29 CFR §1910.134
(a)
Permissible practice.
(1) In the control of those occupational diseases caused by
breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes,
mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors, the primary objective
shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination. This shall be
accomplished as far as feasible by accepted engineering control
measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation,
general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic
materials). When effective engineering controls are not feasible,
or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators shall
be used pursuant to the following requirements.
(2) Respirators shall be provided by the employer when such
equipment is necessary to protect the health of the employee. The
employer shall provide the respirators which are applicable and
suitable for the purpose intended. The employer shall be
responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a
respiratory protective program which shall include the
requirements outlined in paragraph (b) of this section.
(3) The employee shall use the provided respiratory protection in
accordance with instructions and training received.
(b) Requirements for a minimal acceptable program.
(1) Written standard operating procedures governing the selection
and use of respirators shall be established.
(2) Respirators shall be selected on the basis of hazards to
which the worker is exposed.
(3) The user shall be instructed and trained in the proper use of
respirators and their limitations.
(4) (Reserved)
(5) Respirators shall be regularly cleaned and disinfected. Those
used by more than one worker shall be thoroughly cleaned and
disinfected after each use.
(6) Respirators shall be stored in a convenient, clean, and
sanitary location.
(7) Respirators used routinely shall be inspected during
cleaning. Worn or deteriorated parts shall be replaced.
Respirators for emergency use such as self-contained devices
shall be thoroughly inspected at least once a month and after
each use.
(8) Appropriate surveillance of work area conditions and degree
of em- ployee exposure or stress shall be maintained.
(9) There shall be regular inspection and evaluation to determine
the continued effectiveness of the program.
(10) Persons should not be assigned to tasks requiring use of
respirators unless it has been determined that they are
physically able to perform the work and use the equipment. The
local physician shall determine what health and physical
conditions are pertinent. The respirator user's medical status
should be reviewed periodically (for instance, annually).
(11) Approved or accepted respirators shall be used when they are
available. The respirator furnished shall provide adequate
respiratory protection against the particular hazard for which it
is designed in accordance with standards established by competent
authorities. The U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Mines,
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are recognized as such
authorities. Although respirators listed by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture continue to be acceptable for protection against
specified pesticides, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau
of Mines, is the agency now responsible for testing and approving
pesticide respirators.
(c) Selection of respirators. Proper selection of respirators
shall be made according to the guidance of American National
Standard Practices for Respiratory Protection Z88.2-1969.
(d) Air quality.
(1) Compressed air, compressed oxygen, liquid air, and liquid
oxygen used for respiration shall be of high purity. Oxygen shall
meet the requirements of the United States Pharmacopoeia for
medical or breathing oxygen. Breathing air shall meet at least
the requirements of the specification for Grade D breathing air
as described in Compressed Gas Association Commodity
Specification G-7.1-1966. Compressed oxygen shall not be used in
supplied-air respirators or in open circuit self-contained
breathing apparatus that have previously used compressed air.
Oxygen must never be used with air line respirators.
(2) Breathing air may be supplied to respirators from cylinders
or air compressors.
(i) Cylinders shall be tested and maintained as prescribed in the
Shipping Container Specification Regulations of the Department of
Transportation (49 CFR Part 178).
(ii) The compressor for supplying air shall be equipped with
necessary safety and standby devices. A breathing air-type
compressor shall be used. Compressors shall be constructed and
situated so as to avoid entry of contaminated air into the system
and suitable in-line air purifying sorbent beds and filters
installed to further assure breathing air quality. A receiver of
sufficient capacity to enable the respirator wearer to escape
from a contaminated atmosphere in event of compressor failure,
and alarms to indicate compressor failure and overheating shall
be installed in the system. If an oil-lubricated compressor is
used, it shall have a high-temperature or carbon monoxide alarm,
or both. If only a high-temperature alarm is used, the air from
the compressor shall be frequently tested for carbon monoxide to
insure that it meets the specifications in paragraph (d)(1) of
this section.
(3) Air line couplings shall be incompatible with outlets for
other gas systems to prevent inadvertent servicing of air line
respirators with nonrespirable gases or oxygen.
