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IELANESE CORPORATION PLAINTIFF $ EXHIBIT CEL-143 RESPIRATORY PROTECTION MANUAL AND GUIDELINE Section: 40 Page: 0 Subject: Medical Surveillance L. Introduction * '' !oSHA 1910.134(b)(10) requires that no employee be assigned to a task that requires the use of a respirator, unless it has been -determined that the person is physically able to perform under Such conditions- In addition, once a determination is made as ;.to physical ability to wear a respirator and perform the work itask, a review of the employee's health status must be made Sj7periodically -- for instance, "annually." A physician with knowledge of pulmonary disease and respiratory protection prac tices should determine what medical factors are pertinent, thich tests will be performed and ultimately whether or not an ^employee may wear a respiratory protection device. f-^Physiological Factors --------------------------------------------- |?Wearing any type of respirator imposes some physiological stress on the wearer. With air-purifying devices, resistance jto inhalation is always experienced because the filter or chemi cal cartridge restricts air flow; in addition, the wearer must gvork against the exhalation valve upon expiration. Similar wreathing resistance will be encountered when using demand-type |air-line respirators or self-contained breathing apparatus IpSCBAs). The exhalation valve used in pressure-demand SCBAs or ^air-line devices is designed to always maintain positive ^pressure within the mask; therefore, significant exhalation |breathing resistance is encountered when using this equipment. H-r* |The bulk and weight of SCBAs (up to 35 lbs.) will be of some |cbncern especially when the employee must perform strenuous ?ork. Air-line respirator units require that the wearer drag |around the hose or air-line, which will also add to the stress *7f job performance. ^Pulmonary Factors ilRespirator wearers should be examined for any evidence of res piratory impairment such as emphysema, obstructive lung disease, >ronchial asthma, etc. Historical and clinical evidence of im pairment of pulmonary function, including x-ray findings, a ^reduction in vital capacity or forced expiratory volume, may l&jjustify forbidding a person to wear a respirator that restricts jpj<?-nkalation and exhalation (the individual may be able to perform adequately in a continuous-flow supplied air device). Breathing difficulty may not, in and of itself, prohibit the wearing of a IP- respirator if the employee is reasonably comfortable using the 006067 I ELANESE CORPORATION Section: RESPIRATORY PROTECTION MANUAL AND GUIDELINE Page: 40 1 Subject: Medical Surveillance -gevice, and a proper medical clearance has been obtained, ^specially when such a prohibition might deprive the livelihood ff the individual. ---- -2 ardiovascular ifhe use of air-purifying, demand-type or pressure-demand --upplied air devices may pose a serious problem for employees pith cardiovascular disease. These people may be able to use Continuous flow devices. As always, the physician must make -he final determination. Serious consideration should be given to the assignment of em ployees with cardiovascular disease to a job where they need -hot respond to an emergency situation or escape from a contami nated area with respiratory protective devices. lealth Problems onditions that may prevent an employee from wearing a respira tor, and thus from working in a contaminated area, include: ,.r a. Diabetes b. Epilepsy c. Alcoholism d. Use of certain medication e. Punctured ear drum f. Skin sensitivities g. Impaired or non-existent sense of smell h. Any other condition that the plant physician deter- mines to place the employee at added physical risk facial Limitation facial deformities or excessive facial hair, as determined by -the examining physician, may prohibit wearing of certain types |pf respirator facepieces or mouthpieces, since the face-to-facejpiece seal may not be adequate or reliable. psychological Limitation j^hile somewhat less clearly defined than physical limitations in ^resPirator usage, psychological factors may prevent an employee jgirom wearing a respirator. A physician should be consulted for :?dvice in these cases. 006068 ELANESE CORPORATION RESPIRATORY PROTECTION MANUAL AND GUIDELINE Section: 40 Page: 2 Subject: Medical Surveillance A somewhat more difficult problem to deal -with is discomfort. A respirator that is 'improperly fitted or that causes continual discomfort will inevitably result in an industrial relations problem. These problems can generally be avoided by proper fitting, education and training. 006069