Respirator Standard Photos*
Oxygen Deficiency
The primary means to control respiratory hazards is through the use of control measures such as ventilation, enclosures, isolation, substitution of less toxic materials, or work practice modifications, and ppe.
Type of respirator depends on the type hazards
HEPA vs. combo cartridges
Particles, gases, and vapors use a respirators that filters out those contaminants
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Respiratory Tract
The major divisions of the respiratory tract (adapted from J.B. West, Respiratory Physiology, 4th ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins, 1990).
Naso-pharyngeal Region
Pulmonary Compartment
spread through close respiratory or mucous membrane contact with respiratory
secretions. In addition to standard precautions, droplet precautions
require:
Mask—Don a mask upon entry into the patient room or cubicle.
Other areas addressed include patient placement and patient transport.
Airborne Precautions — Intended to prevent transmission of infectious
agents that remain infectious over long distances when suspended in the
air. In addition to standard precautions, airborne precautions require:
Respiratory protection — Wear a fit-tested NIOSH-approved N95 or
higher level respirator for respiratory protection when entering the
room or home of a patient who is suspected or confirmed to have an
airborne infectious disease.
personnel restrictions, and exposure management
SOURCE: Siegel et al., 2007.
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Medical (surgical) Masks vs. Respirators
Medical masks (the term is used in this report to encompass
surgical masks and procedure masks) are loose-fitting coverings
of the nose and mouth designed to protect the patient from the cough or
exhaled secretions of the physician, nurse, or other healthcare worker.
Medical masks are not designed or certified to protect the wearer from
exposure to airborne hazards. They may offer some limited, as yet
largely undefined, protection as a barrier to splashes and large droplets.
However, because of the loose-fitting design of medical masks and their
lack of protective engineering, medical masks are not considered personal
protective equipment.
Medical masks
Readily available
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What is a Respirator?
The term respirator is used in the healthcare field to refer to two different
medical devices:
(1) the personal protective equipment discussed in this
report that is used to reduce the wearer’s risk of inhaling hazardous
substances and
(2) the mechanical ventilator device that is used to maintain the patient’s
Respiration following endotracheal intubation. This dual (medical and
occupational) use of the term respirator has prompted many healthcare
workers to refer to PPE respirators as masks, thereby confounding the
important distinctions between medical masks and respirators.
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Respirators are devices that protect workers from inhaling harmful airborne substances ….
Some respirators also ensure that workers do not breathe air that contains dangerously low levels of oxygen (O2).
(OSHA’s Small Entity Compliance Guide, 9/30/98)
The definition of respirator is not in 1910.134(b) so these are a few definitions that you can use.
Ask the class (holding up an example of each as you ask the question):
Is a filtering face piece a respirator? Yes, it’s designed to protect the wearer…..
How about a one-strap mask? Yes, it’s a respirator, but it’s an unapproved respirator.
What about a surgical mask? No, it’s designed to protect the patient.
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What is a Respirator?
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Qualitative and/or quantitative tests), and they are asked to
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Respirators worn by healthcare workers not only will protect
them, but also may reduce the spread of disease from one
patient to another (via the healthcare worker) or from an
infected but asymptomatic healthcare worker.
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How about a one-strap mask?
How about a two-strap mask?
What about a surgical mask? .
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Two Classes of Respirators
1) Air-purifying respirators - respirators with an air-purifying filter, cartridge, or canister that remove specific air contaminants such as dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or fibers by passing ambient air through an air-purifying element
2) Atmosphere-supplying respirators - provide clean breathing air from an uncontaminated source
APR - particulate (filter) and gas/vapor (cartridge/canister) removing
ASR (SAR) - airline and SCBA
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Two Operational Modes
1) Negative Pressure - A respirator in which the air pressure inside the face piece is negative during inhalation with respect to the ambient air pressure outside the respirator.
2) Positive Pressure - A respirator in which the pressure inside the respirator exceeds the ambient air pressure outside the respirator.
