• Only wear the respirator for the conditions specified in the Fit Test Letter (see Appendix A)
• Care for and maintain their respirators as instructed, and store them in a clean sanitary location.
• Inform their supervisor or EHRS if the respirator no longer fits well, and request a new one that fits properly.
• Inform their supervisor or the Program Administrator of any respiratory hazards that they feel are not adequately addressed in the workplace and of any other concerns that they have regarding the program.

1. Identification and development of a list of hazardous substances used in the workplace, by department, or work process.
2. Review of work processes to determine where potential exposures to these hazardous substances may occur. This review shall be conducted by surveying the workplace, reviewing process records, and talking with employees and supervisors.

The hazard evaluation may include exposure monitoring to quantify potential hazardous exposures. Monitoring will be conducted if the industrial hygienist conducting the evaluation determines that it is required. Monitoring will be performed by EHRS staff when needed.

Penn may provide disposable N95 respirators filtering respirators at no charge to employees for voluntary use for the following work processes:

• Employees may wear disposable N95 respirators when working in animal areas.
• Physical Plant workers may wear disposable N95 respirators for dusty operations.

The Program Administrator shall authorize voluntary use of respiratory protective equipment as requested by all other Penn employees on a case-by case basis, depending on specific workplace conditions and the results of the medical evaluations.

In some cases other licensed physicians may provide the evaluation. Medical evaluation procedures are as follows:

The Program Administrator has provided the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Student Health physician with a copy of this Respirator program. In addition the following is provided for each employee in a letter to requesting medical evaluation (see Appendix B):

• a summary of the employee's exposure to a hazardous substance
• his or her work area or job title
• proposed respirator type and weight
• length of time required to wear respirator
• expected physical work load (light, moderate, or heavy)
• potential temperature and humidity extremes
• any additional protective clothing required

In special cases where other licensed physicians provide the medical exam, the Program Administrator will provide the same information.

After an employee has received clearance and starts to wear his or her respirator, additional medical evaluations will be provided under the following circumstances:

• Employee reports signs and/or symptoms related to their ability to use a respirator, such as shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pains, or wheezing.
• A physician informs the Program Administrator that the employee needs to be reevaluated;
• Information from the program, including observations made during fit testing and program evaluation, indicates a need for reevaluation;
• A change occurs in workplace conditions that may result in an increased physiological burden on the employee.

All examinations and questionnaires are to remain confidential between the employee and the physician.

Employees who are required to wear half-facepiece APRs will be fit tested:

• Prior to being allowed to wear any respirator with a tight fitting facepiece.
• Annually.
• When there are changes in the employee's physical condition that could affect respiratory fit (e.g., obvious change in body weight, facial scarring, etc.).

Employees will be fit tested with the make, model, and size of respirator that they will actually wear. Employees will be provided with several models and sizes of respirators so that they may find an optimal fit. Fit testing of PAPRs shall be conducted in the negative pressure mode if worn with a tight fitting facepiece.

The Program Administrator will conduct fit tests following the OSHA approved Irritant smoke QLFT Protocol, or the Bitter Aerosol QLFT Protocol in the Respiratory Protection standard.

The Program Administrator has determined that QNFT is not required for the respirators used under current conditions at University of Pennsylvania. If conditions affecting respirator use change, the Program Administrator will evaluate on a case-by-case basis whether QNFT is required.

All employees not wearing disposable N95 respirators shall conduct user seal checks each time that they wear their respirator. Employees shall use either the positive or negative pressure check (depending on which test works best for them) specified in Appendix B-1 of the Respiratory Protection Standard.

All employees shall be permitted to leave the work area to maintain their respirator for the following reasons: to clean their respirator if the respirator is impeding their ability to work, change filters or cartridges, replace parts, or to inspect respirator if it stops functioning as intended. Employees should notify their supervisor before leaving the area.

All workers wearing atmosphere-supplying respirators will work with a buddy. Buddies shall assist workers who experience an SAR malfunction as follows:

If a worker experiences a malfunction of an SAR, he or she should signal to the buddy that he or she has had a respirator malfunction. The buddy shall don an emergency escape respirator and aid the worker in immediately exiting the work area.

The Program Administrator will maintain an air supply of 4 fully charged replacement cylinders for its SCBAs. The air for this system is provided by Penn's supplier, and deliveries of new air are coordinated by the Program Administrator or his designee.

Respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee shall be cleaned as often as necessary.

