Sample
Respirator Training Program
Format
The suggested format allows the employer
to adapt the training program to the individual
requirements of the facility. This may
be accomplished in the following ways.
- Where
indicated, record the information
for your facility, e.g., in what locations
of your operations are respirators
required, or which chemical exposures
necessitate the use of respirators.
- Employees
need not be aware of all the different
types of respirators, but only the
one(s) they will be required to wear.
Training
When planning the training session, remember
that trainees usually retain only about
20 percent of what they hear, about 40
percent of what they see, and about 70
percent of what they both see and hear.
For best results, a program of lectures
supplemented by audiovisual materials
and demonstrations, is recommended. Some
suggestions include:
- Cover
material presented in training outline
- Break
the lecture at 30-45 minute intervals
to allow the employee to stand up
and move around
- Use
blackboard, chart pad or flip chart
for emphasizing subject sequence and
major points
- Obtain
slides and/or films from your trade
association or the equipment manufacturer
and intersperse in the presentation
- Illustrate
specific areas with personal experiences
or examples related to your operation
- Have
examples of the respirators used in
your facility available in the classroom
- Highlight
areas concerned with their operations
or requirements
- Supplement
the material in this manual by covering
company operating procedures and/or
instruction material supplied by the
equipment manufacturer
- Give
employee plenty of time for hands-on
practice
Introduction
Opening
An integral part of the program is the
free exchange of information, and questions,
between employer and employee. Therefore,
the following comments should be made
at the beginning of the training session.
During
this session your full participation
is needed.
-
If you do not understand what is being
discussed, ask questions
- If
you have been involved in or are aware
of accidents pertaining to specific
areas covered, share them with us.
- If
you are aware of better approaches
to reduce hazardous conditions, give
us the benefit of your experience.
- Finally,
if there is additional information
or guidance we can provide, identify
the areas for us.
Describe
Goal
Describe the goal of a lesson (task).
State what employee will be able to accomplish
and how they will be able to use the knowledge.
Give a demonstration if appropriate.
Example
Wearing a respirator and wearing it correctly
can protect your health. In addition,
it is expected as part of your job responsibilities.
At the end of this training session, you
will be fit tested for your respirator,
you will practice donning the respirator,
completing face seal checks.
Include
what you will expect
(***), etc.
A.
Why is respiratory protective equipment
required?
Present
Material
1. Occupational Safety & Health Administration
(OSHA)
Under
OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard,
we are required to develop a written program,
properly select respirators, evaluate
respirator use, correct deficiencies in
respirator use, conduct medical evaluations,
provide for the maintenance, storage and
cleaning or respirators and retain and
provide access to specific records that
pertain to you.
OSHA has set maximum exposure standards
for any airborne toxic materials and has
set standards governing specific working
environments to protect your health. A
recent evaluation of your working environment
revealed that:
a.
In work areas (***), atmospheric concentrations
of substances (***) were found to be
above acceptable limits.
b. Maintenance activities (***) during
which you are exposed to (***) This
high concentration for a short period
of time, can lead to excessive exposure.
Results of overexposure are (***).
c.
Several areas (***) were found to be
oxygen deficient (give definition)
d. Hazardous substances are stored at
(***) and if these substances spill,
an emergency condition will exist, or
(***).
2.
Status of Engineering Controls
Since
the company recognizes that respirator
protection is not the accepted method
for control of airborne hazards, we are
taking steps to implement engineering
control solutions.
a.
We (***) installed the following engineering
controls (***)
b.
And, the following administrative controls
(***). However, while the above steps
are being implemented, respiratory protection
will be required.
B.
Respirator Selection and Procedure
Selection
procedure of the proper equipment normally
involves three steps: the identification
of the hazard, the evaluation of the hazard;
and finally the selection of the appropriate
respiratory equipment based on the first
two steps.
1.
Identification of the Hazard
Before we get into the "specifics"
about the respiratory protective equipment
you will be wearing, a few statements
about hazard identification. There are
several kinds of hazardous atmospheres
which may require the use of respirators.
a.
Gaseous Contaminants.
Gases are the normal form of substances
like carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide.
