Document QgN0XRMvmeKVXyDYY4d3GpDGR

FILE NAME: Mine Safety Appliances (MSA) DATE: 1975 July 7 DOC#: MSA006 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo RE Use of Dustfoe 77 Respirators in M icroFibers HAROLD NIX & ASSOC.. ID:1-903-645-5229 Johns-M anville JUN 03'98 15=59 No.002 P .05 . ` ' 1> Internal Correspondence To: D* Bender - 07 From: M. G ib n o n , R .N . Onto: july jf 1975 Copi**! U. Tumblin - 0 1 , G. Grosboll "=07, 'R. Dixon - 07 Subject: USE OF DUSTFPE 77 RESPIRATORS IN MICRO-FIBERS THE WEEK OF 6/30/75. I MET WITH 24 EMPLOYEES FROM THE MICRO-FIBERS AREA TO DISCUSS ANY PROBLEMS THEY WERE HAVING WITH THE RESPIRATORS. THE MAIN COMPLAINTS WERE: 1. HOT & UNCOMFORTABLE - 13 2. DIFFICULT BREATHING OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH - 11 3. DIZZINESS - 5 4. SKIN IRRITATION - 3 C 2 of vhich had ekin problems prior to use ) 5. INTERFERENCE WITH VISION - 5 ( especially a problem for those employees wearing bifocals, as the respirator pushes the glasses upward. ) { glasses also tend to "fog up" due t> change In body temperature and perspiration. ) OBSERVATIONS AND IMPRESSIONS*. WHEN RESPIRATORS ARE NOT BEING USED, THEY ARE LEFT HANGING AROUND THE EMPLOYEES' NECK AND SOME GLASS PARTICLES ARE ON RUBBER SEAL OF MASK AND INSIDE MASK ITSELF WHEN REAPPLIEE THE EMPLOYEES WITH THE COMPLAINTS OF DIFFICULT BREATHING OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH & DIZZINESS SEEM TO BE THOSE WHO MUST WEAR THE MASK HIE LONGEST PERIODS OF TIME, SUCH AS BALERS, SPOOLERS AND FIBER CHECKERS. I GET TUE IMPRESSION THAT SOME OF THESE % EMPLOYEES ARE NOT USING THE RESPIRATOR, AS DIRECTED AND ARE TAKING BREAKS MORE FREQUENTLY. MOST PROBABLY PART OF THE PROBLEM IS BEING CUASED BY HOT AND HUMID WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE PROBLEM IN PART IS PSYCHOLOGICAL. (EMPLOYEES MUST REMEMBER TO BREATHE THROUGH THEIR MOUTH AND AT TIMES WHEN THEY ARE WORKING RAPIDLY, MAY BE EXPERIENCING SOME HYPERVENTILATION WHICH CAN CAUSE DIZZINESS AND A FEELING OF BEING 06/03/98 18:08 TX/RX NO.2241 P.005 HAROLD NIX & ASSOC.. ID `1-903-645-5228 JUN 0 3 '98 16-00 N o .002 P.06 * "LIGHT HEADED'.' T!IIS COULD RESULT IN THE INDIVIDUAL ACTUALLY BECOMING UNCONSCIOUS IF HE IS NOT AWARE THAT HE IS DOING ZT. SO, EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE CAUTIONED NOT TO BREATHE ABNORMALLY FAST AND DEEP WHILE WEARING THE RESPIRATOR. WE MUST NOT RULE OUT THE PQSSIBL ALSO, THAT AT TIMES, THE WORKING AREA MIGHT HAVE A CONCENTRATION OF OXYGEN OF LESS THAN 19.5% {THIS SHOULD BE CHECKED PERIODICALLY)'. THE RESPIRATOR MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING WHERE EMPLOYEES ALREADY HAVE SOME PULMONARY FUNCTION ABNORMALITY. OF THOSE U THAT COMPLAINED OF DIFFICULT BREATHING, HOWEVER, ONLY 1 HAD AN ABNORMAL PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST. 6 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS RAD NORMAL PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS AND 4 HAVE NEVER HAD ONE DONE. SUGGESTIONS: THOSE EMPLOYEES WEARING BEARDS ARE NOT GETTING A -GOOD SEAL AROUND THE MASK THEREFORE THE RESPIRATOR IS OF LITTLE VALUE TO THEM. * PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING DONE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND MADE MANDATORY SHOULD BE CONSIDER! FOR EMPLOYEES IN THIS AREA. BETTER ACCEPTANCE OF THE USE OF THESE RESPIRATORS MIGHT BE SHOWN, IF ONE OR TWO INDIVIDUA IN MANAGEMENT WERE TO USE THESE SAME RESPIRATORS. ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS Wll ENGAGED IN HEAVY WORK, TO SEE IF THEY EXPERIENCE ANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. WE MUST REMEMBER, THE MAJORITY OF THE EMPLOYEES SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE NECESSITY, BUT FIND THE FEELING OF BEING UNCOMFORTABLE DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT. THE USE OF EAR 1-CUFFS, n ^CORRECTIVE LENSES, GOGGLES AND RESPIRATOR ALL AT THE SAME TIME I'M SURE IS UNDESIREABLE. / THEREFORE I FEEL AN ALTERNATE METHOD OR'ANOTHER STYLE OF RESPIRATOR SHOULD BE CONSIDERED i| IF POSSIBLE. A GOOD FILM ALSO MIGHT HELP, IF THERE IS ANY AVAILABLE, TO SHOW THEM THE POSSIBLE HAZARDS OF WORKING WITHOUT THE USE OF A RESPIRATOR. EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE WORKED HERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS DO NOT BELEIVE THERE IS ANY DANGER IN THIS AREA. 06/03/98 18:08 TX/RX NO.2241 P.006