Document Zn181enEkQKaRaRmgwz2Jy44J

SECTION 7: RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM A detailed description of the division Respiratory Protection Program is provided in the Louisiana Division's Safety and Loss Prevention (S&LP) #206. Additional references include the Dow Occupational Health Program Requirements for Respiratory Protection and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134. Written Respiratory Protection Program: All departments where respirators are used must have a written program. Training Programs: Various training programs are available from the Industrial Hygiene Department (IHD). The elements of the training program along with the signatures of employees present must be documented and retained for 75 years by the IHD. Routine Use Procedures: Refer to the manufacturer's instructions, the Louisiana Division S&LP #206 and plant/department's written respiratory protection program. User Classification: Respirator users are divided into two categories: Those who use them for Escape Only and those who use them for Routine/Emergency Response. Respirator Certification: The following are minimum requirements for certification: User Category Escape Only Routine/Emergency Fit Testing Not Required 2 years* Training Annually Annually Medical Approval Not Required 2 Years Fit testing and medical approval are conducted at the time of the specific department's regularly scheduled medical surveillance. `Fit testing may be required more frequently for the following materials: Materials Acrylonitrile Asbestos Benzene Formaldehyde Fit Testing Semi-Annually Semi-Annually Annually Annually Selection: Respirators must be selected based upon the chemical agent or hazard. Contact the area Industrial Hygienist and Safety Superintendent when selecting a respirator for a new or modified application. All respirators are approved by the LAD P.P.E. committee. 6/12/92 7.1 Storage: All respirators must be stored in a secondary container when not in use. The storage area should be free from excessive moisture, dust, chemicals and heat. Cleaning and Sanitizing: Assigned respirators must be cleaned on a frequency to assure proper hygiene. Community respirators must be cleaned after each use. A plant respirator cleaning station(s) must be designated in the written program. Respirators can be cleaned and sanitized using soap and water followed by a disinfectant, such as Personal Protective Equipment Cleaning Towelettes. Breathing Air Cylinders: All SCBA cylinders must be filled if the pressure is less than 1500 psi. The Fire Department should be contacted to fill the cylinders. inspections: Respirators are inspected according to the following schedule: Respirator SCBAs, Airline H If No Carbon Monoxide Alarm Escape Only Respirators Routine/Emergency Respirators Frequency Monthly -- AnnuaHy Daily Before Each Use Before Each Use Monthly by Owner Vallen Safety Company Owner Owner Owner Owner Good Fit Policy: The conditions which affect the seal between the mask and the face: A proper seal cannot be established if the temple bars of eyeglasses extend through the sealing edge of the full face piece. If prescription glasses are necessary to do the job, then special glasses (and holder) designed for the specific mask are required. Soft and/or gas permeable contact lenses are permitted when worn with specified safety eye protection. Facial hair (beards, long sideburns, etc.) can interfere with the performance of the respirator. Employees required by their job assignments, both routine and emergency response, to wear a respirator equipped with a face piece (such as a negative pressure respirator or pressure-demand type SCBA unit) shall be clean shaven in the areas between the mask sealing surfaces and the facial skin. Facial hair which interferes with the functioning of the respirator valve(s) is not permitted. Chemical goggles must not interfere with the respirator seal. When both chemical goggles and respiratory protection are needed at the same time, fullface respiratory equipment is preferred. Facial characteristics vary and some faces may be difficult to fit. A selection of various designs may be necessary before finding an acceptable fit. Other fitting problems may include bone structure, denture problems, weight loss/gain, etc. C ( L 6/12/92 7.2 Respiratory Protection Program (continued) Prescription Glasses: Prescription glasses may be required for any employee required to use to wear their glasses with a full-face respirator (including SCBA or airline respirators). The Industrial Hygiene Department should be contacted for prescription glasses to be used with full-face respirators. Contractors: When contractor employees are assigned to do job tasks which require the use of a respirator, their employer will need to do the following: Provide and document medical