Check out Safety Emporium for your N95, N99, and face shield needs.
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:51:19 -0500
Reply-To: List Moderator <ecgrants**At_Symbol_Here**UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: List Moderator <ecgrants**At_Symbol_Here**UVM.EDU>
Subject: 3 RE: [DCHAS-L] dust masks
>Can anyone tell me for sure if HEPA dust masks respirators (the kind
that resembles a regular dust mask/doctors mask) require a full
respiratory program, ie. medical evaluation and fit testing?
From: "Harrington, Rachel"
Date: February 24, 2009 3:11:39 PM EST
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] dust masks
If the mask has a NIOSH number on it then it is a respirator and
requires a program. For situations where you can prove that the
respirator is not needed (you will need air monitoring data for this)
and folks are wearing them for peace of mind (for lack of a better
explanation) then you can implement the voluntary program allowed
under the standard which reduces employer obligations considerably.
===
From:
Date: February 24, 2009 3:14:22 PM EST
Subject: RE: dust masks
Depends on if it is voluntary use or non-voluntary (required, spelled
out in an SOP, etc.) Voluntary use does not - where non-voluntary use
would put you into the program. I have attached an excerpt from the
OSHA standard interpretation and provided a link below:
Non-voluntary use of a filtering facepiece (dust mask/disposable paper
type dust respirator) requires that the employer establish and
implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-
specific procedures. The respiratory protection program must include
the medical evaluation of employees. (Note: This would include fit
testing)
-
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETA
TIONS&p_id=22623
Best Regards,
Brian M. Spears, CIH, CSP, CHMM
Associate Industrial Hygiene Specialist
Safe Work IS Our Job
Dow Corning Corporation
4770 Highway 42 East
Carrollton, KY 41008
office: (502) 732-2726
mobile: (502) 682-8593
===
From: Kent Candee
Date: February 24, 2009 3:43:35 PM EST
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] dust masks
Suzanne:
The question to ask, are they being used voluntary or because of
exposure limit exceedance or business entity is requiring their use.
The latter two would require medical evaluation and fit testing along
with all other respiratory protection program requirements. A good
document to use to answer such a question is OSHA's Compliance
Instruction document, CPL 02-00-120, Inspection procedures for the
Respiratory Protection Standard dated 09/25/1998.
If you need more information, you can email me directly.
Kent A.
Kent A. Candee, CIH
Assistant Secretary
Environmental Health Services Manager
Home Office Risk Improvement
EMC Insurance Companies
Ph: 515-345-2728
Cell: 515-321-5874
Fax: 515-345-2220
www.emcinsurance.com
Count on EMC for Loss Control Services
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