Document yrjnDm9vb9kZqxxZk7LbEjZVE

R. E. POOHORA INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DEPT. POINT COMFORT OPERATIONS *"$ fa U/t*- July 29, 1976 DR. WvF. JONES MEDICANjRECTOR POINT COMFORT OPERATIONS tc^Mr. TV B. Bonney - Pittsburgh RE: L.A.S.L. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION SEMINAR. KANSAS CIH, MO. (COST $290) At your request, the following Is an evaluation of the seminar I attended July 20-22. presented by Messrs. John Pritchard and W. Jay Wenzel at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, a branch of the University of California. Copies of their brochure and class subject breakdown are attached. Only nine persons attended, six of which were from QSHA, two from Industry (TWA and Alcoa), and one sales represents.tlve from Willson Products. The small class was an advantage for a good learning situation. Early the first day, an exam containing 36 questions with multiple choice answers was given. I found out how lacking my knowledge was of respiratory protection regulations and etc. The exam was reviewed thoroughly the last afternoon. We learned about: the early history of respiratory protection, types of equipment and bow to select, test, use, maintain and Inspect various respiratory equipment. In my opinion, the most Important Information was related to: 1. The 11 cormandnents of OSHA. These explain industry's responsibility for a respiratory program. (See copy attached.) Note: A program for the selection. Issuance, cleaning, maintenance and control of respiratory equipment Is mandatory by OSHA. 2. Explanation and Interpretation of regulations In 29 CFR 1910.134 (sourced from ANSI Standard Z88.2 1969). 3. Supplementary regulations. 4. Approved respirators. 5. Respirator protection checklist. 6. Example of a respirator procedure program. Two experienced OSHA compliance officers recommended that the "variance" route should be used by Industry where non-NIOSH approved respirator cartridges are used such as for mercury vapor at the Chlor-Alkall plant. All that Is required Is a document requesting a variance because there are no approved respirator cartridges for mercury vapor as yet. I plan to Investigate this further. There are at least two good self-contained breathing apparatus units (SCBA) !3alcoa APC 005283