RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

Awareness Training

Educational Program

Target Audience

Employees, students, contract staff, residents, and external law enforcement officers are persons who may be at risk for exposure to diverse airborne or infectious hazards while performing job related tasks.

These persons should be provided with the following:

Education of Respiratory Protection

Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Respirator Training

This training is provided so you will know how to protect your health.

If you don’t know how to use a respirator properly, you may get a false sense of protection.

4

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. State the purpose of the Respiratory Training Program.

2. Recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators.

3. Identify benefits and limitations of respirators in promoting a safe environment.

4. Recognize items/conditions that may compromise the protective effect of respirators.

5. State purpose of the medical questionnaire.

6. Demonstrate competency in the usage, maintenance, and storage of respirators (Validation in clinical area).

Upon successful completion of this educational program, participants will be able to:

Part 1: Selecting a Respirator

The MED provides two models of N95 masks

3M1860 small & regular sizes

3M1870 folds flat & fits most people

Part 2: What is a Respirator?

A PPE device used to protect workers from exposure to harmful airborne substances.

The device may cover the mouth, nose, and sometimes the eyes and/or entire head.

NOTE: Surgical masks are not respirators and are not certified as such.

N95 Respirator Mask NIOSH certified N95 respirators/masks are designed

to help provide respiratory protection for the wearer.

It is fluid resistant and disposable.

Used for protection against airborne agents such as: Tuberculosis, SARS, Influenza, and other airborne infectious agents

How Does The N95 Mask Protect You?

Properly used N95 masks prevent the inhalation of airborne infectious agents in the air and protects the lungs.

When you inhale, air is pulled in through the N95 mask and contaminants are captured on the outside of the mask.

The respirator must have a proper seal and effective valves in order to perform its job.

Limitations of N95 Respirator

Ineffective when wet or soiled

Does not supply oxygen

Ineffective in contaminant concentrations that are immediately dangerous to life and health

Ineffective when used with beards, facial hair, or anything that prevents a good seal to the face

Part 2: Review

The purpose of wearing a

respirator such as a N95

is to….

REVIEW

If you do not use a respirator and are exposed to hazards, you may develop health problems such as bronchitis or even cancer.

A. True

B. False

ReviewA respiratory protection program:

A. Is designed to protect your health

B. Is a team effort involving you and your employer

C. Teaches you how to care for a respirator

D. All of the above

Part 3: Medical Evaluations

• Medical evaluations are required prior to wearing a respirator.

• There are physiological effects of wearing a respirator

Physiological effects of wearing a respirator

Significant elevated heart and respiratory rates

Significant elevated blood pressure

Elevated body temps (HEAT STRESS)

Alterations in breathing patterns

Hypoventilation

Emphasizes the need for a

Medical Evaluation

BEFORE you can wear a respirator

Medical Evaluation Process

• The first step of a medical evaluation is a confidential medical questionnaire.

• Results are only used to determine if you are FIT to wear a respirator.

CONFIDENTIAL

Medical Evaluation Is Required

For new respirator users

An employee reports medical signs or symptoms that are related to their ability to use a respirator.

A Physician, Manager/Supervisor, or Program Administrator advises that an employee needs to be reevaluated.

Information from the Respiratory Protection Program observations and program evaluation, indicates a need for employee reevaluation.

How To Obtain Medical Questionnaire?

Ask Your instructor for the

medical questionnaire or

Contact The MED’s Program Administrator—Steve Chunn

901-545-7156

Part 4: Fit Testing

• This is the procedure to determine the correct respirator model and size for each individual.

• Fit testing ensures that the wearer can apply the respirator correctly to maximize the respirator’s benefits.

• Fit testing must take place before the respirator is used.

Qualitative Quantitative

Air is pulled through the N95 mask

Contaminants arecaptured outside

the mask

Fit Testing Methods

NOTE: Fit tests

Fit tests MUST be conducted with a respirator that is the

SAME MAKE

SAME MODEL

AND SAME SIZE

as the one the student is expected to use.

Fit Test Exercises

• Normal breathing• Deep breathing• Turning head side to side• Moving head up and down• Talking • Grimace (smile or frown)• Bending over

Consist of…

Review What Should You Do If you experience…

• Warning signs of taste, smell, irritation, cough

• 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

Get out of area to fresh air and remove respirator

Get out of area to fresh air and remove respirator

REVIEW

Which one of the following may prevent you from wearing a full-face mask?

A. You don't want to wear it

A. You have a skin condition

A. You wear glasses

A. The strap messes up your hair

REVIEW Which of the following may require you to be fitted

for a new respirator?

A. Getting dentures

B. Getting eyeglasses

C. Having a facial injury

D. Any of the above

Things that will prevent getting a proper seal

Facial Hair

Eye Glasses

Facial deformities (scars, creases)

High cheekbones

Severe acne

No teeth or dentures

What Can Prevent A Good Fit?

Weight loss or gain (≥ 15 lbs.)

Removing a Respirator

Discard contaminated gloves first

Lift bottom elastic band up over your head

Do not touch the front of the mask

Lift top elastic band up over your head

Discard contaminated respirator

Perform hand hygiene

Manufactures’ instructions for inspection, cleaning and maintenance should be followed

Wearing a poorly maintained or malfunctioning respirator may be more dangerous than not wearing one at all……

Respirator Inspection Check

• General good condition

• Shape

• Holes

• Soiled

• Band elasticity

• Cartridges/Filters

Click here

Inspection Checklist

When to Get a New N95 Mask

Increased resistance to breathingExcess moisture on maskSensing a breakthrough (i.e. smell, taste)Visibly soiledDamaged or missing hardwareLoss of elasticityLack of a seal to the user’s faceUse of the respirator for 1 full shift

Critical Thinking Activity

Describe how to transport patients diagnosed with

infectious TB to areas outside of their isolation rooms

for essential procedures that cannot be performed in

the isolation rooms.

Review1. Respirator fit-testing must be conducted every three

years.

True or False

2. Any respirator you use will protect you against harmful chemical fumes.

True or False