{"id":1456,"date":"2022-03-06T19:34:14","date_gmt":"2022-03-06T23:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/ehs\/?page_id=1456"},"modified":"2022-03-06T19:34:14","modified_gmt":"2022-03-06T23:34:14","slug":"respiratory-protection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/ehs\/respiratory-protection\/","title":{"rendered":"Respiratory Protection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

OSHA requires that any\u00a0employee\u00a0who wears a respirator must be enrolled in\u00a0a respiratory protection program. The program requires the following prior to using a respirator:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Complete an exposure assessment of the work area and select the appropriate respirator; contact EHS for assistance.<\/li>
  2. Have each employee that will wear a respirator complete a medical evaluation; the employee must complete the OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire for evaluation by a healthcare professional. The cost of the physical is the responsibility of the employee’s department.<\/li>
  3. Have each employee fit tested and trained on their respirator.  Contact EHS to schedule an appointment; please have employees bring their respirator to the fit testing.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The following is an excerpt from OSHA’s Respiratory Protection<\/strong><\/em> eTool<\/em><\/strong>:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When is respiratory protection necessary?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Respiratory protection is necessary when an exposure assessment determines that employees are exposed to respiratory hazards in the workplace that cannot be controlled through engineering controls (e.g. exhaust via fume hoods or airflow).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When is it necessary to conduct an exposure assessment?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Conditions in which employees should wear respirators include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n