All respirators leak - whether it’s a negative or positive pressure respirator determines in which direction the leakage would normally flow
Mention negative pressure is the pressure in the face piece with respect to ambient air pressure bag overface sucking in air positive pressure like blowing up a balloon.
Point out that in general positive pressure respirators are more protective if there is leakage it will leak out as if you pop a balloon
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One of most common types used in industry
Dust Mask
Doesn’t maintain a good seal – most commonly used respirator
Entire respirator is the filter media
Same rules apply with some exceptions
Since the quarter, half and full face piece coverings form a tight seal with the face:
1) no facial hair or any interferences with the sealing surface is allowed
2) fit testing is required (for both + and - pressure tight fitting coverings)
Quarter mask - designed to cover the top of the nose and rest between the lower lip and chin; covers a small surface area.
Half mask - designed to cover the nose and wrap around under the chin. Usually come in 2 to 3 sizes.
Full face piece - designed to cover the whole face; fits under the hairline and wraps around the periphery of the face. Manufacturers will usually tell you the lens meets impact and penetration criteria per ANSI Z87.1; the lens is not in compliance with ANSI std because of the way the std is written (the lens cannot be mounted per the method in the ANSI std).
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2nd most common type
OSHA APF = 10
2nd most common type – uses cartridges or filters to purify the air as it passes through filter elements
See problems with use of incorrect filter or cartridge for contaminants
Since the quarter, half and full face piece coverings form a tight seal with the face:
1) no facial hair or any interferences with the sealing surface is allowed
2) fit testing is required (for both + and - pressure tight fitting coverings)
Quarter mask - designed to cover the top of the nose and rest between the lower lip and chin; covers a small surface area.
Half mask - designed to cover the nose and wrap around under the chin. Usually come in 2 to 3 sizes.
Full face piece - designed to cover the whole face; fits under the hairline and wraps around the periphery of the face. Manufacturers will usually tell you the lens meets impact and penetration criteria per ANSI Z87.1; the lens is not in compliance with ANSI std because of the way the std is written (the lens cannot be mounted per the method in the ANSI std).
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Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR)
An air-purifying respirator that uses a blower to force the ambient air through air-purifying elements to the respirator
Can be loose fitting or tight fitting
Always positive pressure
OSHA APF = 25/1000
(tight fitting)
APR, but are positive pressure. Loose fitting have a lower level of protection. Little more expensive. Approx. $400
Limitation is that require a battery. This is a consideration in use- the battery service life.
This is the first positive pressure device we’ve discussed so far. It’s still an APR, but operates in continuous flow mode. (Although NIOSH does not consider PAPR’s as + pressure devices).
Use with HEPA filters or chemical cartridges (some have been approved with canisters).
Minimum Flow
Hood/Helmet 6 cfm
ease of breathing
some cooling effect
Respirator Filter
A component used in respirators to remove solid or liquid aerosols from the inspired air. Also called air purifying element.
Key element for all APRs is that the filters remove the contaminant
Filters are not paper - they are made of synthetic material such as polypropylene, polycarbonate polyester, etc.
These are not effected against gases and vapors unless combo filters
Filters remove particulates - dusts, fumes, mists and fibers.
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Classes of Filters
42 CFR Part 84 establishes three series of filters and each has three levels of efficiency.
95 99 100
efficiency
Particle filters there are three levels of efficiency – related to how efficient numbers determined based on filters ability to filter 0.2 micron size particles, but in a general workplace there is a wide range of particle sizes and a 95% efficiency rating is probably more efficient.
Underestimation for all particle ranges.
There are NINE classes of filters:
3 categories of resistance to filter efficiency degradation: N, R, and P
3 levels of efficiency: 95%, 99% and 99.97%.
P100 must be color-coded magenta.
