Page History

Respiratory Protection

I. Policy Statement

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Respiratory Protection Standards 29 CFR 1910.134 (General Industry) and 29 CFR 1926.103 (Construction Industry) call for the development of a respiratory protection program when the use of respirators is necessary to protect the health of the employee, student, or whenever respirators are required by the employer. The written Respiratory Protection Program includes detailed information of the following requirements:

1. Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace.
2. Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators.
3. Fit-testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators.
4. Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations.
5. Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding and otherwise maintaining respirators.
6. Procedures to ensure adequate quality, quantity and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators.
7. Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations.
8. Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance.
9. Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

III. Responsibilities

For following policy: All employees and students

For enforcement of policy: Manager, Environmental Health and Safety

For oversight of policy: Vice President of Finance and Administration, Provost

For notification: Policy Librarian

For procedures implementing policy: Physical Plant Services, Academic departments using respirators.