Respirator Program

Agenda

• WorkSafeBC Requirements• Definitions• Hazard Identification and Risk

Assessment• Types of Respirators• Respirator Selection• Fit Testing

WorkSafeBC Regulation

• Workers who are or may be exposed to air contaminants that exceed:• an 8-hour TWA• ceiling limit, or • short term exposure limit

Definitions

• Air purifying respirator• Canister and cartridge• Escape respirator• Fit check

Definitions

• Fit test• Hazard Ratio• HEPA filter• IDLH

Definitions

• Maximum Use Concentration• Qualitative fit test• Quantitative fit test• SCBA

Respiratory Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment1. Identify hazards2. Control risks3. Assess and control remaining hazards4. Select and provide respirators5. Fit test, train and issue respirators

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment• When a respiratory hazard is identified:

• Determine nature of contaminant• Determine probability of exposure• Determine frequency of exposure• Determine permissible exposure limit

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment• Breathing Hazards

• Particles (dusts, fibres, mists, fumes• Gaseous (gases and vapours)• Oxygen deficiency• Combination hazards

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment• Particle Hazards – Dusts and Fibres

• Formed by breakdown of solids• Sanding, milling, cutting crushing, grinding

• Irritate the airways• Can cause disease

• Asbestos, silica dust

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment• Particle Hazards - Mists

• Very small liquid droplets• Formed by spraying, shaking, mixing,

stirring• Irritate or damage exposed skin, eyes,

lungs, airways• Damage to internal organs

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment• Particle Hazards - Fumes

• Tiny solid particles• May be formed by welding, smelting,

soldering, brazing• Irritation to serious lung and nerve damage

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment• Gaseous Hazards

• Gases – Carbon monoxide, Chlorine

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment• Vapours

• Mix with air• Solvents, gasoline, acetone• Enter blood stream• May cause damage to nerves and internal

organs

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment• Oxygen Deficiency

• Normal air contains 21% oxygen• O2 deficiency can develop from

• Rotting, rusting, burning• Displacement by other gases

Types of Respirators

Types of Respirators

• Types of respirators• Half facepiece• Full facepiece• Air Purifying Respirators (APR)• Air Supplying Respirators• Escape Respirators

Types of Respirators

• Half facepiece respirators• Cover only nose, mouth and chin• Available as

• Filtering facepiece (disposable), or• Elastomeric facepiece with cartridges

Types of Respirators

• Disposable Half Facepiece Respirators• Known as single-use or disposable• No replacement parts• Must have two straps

Types of Respirators

• Elastomeric Half Facepiece Respirators• Made of silicone, thermoplastic or rubber• Cartridges or filters• One-way valves• Greater level of protection than disposable

respirators

Types of Respirators

• Full Facepiece Respirators• Cover full face• Silicone, thermoplastic or rubber• One or more cartridges or filters• Clear lens• Used when contaminants irritate the eyes• Offer greater level of protection

Types of Respirators

• Air Purifying Respirators• Use a filter, cartridge or canister• Must know the concentration of the

contaminant• Not for oxygen deficient atmospheres• 2 types: non-powered and powered

Types of Respirators

• Non-powered Air Purifying Respirators• Either half face or full face• Similar operation in both

Types of Respirators

• Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR)• Battery powered blower• Easier to breath• More protective than non-powered• Still air purifying only

Types of Respirators

• Powered Air Purifying Respirators – continued• Available in

• Half face• Full face• Hood• Helmet

Types of Respirators

• Escape Respirators• For emergency escape only• Never used for entry into contaminated

area• Must be carried on worker in potentially

hazardous area• Air purifying or air supplying

Types of Respirators

• Filters and cartridges• Remove specific contaminants from the air• Must use proper cartridge• Only effective up to certain concentration

of contaminant

Types of Respirators

• Particulate Filters• Nine classes of particulate• N series (Not resistant to oil)• R series (Resistant to oil)• P series (Oil proof)

Types of Respirators

• Gas and Vapour Cartridges• Remove gases and vapours from air• Trap or react with contaminants• Act like sponges• Limited capacity• Breakthrough

Types of Respirators

• Air purifying canisters• Work like cartridges• Larger and last longer• Worn on chin, chest or back

Types of Respirators

• Cartridge Warning Properties• Contaminants must have warning

properties• Smell, taste, or breathing irritation• Warning properties differ for each

contaminant• Odour threshold

Types of Respirators

• Cartridge / Filter Maintenance• Store in sealed container• Replace filters / cartridges regularly• Date filters / cartridges when installed• Match cartridges with contaminants

Types of Respirators

• Air Supplying Respirators• Supplied air (airline)• Self-contained breathing apparatus

(SCBA)

Types of Respirators

• Supplied Air Respirators• Provide clean air• High pressure or low pressure systems• Must be approved airlines

Types of Respirators

• Supplied Air Respirators – continued• Hood or helmet

• No face seal• No resistance to breathing

• Full face airline• Face seal• Positive pressure minimizes leaking

Types of Respirators

• Self Contained Breathing Apparatus• Provides air from cylinder carried by

wearer• Highest level of protection• Permitted in IDLH conditions

Respirator Selection

Respirator Selection

• Respirators must be selected in accordance with:• The WorkSafeBC Regulation• CSA Standard Can/CSA-Z94.4-93

• 13 Step respirator selection approach

Respirator Selection

1. Identify the Breathing Hazard• Ensure atmosphere is not oxygen

deficient• Is there an emergency?• Are there hazardous air contaminants?

