Respiratory Protection Program by Colby

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Environmental, Health, and Safety Director
Colby College
Respiratory Protection
Program

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Short OSHA Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1y
YmABesZE

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Respiratory Protection Program
(RPP)
• Colby maintains a written Respiratory Protection
Program (RPP) available to all employees for
review
• Colby’s Environmental, Health, and Safety
Director is the program administer
• Each employee must undergo a Medical
Evaluation before using a respirator
• Each specific respirator must be fit-tested to the
employee before use
• All employees must be trained on the proper use
and requirements
• All respirators, medical evaluations, and cleaning
supplies are provided by Colby.

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• PPD staff are required to wear an air
purifying respirator (APR) when spray
painting solvent based coatings in the paint
booth.
• Respirator use is optional when sanding or
painting outside
• The respirator is used
to prevent the inhaling
of toxic solvent vapor
Spray Painting

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Medical Evaluation
• Respirators place extra physical stress on
the user. To ensure you are healthy
enough to wear a respirator, a medical
evaluation is required by a physician.

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Respirator Fit-Test
• Fit-testing is an OSHA requirement
• Used to determine proper respirator size to
ensure a good seal
• Even the best designed and manufactured
respirator will not protect the wearer if
there is an improper match between
facepiece and wearer or improper wearing
practices by the user

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Respirator Fit-Test
• Performed by the RP Program
Administrator, a doctor, or a qualified
person appointed by Colby College:
 Before initial use of a respirator
 At least annually
 Whenever a different respirator is
used
 Whenever a change in the
employee’s physical condition (e.g.
weight gain, facial scarring) could
affect the fit of a respirator
• May be qualitative (e.g. using irritant
smoke) or quantitative (using a
computerized system)

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Old Fit Test Method
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNBI
MFZ9NrI

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Donning Procedure
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• Remove your eyewear (if worn), then grasp the front of the
respirator with one hand and the upper headband with
your other hand.
• Position the narrow portion of the respirator on your nose
bridge and place the cradle suspension system on your
head so that the top headband rests across the top of your
head and the bottom headband rests above your ears on
the back of your head.
• Then hook the bottom headband behind your neck, below
your ears, and adjust the position of the facepiece on your
face for best fit and comfort.
1 2 3

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Donning Procedure
• The length of the headbands are adjustable; tighten or
loosen by holding the respirator body or headband yoke
with one hand and pulling on the elastic material to the
appropriate length.
Note: only don your respirator in an area with
uncontaminated air.
4 5 6

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Respirator Seal Check
When: Prior to each use
Why: For a respirator to work properly, it must seal
tightly to the face. The seal keeps out the
airborne contaminants.
What: Two types: positive and negative seal checks

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Positive Pressure Seal Check
• Put on the respirator
• Close off the exhalation valve with the palm of
your hand and exhale gently into the facepiece
• The face fit is considered satisfactory if a slight
positive pressure can be built up inside the
facepiece without any evidence of outward
leakage of air at the seal
• For most respirators, this method of leak testing
requires the wearer to first remove the
exhalation valve cover before closing off the
exhalation valve and then carefully replacing it
after the test

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Negative Pressure Seal Check
• Close off the inlet opening of the canister or
cartridge(s) by covering it with the palm of the
hand(s) or by replacing the filter seal(s)
• Inhale gently so that the facepiece collapses
slightly, and hold your breath for ten seconds
• Check, feel, and listen for leaks around the face
piece

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Respirator Inspection
When:
• Before each use
• During cleaning
Respirator inspections should be formally documented
routinely, typically at least once per month, or if less
frequently, before each use
Document the inspection on the forms provided in
the RPP.

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Respirator Inspection Cont.
 Check the facepiece to make sure it is in good
condition: without any holes or tears.
 Check the cartridge connectors to make sure
they are not cracked and are fully inserted into
the mask.

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 Check all the valves to be sure they are present
and in good condition. They should be lying flat,
without any distortion, tears, or holes.

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 Check the headstraps to be sure they have
not lost their elasticity. Make sure the straps
are not twisted.

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Cartridge Selection
• Cartridges must be replaced after 30
hours of use or:
 Heavy use/contamination
Odor of contaminant(s)
Taste of contaminant(s)
Breathing difficulty/resistance (for particle
and mist cartridges)
• Track cartridge hours with the respirator
use log.

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Demonstration
• Donning & Doffing
• Performing a fit/seal check
• Assembly and Inspection
Get ready for an activity!

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Respirator Cleaning
• Respirators must be maintained in
sanitary and operational condition
• Must be cleaned, disinfected, and dried
after each use and between users
• Generally, a mild detergent and a soft
brush (not wire) are used for cleaning

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Respirator Storage
• Store to protect from damage,
contamination, sunlight, extreme
temperatures, moisture, etc.
• When storing a respirator:
Make sure rubber parts are not twisted or
bent
Seal the respirator in a storage container or
zip lock bag
Make sure it is completely dry

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Respirator Limitations
• PPE is the last measure to ensure safety to
the employee since it does not remove the
hazard
• It’s necessary to prevent the inhalation of
contaminants when engineering and other
controls are not feasible
• Employees must be trained and familiar with
the respirator in order to ensure correct
function
• The respirator must have a proper seal (so
no facial hair below upper lip)

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Respirator Limitations
• Examples of medical signs and symptoms to
watch out for that can indicate respirator
failure or negative response (thus requiring
the employee to leave the work area where
the respiratory hazard is present):
– Dizziness
– Headache
– Breathing becomes difficult, shortness of breath,
coughing, chest pain, wheezing
– Odor of contaminant(s)
– Taste of contaminant(s)

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Respirator Failure/Emergency
• APR respirators do not protect you from
IDLH (immediately dangerous to lift and
to health) atmospheres or oxygen
deficient atmospheres.
• In the event of an emergency do not rely
on the APR for protection and evacuate
immediately.

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What do you need to Do?
• Follow the protcols in the training and
manufactures recommendations
• Complete monthly cleanings and
documented inspections
• Monitor the cartridge life and dispose of in
a timely manner
• Ask your supervisor or the EHS Director if
you have any concerns.
• Never Cut Corners!

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1) Which of the following must be in place in
order for the respirator to work
correctly?:
a) Proper seal
b) Clean shaven face
c) Damage free respirator
d) All of the above

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2) While wearing a respirator an employee
must leave the spray booth and remove
the respirator if they experience which of
the following?
a. Dizziness
b. Dislodged or damaged respirator
c. Difficulty breathing
d. All or the above

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3) True or False?
Medical evaluation, fit-testing and employee training
are all required elements of an OSHA compliant
Respirator Protection Program (RPP).

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4) The program administrator for the RPP at
Colby College is?
a. Environmental, Health and Safety Director
b. Head Nurse
c. Medical Director
c. Perry Richardson

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5) A fit-test is required?
a. Before initial use of a respirator
b. At least annually
c. Whenever a different respirator is used
d. Whenever a change in the employee’s physical
condition (e.g. weight gain, facial scarring) could
affect the fit of a respirator
e. All of the above

Respiratory Protection Program by Colby

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