn’t sufficient oxygen present (below
19.5%), supplied air respirators must be used
• If contaminants or their concentrations present
Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health
(IDLH) conditions, supplied air respirators must be
used

Selecting a proper respirator
• If contaminants have poor warning
properties (taste, smell, irritant), supplied
air respirators must be used
• If you have facial hair, or can’t fit any
respirator, powered air purifying
helmet units can be used whenever a
negative pressure respirator can be
used.

Selecting filters and cartridges
Pesticides
• Check the label for recommendation
• For most all pesticides the following two are
recommended:
– Dust/mist/fumes filter
• No spray oils present: N-95 or P-100 (HEPA)
• Spray oils present: R-95 or P-100 (HEPA)
– Toxics
• Organic vapor cartridge (OV), or OV and acid gas
cartridge, or multi-contaminant cartridge

Selecting filters and cartridges
• Solvents and corrosives
– Contact your EH&S representative or respirator
manufacturer
– Solvents can have poor warning properties and
short breakthrough times
• Asbestos and other respirable particles (<
10 um)
– P-100 (HEPA) filters
• Nuisance dust, mists, fumes
– N-95, R-95 (if contain oil), or P-100 filters

Testing your respirator
• When first selecting a respirator, finding one
that has a good seal and is comfortable is
done by trying a variety of respirators and
passing a respirator fit test by EH&S
• Several factors can lead to a respirator that
does not seal properly
• That is why a respirator fit test is required
annually to help insure its fit and to review
your use and care of the respirator

Factors that can change fit
• Recent dental work, and dentures
• Facial surgery, treatments, scars
• Weight loss or gain of 15 pounds or more
• Facial changes from aging
• Improper storage and maintenance of respirator
• Respirator straps losing their elasticity

A major factor that affects fit
• A respirator fit test cannot be given if
there is facial hair present.
• A good fit cannot be expected the day
you use your respirator when not clean
shaven

When getting a respirator fit test:
• Be clean shaven in the area of the
respirator seal zone that day
• Bring your respirator

Using your respirator properly
Before you use your respirator, be sure you understand:
1. Inspections (Review Respirator Inspection presentation)
2. Donning and doffing (on and off)
3. Maintenance
4. Changing cartridges and filters
5. What to do when things go wrong

1. Before you use your
respirator…
• Inspect the respirator to make sure all parts
are in place, in good condition, clean, and
operable
• Make sure cartridges and filters are the
proper ones for the job and are not
damaged and not expired
• After donning the respirator, do a positive
and negative fit check
-Demonstration

2.How you put on your respirator
is important
• Placing a half-face first on the bridge of the nose
and tightening the upper straps first insures
placement for best comfort and prevention from
sliding down when perspiring
• Make sure the straps are adjusted evenly on both
sides and the respirator is centered on the face.
Using a mirror is helpful for full-face users
• Adjusting too tight can result in a poor fit from
distortion, discomfort and pain, short use periods
due to discomfort, headaches

How you put on your respirator is
important
• Donning Particulate Respirators
• Donning Dual Cartridge Respirators
• Donning Half-face Respirators
• Donning Full-face Respirators

When removing your respirator
• Remove your contaminated gloves first
• If the respirator is contaminated,
decontaminate the respirator or put new
clean gloves on before removing your
respirator

3. Knowing when to change
filters and cartridges is
very important
• There must be a written change-out schedule
for them in the work area so employees
change them out consistently
• Very few cartridges have change-out indicators
on them telling you when to change them
• For solvents and acids, contact the
manufacturer or an EH&S representative

Changing cartridges and filters
• For pesticides and toxics change them after
eight hours of use.
• If periods of use are shorter than 8 hours,
add cumulative times.
• If periods in-between use extend 2 weeks or
more reduce the eight hour total time.

