Document Z8jkD4wMV5geLxrQr5QLqL56V

CertainTeed EH To See Distribution Below Subject Mail Code From 0. H. Kittilstad NIOSH RESPIRATOR USER NOTICE - SCBA DEFECT Mail Code 1125/4 Oate Ext. 7505 December 4. 1986 TO: N. DiBattista - 0125/2A R. Reeder - 5125/3A J. McGinley - 2125/28 J. Walker - 2125/4 J. Walker - Waco, #616 D. Goforth - Wichita Falls, #402 Please transmit the attached NIOSH memorandum defect notice to your locations that use MSA/NIOSH certified self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). OHK/lh Attachment ><<2 ^7 * > / i- CK'SZe-iz- t? ~ ' 3/> : . i CTD001763 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service August 11, 1986 RESPIRATOR USERS NOTICE Centers for Disease Control National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - ALOSH 944 Chestnut Ridge Road Morgantown, WV 26505--2888 Inspection of Self-contained Breathing Apparatus For Breathing-gas Pressure The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) issued a Respirator Users Notice on January 17, 1986, advising users of Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)/NIOSH-certified self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to inspect fiberglass-wrapped aluminum cylinders at least weekly for breathing-gas cylinder pressure, and discussing the problem of fiber-glass-wrapped aluminum cylinder rupture. NIOSH issued a Respirator Users Notice on March 15, 1983, advising users of Robertshaw Model 5000 5-minute compressed-air escape SCBA of reports of gradual leakage of air from those respirators. The Robertshaw Model 5000 is equipped with a high-pressure tubing-coil breathing-air reservoir. NIOSH has identified the following sources of breathing-gas pressure leakage from SCBA, excluding self-contained self rescuers: Source of Leakage No. of Reports to NIOSH o Cylinder rupture 4 o Cylinder neck cracking 192 o Leakage at the cylinder to cylinder valve connection 7 o Leakage at tubing--coil reservoir fittings 50 On the basis of presently-available information concerning the potential for breathing-gas leakage, NIOSH believes that users of all MSHA/NIOSH-certified SCBA should follow these minimum safety recommendations: 1. Determine that each D0T-E 7235 4500 cylinder is equipped with a steel neck ring to prevent cylinder rupture (DOT-E 7235 2216 and 3000 and other cylinders do not require neck rings). 2. SCBA, except SCSR, which are used infrequently should be visually checked once a week and all SCBA should be checked before donning, for loss of breathing-gas pressure. Failure to conduct such examination could result in a hazardous situation if undetected pressure loss has occurred. 3. SCSR should be inspected as prescribed by MSHA and the SCSR manufacturer. 4. If leakage of breathing gas from an MSHA/NIOSH-certified SCBA or SCSR is observed, have that SCBA or SCSR examined immediately by a qualified service person. If the breathing-gas container is found to be the source of leakage, advise the manufacturer, NIOSH and MSHA (SCSR only) of the problem. More CTD001764 Page 2/Inspection of SCBA For Breathing-gas Pressure Cracking of Aluminum Cylinders The January 17, 1986, Notice also reported the incidence of neck cracking of certain fiber-glass-wrapped aluminum cylinders. The following is a clarification and summary of that report: NIOSH has received reports of cracks developing in necks of the following fiber-glass-wrapped aluminum cylinders: DOT-E 7235 2216 cylinders made before January, 1983 DOT-E 7235 4500 cylinders DOT-E 8059 4500 cylinders made before June, 1984 for SCBA other than USD DOT-E 8059 4500 cylinders made before January 1985 for USD SCBA NIOSH has also received preliminary reports of cracks developing in the following unwrapped aluminum cylinders: DOT-SP 6498 2216 cylinders Names and Addresses of Manufacturer's Contacts Change: Mr. Jay Parker, Pulmosan Safety Equipment Corp., 30-48 Linden Place, Flushing, NY 11354 To: Mr. Robert Bischler, Pulmosan Safety Equipment Corp., C/0 Willson Safety Products, PO Box 622, Reading, PA 19603 Change: Mr. Joel Kaufman, Glendale Optical Company, 130 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, NY 11797 To: Mr. Jay Parker, Glendale Optical Company, 130 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, NY 11797 /Scfan B. Moran Director Division of Safety Research CTD001765