This document provides an overview and training on respiratory protection. It begins with explaining why safety is important, citing statistics on workplace exposures. It then covers testing and preparation, including medical evaluations and fit testing. Air-purifying respirators and their components like cartridges and filters are discussed. Atmosphere-supplying respirators are also introduced. The document reviews donning, doffing, inspection and storage procedures. It concludes with a quick knowledge assessment quiz.

2. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION TRAINING
Agenda
 Why Safety Matters
 Testing & Preparation
 Air-Purifying Respirators
 Cartridges & Filters
 Atmosphere-Supplying
Respirators
 Caring For Your Respirator
 Test Your Knowledge

4. 405K+ cases of exposure to harmful substances in 2020
2.3M workers are exposed to silica
2M of these 2.3M are from the construction industry
Silicosis contributed to 74M deaths from 1968-2002
WHY SAFETY MATTERS
BY THE NUMBERS
405K+
2.3M
2M
74M

5. WHY SAFETY MATTERS
WHAT DO THESE DEVICES PROTECT
YOU FROM?

6. Dusts
Fogs/Fumes/Mists
Gases
Smokes
Sprays
Vapors
Fibers
Microorganisms
Microbials
WHY SAFETY MATTERS
COMMON CONTAMINANTS

7. WHY SAFETY MATTERS
WHERE DO THESE CONTAMINANTS
COME FROM?

8. Irritation of the eyes, skin,
and respiratory system
Dizziness
Nausea
Fatigue
Allergic Reactions
Remember: Exposure can
lead to death!
WHY SAFETY MATTERS
BE ALERT FOR SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE

10. Medical history, especially regarding
the heart and lungs
Do you currently smoke tobacco, or
have you smoked tobacco in the last
month?
Do you currently have any symptoms
of pulmonary or lung illness?
Have you ever had any
cardiovascular or heart problems?
TESTING & PREPARATION
MEDICAL EVALUATIONS

11. Qualitative Fit Testing
Quantitative Fit Testing
Rules About Facial Hair
TESTING & PREPARATION
FIT TESTING

12. TESTING & PREPARATION
FACIAL HAIR THAT WORKS VS. FACIAL HAIR THAT
DOESN’T

13. TESTING & PREPARATION
FACIAL HAIR THAT WORKS VS. FACIAL HAIR THAT
DOESN’T

14. TESTING & PREPARATION
HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS

16. Use filters, cartridges, or
cannisters to purify the air
Negative-pressure respirators
Three common kinds:
• Filtering Facepiece Respirators
• Gas & Vapor Respirators
• Combination Respirators
AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS
AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS

17. Filtering Facepiece
Respirators
AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS
AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS

18. AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS
AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS
Gas & Vapor Respirators

19. AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS
AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS
Combination Respirators

21. CARTRIDGES & FILTERS
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARTRIDGES & FILTERS
N-CLASS
Not-resistant to oil
• Only use in areas
with no oil
particulates
R-CLASS
Resistant to oil
• Only up to eight
hours
P-CLASS
Oil-proof
• Time-use
determined by the
manufacturer

22. CARTRIDGES & FILTERS
FILTER EFFICIENCY FOR PARTICULATE FILTERS
95
99
100
99.7% for PAPR

23. CARTRIDGES & FILTERS
GAS & VAPOR CARTRIDGE CLASSIFICATION
BLAC
K
WHIT
E
YELL
OW
GREE
N
Organic Vapor Protection
Acid Gas Protection
Organic and Acid Gases
Ammonia/
Methylamine Protection

24. CARTRIDGES & FILTERS
GAS & VAPOR CARTRIDGE CLASSIFICATION
BLACK &
OLIVE
OLIVE
Formaldehyde/
Organic Vapor
Protection
Multi-gas and Vapor
ORAN
GE
Mercury Vapor/
Chlorine gas

25. Particulate Filters: When
the filter becomes dirty,
difficult to breathe
through, or is physically
damaged
Gas and Vapor Cartridges:
When required by the
jobsite’s change schedule
• Sooner if a contaminant can
be detected
CARTRIDGES & FILTERS
WHEN TO REPLACE A FILTER/CARTRIDGE

27. Supply clean air directly
to the worker
Filled with high-purity breathing air
Three common kinds:
• Air-Supplied Respirators
• Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
• Combination Respirators
ATMOSPHERE-SUPPLYING RESPIRATORS
ATMOSPHERE-SUPPLYING RESPIRATORS

28. ATMOSPHERE-SUPPLYING RESPIRATORS
ATMOSPHERE-SUPPLYING RESPIRATORS
Air-Supplied Respirators

29. ATMOSPHERE-SUPPLYING RESPIRATORS
ATMOSPHERE-SUPPLYING RESPIRATORS
Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatuses

30. ATMOSPHERE-SUPPLYING RESPIRATORS
ATMOSPHERE-SUPPLYING RESPIRATORS
Combination Respirators

32. Wash your hands and put on gloves
Inspect the respirator for damage
Attach the neck strap
Use the straps to adjust the fit
Perform both a positive pressure and
negative pressure user seal check
CARING FOR YOUR RESPIRATOR
DONNING AN AIR-PURIFYING
RESPIRATOR WITH HEAD
STRAPS

33. Wash your hands
Loosen straps from top to bottom
Grab from the bottom and remove
upward
Inspect the respirator for damage
CARING FOR YOUR RESPIRATOR
REMOVING A RESPIRATOR

34. Wash with a cleaning solution
and soft brush
Inspect for overall function
and condition
Store away from contaminants
Discard if damaged beyond
repair or not reusable
CARING FOR YOUR RESPIRATOR
CARING FOR YOUR RESPIRATOR

35. CARING FOR YOUR RESPIRATOR
ACTIVIT
Y!

37. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
POP
QUIZ Without respiratory protection, workers with respiratory conditions
like asthma or COPD can be at risk of developing worse symptoms in
contaminated environments.
TRUE FALSE
 You can wash your respirator with the filters or cartridges still inside.
 Air-purifying respirators pull ambient air through a filter, cartridge, or
cannister to remove contaminants.
 The colors on respirator filters, cartridges, and cannisters are not
used for categorizing protection from different gases and vapors.