(4) Breathing gas containers shall be marked in accordance with
American National Standard Method of Marking Portable Compressed
Gas Containers to Identify the Material Contained, Z48.1-1954;
Federal Specification BB-A-1034a, June 21, 1968, Air, Compressed
for Breathing Purposes; or Interim Federal Specification
GG-B-00675b, April 27, 1965, Breathing Apparatus, Self-Contained.
(e) Use of respirators.
(1) Standard procedures shall be developed for respirator use.
These should include all information and guidance necessary for
their proper selection, use, and care. Possible emergency and
routine uses of respirators should be anticipated and planned
for.
(2) The correct respirator shall be specified for each job. The
respirator type is usually specified in the work procedures by a
qualified individual supervising the respiratory protective
program. The individual issuing them shall be adequately
instructed to insure that the correct respirator is issued.
(3) Written procedures shall be prepared covering safe use of
respirators in dangerous atmospheres that might be encountered in
normal operations or in emergencies. Personnel shall be familiar
with these procedures and the available respirators.
(i) In areas where the wearer, with failure of the respirator,
could be overcome by a toxic or oxygen-deficient atmosphere, at
least one additional man shall be present. Communications
(visual, voice, or signal line) shall be maintained between both
or all individuals present. Planning shall be such that one
individual will be unaffected by any likely incident and have the
proper rescue equipment to be able to assist the other(s) in case
of emergency.
(ii) When self-contained breathing apparatus or hose masks with
blowers are used in atmospheres immediately dangerous to life or
health, standby men must be present with suitable rescue
equipment.
(iii) Persons using air line respirators in atmospheres
immediately hazardous to life or health shall be equipped with
safety harnesses and safety lines for lifting or removing persons
from hazardous atmospheres or other and equivalent provisions for
the rescue of persons from hazardous atmospheres shall be used. A
standby man or men with suitable self-contained breathing
apparatus shall be at the nearest fresh air base for emergency
rescue.
(4) Respiratory protection is no better than the respirator in
use, even though it is worn conscientiously. Frequent random
inspections shall be conducted by a qualified individual to
assure that respirators are properly selected, used, cleaned, and
maintained.
(5) For safe use of any respirator, it is essential that the user
be properly instructed in its selection, use, and maintenance.
Both supervisors and workers shall be so instructed by competent
persons. Training shall provide the men an opportunity to handle
the respirator, have it fitted properly, test its
face-piece-to-face seal, wear it in normal air for a long
familiarity period, and, finally, to wear it in a test
atmosphere.
(i) Every respirator wearer shall receive fitting instructions
including demonstrations and practice in how the respirator
should be worn, how to adjust it, and how to determine if it fits
properly. Respirators shall not be worn when conditions prevent a
good face seal. Such conditions may be a growth of beard,
sideburns, a skull cap that projects under the facepiece, or
temple pieces on glasses. Also, the absence of one or both
dentures can seriously affect the fit of a facepiece. The
worker's diligence in observing these factors shall be evaluated
by periodic check. To assure proper protection, the facepiece fit
shall be checked by the wearer each time he puts on the
respirator. This may be done by following the manufacturer's
facepiece fitting instructions.
(ii) Providing respiratory protection for individuals wearing
corrective glasses is a serious problem. A proper seal cannot be
established if the temple bars of eye glasses extend through the
sealing edge of the full facepiece. As a temporary measure,
glasses with short temple bars or without temple bars may be
taped to the wearer's head. Wearing of contact lenses in
contaminated atmospheres with a respirator shall not be allowed.
Systems have been developed for mounting corrective lenses inside
full facepieces. When a workman must wear corrective lenses as
part of the facepiece, the facepiece and lenses shall be fitted
by qualified individuals to provide good vision, comfort, and a
gas-tight seal.
(iii) If corrective spectacles or goggles are required, they
shall be worn so as not to affect the fit of the facepiece.
Proper selection of equipment will minimize or avoid this
problem.
(f) Maintenance and care of respirators.
(1) A program for maintenance and care of respirators shall be
adjusted to the type of plant, working conditions, and hazards
involved, and shall include the following basic services:
(i) Inspection for defects (including a leak check),
(ii) Cleaning and disinfecting,
(iii) Repair,
(iv) Storage
Equipment shall be properly maintained to retain its original
effectiveness.