These substances are solids or liquids
only at very low temperatures or extremely
high pressures. Carbon dioxide, for
instance, is a gas at room temperature.
But it also occurs as solid "dry
ice" formed at low temperatures.
Vapors are exactly like gases except
that they are formed by the evaporation
of substances, such as acetone or trichlorethylene,
which ordinarily occur as liquids.
b.
Particulate Contaminants.
Particulates are tiny particles, solid
or liquid, generated by such processes
as grinding, crushing and mixing of
a compound, either a solid or a liquid.
There are three types of particulates.
-
Dusts are solid particles produced
by such processes as grinding, crushing
and mixing of powder compounds.
Examples are sand and plaster dust.
By comparison to the following two
types of particulates, dust particles
are usually large.
- Mists
are tiny liquid droplets, usually
formed whenever a liquid is sprayed,
vigorously mixed, or otherwise agitated.
Acid mists around diptanks used
for metal cleaning and oil mists
near newspaper printing presses,
are two examples.
- Fumes
are solid condensation particles
of extremely small particle size.
Fumes are found in the air near
soldering, welding and brazing operations,
as well as near molten metal processes
such as casting and galvanizing.
Two
basic forms - gaseous and particulate
- frequently occur together. Paint spraying
operations, for example, produce both
paint mist (particulate) and solvent
vapors (gases).
c.
Oxygen Deficient Atmospheres (***).
Oxygen deficient atmospheres are most
commonly found in confined spaces which
have poor ventilation. Examples are
silos, petrochemical tanks, degreasers
and the holds of ships.
2.
Hazard Specifics (***)
a.
Hazard Name - Organic vapor; Particulate;
Gas
b. Toxicity Data (***) # Effects
3.
Evaluation of the Hazard (***)
To determine the concentration of the
hazard, measurements were made (***).
The concentration and/or work environment
examined were compared with the OSHA Standards
(***).
4.
Selection of the Respirator
After it was determined that respirators
were required, the (***) was consulted
to find out the required respiratory protection
equipment (***).
C.
Use and Proper Fitting of Respiratory
Protective Equipment
1.
Use of Respiratory Protective Equipment
2.
Proper Fitting
So that respiratory protective devices,
which use tight fitting facepieces, give
maximum protection, there must be a proper
"match" between the facepiece
and your face. A poor face seal can respirator,
and how cause contaminants to be inhaled
through the respirator sealing surfaces,
instead of through the filter, canister
or air supply system (***).
a.
In most cases, there are several different
brands of the same type of respiratory
protection equipment approved for use
against a specific hazard or work environment.
(***)
b.
However, just because a respirator "feels
comfortable", it does not mean
that it is protecting you to the fullest
extent from the hazard. The key word
is proper fit. To determine if the fit
is proper, several tests can be used.
(***)
D.
Limitations of Respiratory Equipment
However, the respiratory protective equipment
that you will use does have some limitations
on its usage.
E.
Medical Signs & Symptoms
Some medical problems may prevent you
from using some types of respirators or
from wearing a respirator under certain
workplace conditions. It's important that
you are able to recognize these signs
or symptoms (e.g., shortness of breath,
dizziness). If any should occur, report
immediately to (***) so that a follow-up
medical evaluation can be started.
F.
Maintenance and Storage of Respiratory
Equipment
To
maintain the proper functioning of respirators
requires that they be regularly cleaned
and disinfected, and stored in a convenient
and clear location.
1.
Cleaning (***)
Your respiratory protective equipment
should be cleaned daily after use. The
company has made provisions for doing
this. (***)
2. Storage (***)
Equipment must be stored properly at the
conclusion of the work shift.
3.
Inspection for Defects (***)
This is one of the most important functions
associated with respirator usage. These
inspections can identify damage to malfunctioning
respiratory protective equipment
G.
Practice/Checkout - Test
Before
using the respirator, the employee must
demonstrate he has learned the information.
communicated under the training program.
You can review the information with the
employee, either in writing or orally,
and then review (actual demonstration)
the employee's hands-on use of respirators.
H.
Summary
A
summary of those aspects of the proper
use of respiratory protective equipment.
Reasons for respiratory protective equipment.
1.
Respirator Selection Procedure