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Cartridge Change Schedule
A cartridge change schedule must be developed for cartridges that do not have an end of service life indicator
For most gases and vapors that people encounter there is not a cartridge with ELSI – schedule to ensure cartridge is replace prior to saturations and OSHA expects and specifies that it should be in the written respirator program – written change schedule and documentation on what they have that change schedule and that employees are following the change schedule – train employees. Might be addressed during inspection. How to determine a cartridge change schedule – OSHA ECAT for respirators to develop change schedule – contact mfg.too – concentration, work rate, and humidity- can calculate base on variables and rule of thmb estimates
(cont’d from notes on last slide):
A common sorbent is activated charcoal. Organic vapors are adsorbed on the surface of the activated charcoal until the charcoal is saturated - then “breakthrough” starts to occur. In the past, users changed their cartridges out when they smelled, tasted or were irritated by the chemical (define adequate warning properties). Now, the cartridges or canisters must have an ESLI or the employer must determine a change schedule based on objective data per .134(d)(3)(iii)(B). Change schedules will be discussed in the “Selection” session.
The three ESLI’s available on the market:
1) cartridges for mercury vapor (pictured above)
2) canisters for ethylene oxide (PEL = 1 ppm; odor threshold ~700 ppm)
3) canisters for carbon monoxide
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Selection of Respirators
The employer shall identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures and should consider workplace and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability.
From the standard – OSHA mentions that the company needs to be able to determine how much hazardous air contaminate is present.
Air sampling or objective data
Emphasize the employer’s responsibility for selecting and providing respirators.
List examples workplace and user factors.
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Written program
Worksite-specific procedures
Required elements:
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Wearing respiratory protection poses a physical burden on the wearer.
When a worker's medical condition would prohibit restrictive breathing conditions, negative pressure respirators would not be an appropriate choice.
 Worker Comfort
 Worker preferences should be a consideration during the respirator selection process.
Worker-Resident Communication and Perception
» Employers must designate a respirator program administrator, qualified by training or experience, to oversee the program
» Respirators, training, and medical evaluations must be provided at no cost
Employer Responsibilities
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1) When respirators are necessary due to air contaminant overexposure
2) When respirators are required by the employer
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OR
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2) The respirator is cleaned, stored, and maintained properly
3) A written program addresses the two elements listed above
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Voluntary Respirator Use
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You Must Wear the Respirator Correctly!
You will not be protected if you don't wear your respirator correctly. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. For dust masks (also called filtering facepieces or "N95" respirators) and other half-facepiece respirators this means:
The respirator is properly positioned over your nose and mouth at all times;
The top strap or head harness assembly is positioned high on the back of the head;
The lower strap is worn at the back of the neck below the ears;
Nothing (beards, head coverings, etc.) passes between the skin of the face and the respirator's sealing edge.
Do not take the respirator away from you nose or mouth until you reach clean air!  
Properly worn respirator Improperly worn respirators                               
                 
Both straps must be
Tight-fitting Facepieces
User Seal Check
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Fit Test
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2) Whenever a different face piece is used
3) Annually
4) When changes in an employee’s physical condition occur
5) Employee indicates that fit is poor
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Medical Evaluations
1) Must be provided before fit testing and before an employee is required to use a respirator
2) Must be performed by a physician or PLHCP using a medical questionnaire (from Appendix C of standard) or initial medical screening that obtains the same information
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Use of escape-only respirators
Note: OSHA’s expanded health standards contain specific medical monitoring requirements.
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c) expected work effort
f) copy of written respirator program
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1) employee reports medical problems related to respirator use
2) a PLHCP, supervisor, or program administrator indicates need for reevaluation
3) observations during fit testing, program evaluation, etc. indicate need
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Emergency use respirators inspected monthly
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Major Requirements for OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard (PDF File)
Respiratory Protection Frequently Asked Questions
Respiratory Protection Standard (Correction)
Respiratory Protection Final Rule
Respiratory Protection Technical Advisor
TYPE
Elastomeric Face Piece
How about a one-strap mask?
How about a two-strap mask?
What about a surgical mask?
How about a ½ mask elastomeric respirator?
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