Document v6qog1mkmXMRgD9mJNNZ4vEOq

TO ATTENTION: FROM: DA TE: SUBJECT: tu, Cuu^tLLt.__ WAYNE STAPLES - ASHTABULA CORPORATE SAFETY January 11, 1980 Dave Jenkins has requested that I write this letter to you outlining what is required for an employee to wear an airline respirator in accordance with OSHA standards. The following is from the OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1910.134 e, 5; (5) For safe use of any respirator, it is essential that the user be properly instructed in its selection, use, and maintenance. Both supervisors and workers shall be so instructed by competent persons. Training shall provide the men an opportunity to handle the respirator, have it fitted properly, test its face-piece-toface seal, wear it in normal air for a long familiarity period, and, finally, to wear it in a test atmosphere. (i) Every respirator wearer shall receive fitting instructions including demonstrations and practice in how the respirator should be worn, how to adjust it, and how to determine if it fits properly. Respirators shall not be worn when conditions prevent a good face seal. Such conditions may be a growth of beard, sideburns, a skull cap that projects under the facepiece, or temple pieces on glasses. Also, the absence of one or both dentures can seriously affect the fit of a facepiece. The worker's diligence in observing these factors shall be evaluated by periodic check. To assure proper protection, the facepiece fit shall be checked by the wearer each time he puts on the respirator. This may be done by following the manufacturer's facepiece fitting instructions. (ii) Providing respiratory protection for individuals wearing corrective glasses is a serious problem. A proper seal cannot be established if the temple bars of eye glasses extend through the sealing edge of the full facepiece. As a temporary measure, glasses with short temple bars or without temple bars may be taped to the wearer's head. Wearing of contact lenses in contaminated atmospheres with a respirator shall not be allowed. Systems have been developed for mounting corrective lenses inside full facepieces. When a workman must wear corrective lenses as part of the facepiece, the facepiece and lenses shall be fitted by qualified individuals to provide good vision, comfort, and a gas-tight seal. (iii) If corrective spectacles or goggles are required, they shall be worn so as not to affect the fit of the facepiece. Proper selection of equipment will minimize or avoid this problem. 0r*>T 1"* foi,w soNO "BETTER Service Is Our Business" GENC 005708 The provision for test atmosphere can be satisfied by passing a swab saturated with amyl acetate (Banana oil) or methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen component) around the face-piece-to-face seal while the employee is breathing normally through the respirator which is connected to an acceptable air supply. Where respiratory protection is needed, it is managements obligation under OSHA to require and enforce that the employees wear the protective equipment as specified by the OSHA regulations. If you have any further questions, please contact me. Thomas W. Shepler Corporate Industrial Hygienist ska cc: R. W. Laundrie - C/P GENC 00570