Changing filters
• N-95 filters – change when breathing
becomes more difficult due to resistance
• R-95 filters – change after eight hours of use
when mists containing oil are present
• P-100 – change when breathing becomes
more difficult due to resistance

4. Taking good care of your
respirator will increase its useful
lifetime and insure it works
properly…
when you need it to.

Keep a clean respirator
• Dirt particles under exhalation valves can
reduce your seal/fit factor
• Dirt, oils, bacteria, soaps, and disinfectants
left on respirators can lead to skin irritation
and dermatitis so make sure your respirator
is clean and well rinsed before each use
• It is recommended to clean after each use

Clean your respirator properly
• Clean in warm water
(not to exceed 100 o F)
• Use a mild detergent
• Wash with a soft sponge
(brush if resistant)
•Rinse with running (required)
warm water (not to exceed 100 o F)
•Sanitize (required) and rinse
again
•Recommend using one-step
combination detergent/sanitizer to
reduce sanitizer step

Clean your respirator properly
• Dry the respirator with a lint free cloth
• Or hang in a clean area until dry
• Package it up as soon as it is dry. Do not
leave hanging out
• Inspect the respirator after re-assembly
– Review the Respirator Inspection presentation

Repair
• Replace worn and defective parts with parts
ONLY for that specific respirator
• Do not use a respirator until all necessary
repairs are completed
• Have readily available the most commonly
needed parts for timely repair to insure a
working respirator is always used

It makes a lot of sense to…
store your respirator properly
• It prevents it from getting distorted, which
will cause it to lose its ability to fit properly
and require it to be replaced
• It prevents it from getting damaged
• It prevents it from becoming contaminated
reducing the protection it can provide

Good storage means….
• Storage in an uncontaminated area
• Store contaminated cartridges separate
from respirator
• Store cartridges and respirator in clean
sealed containers such as self-sealing
bags or sealed plastic containers
• To prevent distortion,store in separate
hard containers and not in tool boxes or
with other items

Good storage also means…
• Storage away from heat, sun, and moisture
• Moisture can reduce the life of some
cartridges
• Leaving cartridges unsealed can reduce
their useful life

KNOW WHAT TO DO
When things go wrong

If you experience…
• Warning signs of taste, smell, irritation,
cough
• Medical symptoms such as difficulty in
breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain,
over exertion
• Signs and symptoms of exposure to
contaminants

Get out of area to fresh air and
remove respirator
• Get out of area to fresh air and remove
respirator
• Get out of area to fresh air and
remove respirator
• Get out of area to fresh air and
remove respirator
•Get out of area to fresh air
and remove respirator

When safely in fresh air,
What to check and do…
• Inspect respirator
• Change cartridges or filters
• Red-don respirator and do positive and
negative fit checks to your satisfaction
• Re-enter and if conditions persist, exit and
notify your supervisor
• Address medical and exposure symptoms
and inform supervisor

Why is it important to make
sure your fit is good, and that
you use and maintain the
respirator properly?

So that your respirator can
provide the level of protection
it is designed to give…
and the level of protection
you need

If you don’t do these things
You operate with a false sense of protection
and open yourself to:
• Chronic exposures you never know about
• Acute exposures that you will know about laterafter
it’s too late for protection

Potential hazards you could be
exposed to include…
• Toxics where acute or chronic exposure could
result in systemic poisoning, illness, organ
disfunction, sensitization,or death
• Corrosives (acids), which can cause temporary or
permanent tissue damage in the respiratory
system
• Carcinogens & particulates, which can lead to
cancer or other respiratory illnesses respectively
• Allergens that promote illness, allergic reaction,
reduced productivity, & sensitization

Using respiratory protection
makes it possible for you to
work safely
Following your Respiratory
Protection Program allows you to
work with confidence

The Respiratory Protection
Refresher Training is complete
Click if you are ready to take the training quiz
Click here if you would like to return to the beginning of
the training to review for the quiz
Return to the EH&S training menu to take the Respirator Inspection
PowerPoint as part of this training