Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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EsPirAtor
r
EPAirs
Respirators. that. fail. an. inspection. or. are. otherwise. found. to. be. defective. must. be.
removed.from.service.to.be.discarded,.repaired,.or.adjusted.in.accordance.with.the.
following.procedures:
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1.. Repairs.or.adjustments.to.respirators.must.be.made.only.by.persons.appro-
priately.trained.to.perform.such.operations.and.shall.use.only.the.respirator.
manufacturer's.NIOSH-approved.parts.designed.for.the.respirator.
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2.. Repairs. must. be. made. according. to. the. manufacturer's. recommendations.
and.speciications.for.the.type.and.extent.of.repairs.to.be.performed.
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3.. Reducing.and.admission.valves,.regulators,.and.alarms.shall.be.adjusted.or.
repaired.only.by.the.manufacturer.or.a.technician.trained.by.the.manufacturer.
Respirators.can.be.used.effectively.and.safely.if.the.mandates.of.the.regulation.found.
in.29.CFR.1910.134.are.followed..Employers.should.be.certain.that.their.respirator.pro-
gram.is.working.effectively.if.their.intent.is.to.prevent.occupational.injuries.and.illnesses.
summAry
Many. factors. must. be. considered. when. selecting. PPE. to. protect. employees. from.
workplace.hazards..With.all.of.the.types.of.operations.that.can.present.hazards.and.
all. of. the. types. of. PPE. available. to. protect. the. different. parts. of. a. worker's. body.
from.speciic.types.of.hazards,.this.selection.process.can.be.confusing.and.at.times.
overwhelming.. Because. of. this,. OSHA. requires. that. employers. implement. a. PPE.
program.to.help.employers.systematically.assess.the.hazards.in.the.workplace.and.
select.the.appropriate.PPE.that.will.protect.workers.from.those.hazards..As.part.of.a.
PPE.program,.employers.must.do.the.following:
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1.. Assess. the. workplace. to. identify. equipment,. operations,. chemicals,. and.
other.workplace.components.that.could.harm.employees.
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2.. Implement.engineering.controls.and.work.practices.to.control.or.eliminate.
these.hazards.to.the.extent.feasible.
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3.. Select.the.appropriate.types.of.PPE.to.protect.your.employees.from..hazards.
that.cannot.be.eliminated.or.controlled.through.engineering.controls.and.
work.practices.
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4.. Inform.employees.why.the.PPE.is.necessary.and.when.it.must.be.worn.
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5.. Train. employees. how. to. use. and. care. for. the. selected. PPE. and. how. to.
recognize.PPE.deterioration.and.failure.
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6.. Require.employees.to.wear.the.selected.PPE.in.the.workplace.
The.basic.information.presented.here.attempts.to.establish.and.illustrate.a.logical,.
structured. approach. to. hazard. assessment. and. PPE. selection. and. use.. These. steps.
must.be.followed.in.order.to.prevent.occupational.injuries.and.illnesses.