(2) (i) All respirators shall be inspected routinely before and
after each use. A respirator that is not routinely used but is
kept ready for emergency use shall be inspected after each use
and at least monthly to assure that it is in satisfactory working
condition.
(ii) Self-contained breathing apparatus shall be inspected
monthly. Air and oxygen cylinders shall be fully charged
according to the manufacturer's instructions. It shall be
determined that the regulator and warning devices function
properly.
(iii) Respirator inspection shall include a check of the
tightness of connections and the condition of the facepiece,
headbands, valves, connecting tube, and canisters. Rubber or
elastomer parts shall be inspected for pliability and signs of
deterioration. Stretching and manipulating rubber or elastomer
parts with a massaging action will keep them pliable and flexible
and prevent them from taking a set during storage.
(iv) A record shall be kept of inspection dates and findings for
respirators maintained for emergency use.
(3) Routinely used respirators shall be collected, cleaned, and
disinfected as frequently as necessary to insure that proper
protection is provided for the wearer. Respirators maintained for
emergency use shall be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
(4) Replacement or repairs shall be done only by experienced
persons with parts designed for the respirator. No attempt shall
be made to replace components or to make adjustment or repairs
beyond the manufacturer's recommendations. Reducing or admission
valves or regulators shall be returned to the manufacturer or to
a trained technician for adjustment or repair.
(5) (i) After inspection, cleaning, and necessary repair,
respirators shall be stored to protect against dust, sunlight,
heat, extreme cold, excessive moisture, or damaging chemicals.
Respirators placed at stations and work areas for emergency use
should be quickly accessible at all times and should be stored in
compartments built for the purpose. The compartments should be
clearly marked. Routinely used respirators, such as dust
respirators, may be placed in plastic bags. Respirators should
not be stored in such places as lockers or tool boxes unless they
are in carrying cases or cartons.
(ii) Respirators should be packed or stored so that the facepiece
and exhalation valve will rest in a normal position and function
will not be impaired by the elastomer setting in an abnormal
position.
(iii) Instructions for proper storage of emergency respirators,
such as gas masks and self-contained breathing apparatus, are
found in "use and care'' instructions usually mounted inside
the carrying case lid.
(g) Identification of gas mask canisters.
(1) The primary means of identifying a gas mask canister shall be
by means of properly worded labels. The secondary means of
identifying a gas mask canister shall be by a color code.
(2) All who issue or use gas masks falling within the scope of
this section shall see that all gas mask canisters purchased or
used by them are properly labeled and colored in accordance with
these requirements before they are placed in service and that the
labels and colors are properly maintained at all times thereafter
until the canisters have completely served their purpose.
(3) On each canister shall appear in bold letters the following:
(i) --> Canister for
(Name for atmospheric contaminant)
or
Type N Gas Mask Canister
(ii) In addition, essentially the following wording shall appear
beneath the appropriate phrase on the canister label: "For
respiratory protection in atmospheres containing not more
than-------------- percent by volume of
---------------------------- .''
(Name of atmospheric contaminant)
(4) Canisters having a special high-efficiency filter for
protection against radionuclides and other highly toxic
particulates shall be labeled with a statement of the type and
degree of protection afforded by the filter. The label shall be
affixed to the neck end of, or to the gray stripe which is around
and near the top of, the canister. The degree of protection shall
be marked as the percent of penetration of the canister by a
0.3-micron-diameter dioctyl phthalate (DOP) smoke at a flow rate
of 85 liters per minute.
(5) Each canister shall have a label warning that gas masks
should be used only in atmospheres containing sufficient oxygen
to support life (at least 16 percent by volume), since gas mask
canisters are only designed to neutralize or remove contaminants
from the air.
(6) Each gas mask canister shall be painted a distinctive color
or combination of colors indicated in Table I-1. All colors used
shall be such that they are clearly identifiable by the user and
clearly distinguishable from one another. The color coating used
shall offer a high degree of resistance to chipping, scaling,
peeling, blistering, fading, and the effects of the ordinary
atmospheres to which they may be exposed under normal conditions
of storage and use. Appropriately colored pressure sensitive tape
may be used for the stripes.
Table I-1
TABLE/GRAPH OMITTED
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1218-0099)
(39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 43 FR 49748, Oct. 24,
1978; 49 FR 5322, Feb. 10, 1984; 49 FR 18295, Apr. 30, 1984)