Respirator Selection

2. Check the concentration of each contaminant• Monitor to determine concentration• Done by knowledgeable person• Use historical measurements if available• If unknown concentration use positive

pressure SCBA

Respirator Selection

3. Compare with WorkSafeBC Exposure Limits• If no exposure limits use positive pressure

SCBA• Compare workplace concentration with

WorkSafeBC exposure limits

Respirator Selection

4. Check IDLH Concentration• Is concentration less than IDLH?• If not, use supplied air respirator

Respirator Selection

5. Check Contaminant Properties• Inhalation hazard• Eye irritation• Skin irritant or skin absorption• Warning properties / odour threshold• Decomposition products

6. Assigned Protection Factor• Each type of respirator is assigned an APF• Examples:

• Half facepiece (non powered): 10• Full facepiece (non powered): 50• Full facepiece (powered): 100• SCBA (positive pressure): 10,000

Respirator Selection

7. Calculate the Hazard Ratio• Airborne contaminant concentration / 8-

hour TWA• Compare with assigned protection factors• Choose respirator

Respirator Selection

8. Calculate Maximum Use Concentration (MUC)• 8-hour TWA x APF for respirator being

considered• Air purifying respirators up to the MUC• If over MUC, supplied air must be used

Respirator Selection

9. Identify General Type of Respirator Required• Air supplying – go to Step 13 or • Air purifying – go to Steps 11 - 13

Respirator Selection

10. Consider State of Contaminant• For air purifying respirators• If contaminant is a gas or vapour go to

Step 11• If contaminant is a particulate only go

to Step 12

Respirator Selection

11. Warning Properties• Smell, taste, breathing irritation• If no adequate warning properties use:

• Air-supplying respirator• Air-purifying respirator with end-of-service-

life indicator• Air-purifying respirator with cartridges

changed out regularly

Respirator Selection

12. Select Filter or Cartridge• Each cartridge protects against specific

types of contaminants• Must protect against all types• Nine classes of filters for particulates• Some contaminants have no effective

cartridge

Respirator Selection

13. Special Requirements• Consider other PPE being worn• Ask workers for input

Respirator Fit Testing

Fit Testing

1. User seal check• Negative pressure check• Positive pressure check

2. Fit Test• Quantitative fit test• Qualitative fit test

Fit Testing

• User Negative Pressure Seal Check• Don respirator and other

PPE• Block inlet opening• Inhale slightly• Hold for 10 seconds• Facepiece should collapse

slightly and not leak

Fit Testing

• User Positive Pressure Seal Check• Don respirator and PPE• Block exhaust valve• Breathe out slightly• Hold for 10 seconds• Facepiece should bulge out

and stay out

Fit Testing

• Must be done by a qualified person• Must be documented• Must be done at least annually

Fit Testing

• Two types of fit test:1. Qualitative2. Quantitative

Fit Testing

1. Qualitative fit testing• Irritant smoke• Smell - Isoamyl acetate (banana oil)• Taste – Bitrex, Saccharin

Fit Testing

• Fit Test Exercises1. Normal breathing2. Deep breathing3. Turning the head from side to side4. Nodding the head up and down5. Talking out loud6. Normal breathing

Care and Maintenance of Respirators

Respirator Care

• Cleaning• Remove filter/cartridges• Remove head straps, valves, etc.• Wash facepiece with mild soap and warm

water

Respirator Care

• Cleaning – continued• Rinse facepiece in clean water• Disinfect facepiece• Dry facepiece• Wash valves and air dry• Reassemble

Respirator Care

• Inspecting the Respirator• Inspect before each use• Check for dirt, holes, tears, cracks• Rubber / silicone should be flexible• Inhalation and exhalation valves

• Make sure they are there• Cracks, dryness• Not stuck closed

Respirator Care

• Inspecting the Respirator – continued• Head straps• Cartridge and filter holders• Cartridges and filters

Respirator Care

• Storage• Position respirator to prevent damage• Don’t fold or bend parts• Keep in sealed container• Seal filters

Medical Limitations / Assessment• Medical assessment may be required if:

• Claustrophobia• Breathing problems• High blood pressure or heart disease• Diabetes• Seizure disorders• Facial skin problems

Medical Limitations / Assessment• Medical assessment:

• Type of work being done• Types of contaminants and their

concentrations• Work conditions / environment• Type of respirator• Duration of use

Summary

• What we have covered:• WorkSafeBC Regulation• How hazard identification and risk

assessments are done• The types of respirators available• How to choose the right respirator• How to do a user fit check

Summary

• You should know – continued• How fit testing is done• How to clean store and inspect your

respirator• About medical conditions and assessment

Questions