approval, fit-testing, and training on respiratory protection according to OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.134. Ensure that employees are clean shaven in the area between the mask seal surface and the face. These items should be specified under the Contract Agreement and made available to Dow representatives upon request. The department the contractor works in shall specify the respiratory equipment to be used based on the plant/department's written respiratory protection program. If the plant/department requires an escape respirator other than the mouthbit respirator for visitors or contractors, it is the department's responsibility to provide or loan the respirator (for Escape Use Only) unless otherwise specified in the Contract Agreement. This section contains the following documents: 1. Definitions This is a list of commonly used terms dealing with the subject of respiratory protection. 2. The Plant/Department-Specific Written Respiratory Protection Program Each department is required to have a written respiratory protection program detailing the minimum requirements for an acceptable program within the specific department. If no respirators are used, a document stating such shall be located in this section of the Industrial Hygiene Manual. A model of a written respiratory program is available in this section for use when developing a department-specific written respiratory protection program. All previous written respiratory programs are required to be record retended for 75 years. 3. Training Documentation Samples forms for the required annual training are available in this section. These forms cover the required OSHA topics for respiratory training. This training documentation follows the 75 years record retention policy. 6/12/92 7.3 037^ DO & oFN-nftl c.onf t 4. Cleaning and Inspection Checklists Two checklists for cleaning and inspection are provided (one for mouthbit, one for ail other types of respiratory equipment). These checklists should be used in conjunction with the respirator manufacturer's inspection procedures. 5. Fit Testing Procedures Each department is required to fit test according to their block written respiratory program. Available in this section are the Qualitative and Quantitative methods for routine and OSHA regulated materials and the necessary attachments. 6. Documentation Forms Provided in this section are the respirator fit-testing documentation for the Plant IH Contact's use and fit test notification to Plant IH Contact from LAD IH. Department. A sample of the Blue card given to an individual who has been fit tested is provided in this section. 7. MSMS Equipment Code List This list contains available fit testing equipment with MSMS codes. These supplies are for the irritant fume, saccharin, or the TSI portacount method of fit testing. 8. Seif-Evaluation Questionnaire for aRespiratory Program This is a questionnaire which can be used for an audit of your respiratory protection program. This self-evaluation can be a very useful tool in determining deficiency in your respiratory program. 9. Dow Occupational Health Program Requirements for Respiratory Protection 10. Dow Medical Evaluation for Respirator Use These guidelines are used in conjunction with "Program Requirements for Respiratory Protection" (October 1990). The medical tests/factors which are used for medical approval to use a respirator are described. 11. Louisiana Division Guidelines for Respirator Medical Approval 6A2/92 7.4 O-av,. *3 % Section 7 - Respiratory Protection Table of Contents Section Name See DefinitionsAppendix A Plant/Department Written Respiratory ProgramPart 1 Training Documentation FormsPart 2 Mouthbit only Dow Personnel Contractors Respiratory Department Program Dow Personnel with and without film Contractors with and without film Cleaning and Inspection Criteria for Respiratory ProtectionPart 3 Mouthbit Only All other types of respirators Fit Testing__Part 4 Methods Qualitative Methods Routine Specifically Regulated Chemicals Quantitative Methods Routine Specifically Regulated Chemicals Attachment #1 - Rainbow Passage Attachment #2 - Respirator Fit test Documentation Attachment #3 - "Asbestos" Fit Test Exercises Attachment #4 - "Benzene" Fit Test Exercises Attachment #5 - MSDS for Sodium Saccharin (FT11&FT12) and Stannic Chloride Documentation Forms_Part 5 1)Respirator Fit-Testing Documentation for Plant Use 2)Fit Test Notification to Plant I.H. Contact from LAD IH Dept. 3)Respirator Fit Test Record Card (Blue Card) MSMS Equipment Code List For Fit Testing EquipmentAppendix B Self-Evaluation Questionnaire for Respiratory ProgramAppendix C Dow Occupational Health Program Requirements for Respiratory Protection_Appendix D Dow Medical Evaluation for Respirator Use_Appendix E Louisiana Division Guidelines for Respirator Medical Approval.Appendix F