Atmosphere supplying and emergency use respirators are to be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

The following procedure is to be used when cleaning and disinfecting respirators:

• Disassemble respirator, removing any filters, canisters, or cartridges.
• Wash the facepiece and associated parts in a mild detergent with warm water. Do not use organic solvents.
• Rinse completely in clean warm water.
• Wipe the respirator with disinfectant wipes (70% Isopropyl Alcohol) to kill germs.
• Air dry in a clean area.
• Reassemble the respirator and replace any defective parts.
• Place in a clean, dry plastic bag or other air tight container.

Note: The employee's supervisor will ensure an adequate supply of appropriate cleaning and disaffection material at the cleaning station. If supplies are low, employees should contact their supervisor who will order the needed supplies.

Inspection of the respirator must be conducted before every use. The following checklist will be used when inspecting respirators:

Facepiece:
cracks, tears, or holes
facemask distortion
cracked or loose lenses/faceshield

Headstraps:
breaks or tears
broken buckles

Valves:
residue or dirt
cracks or tears in valve material

Filters/Cartridges:
approval designation
gaskets
cracks or dents in housing
proper cartridge for hazard

Air Supply Systems:
breathing air quality/grade
condition of supply hoses
hose connections
settings on regulators and valves

Employees are permitted to leave their work area to perform limited maintenance on their respirator in a designated area that is free of respiratory hazards.

Atmosphere supplying respirators will be stored in the Tandem Waste building and on the emergency response truck.

The Program Administrator will supply respirators and respirator components in their original manufacturer's packaging in EHRS, the Tandem Waste building and on the emergency response truck.

• Temporarily take the respirator out of service until it can be repaired.
• Perform a simple fix on the spot such as replacing a headstrap.
• Dispose of the respirator due to an irreparable problem or defect.

When a respirator is taken out of service for an extended period of time, the respirator will be tagged out of service, and the employee will be given a replacement of similar make, model, and size. All tagged out respirators will be kept in the Program Administrator's office.

The training course will cover the following topics:

• The University of Pennsylvania Respiratory Protection Program
• The OSHA Respiratory Protection standard
• Respiratory hazards encountered at University of Pennsylvania and their health effects
• Proper selection and use of respirators
• Limitations of respirators
• Respirator donning and user seal (fit) checks
• Fit testing
• Emergency use procedures (if applicable)
• Maintenance and storage
• Medical signs and symptoms limiting the effective use of respirators

Employees will be retrained annually or as needed (e.g., if they change departments and need to use a different respirator). Employees must demonstrate their understanding of the topics covered in the training through hands-on exercises, i.e. correctly donning and doffing the respirator. Respirator training will be documented by the Program Administrator and the documentation will include the type, model, and size of respirator for which each employee has been trained and fit tested.

The Program Administrator will conduct periodic evaluations of the workplace to ensure that the provisions of this program are being implemented. The evaluations will include regular consultations with employees who use respirators and their supervisors, site inspections, air monitoring and a review of records.

Problems identified will be noted in a lab notebook. These finding will be reported to employee's supervisor and will specific corrective actions and target dates for the implementation of those corrections.

A written copy of this program and the OSHA standard is kept in the EHRS office and is available to all employees who wish to review it.

Also maintained in the EHRS office are copies of training and fit test records. These records will be updated as new employees are trained as existing employees receive refresher training, and as new fit tests are conducted.

The Program Administrator will also maintain copies of the medical clearance records for all employees covered under the respirator program. The completed medical questionnaire and documented findings are confidential and will remain with the appropriate medical practitioner. EHRS will only retain written recommendation regarding each employee's ability to wear a respirator.

Fit Test Letter

MEMORANDUM

To: Name
From:
Date:
Re: Respirator use

This is to confirm that you received training and passed a qualitative respirator fit test with the following equipment:

Respirator Manufacturer:
Model:
Type:
Size:

You may only use this respirator for the following tasks:

Specify conditions and tasks

You should not use this respirator for any chemical or biological exposure or activity not listed above without approval from this office. This fit test must be repeated before Date.

In addition to the respirator you must wear list other PPE if applicable

You were also provided with list other hazard awareness information such as MSDS or other literature provided to the employee if applicable

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Encl. File: Respirator Program/emp. fit test

Medical evaluation for respirator use MEMORANDUM

To: To whom it may concern
From:
Date:
Re: Medical evaluation for respirator use.

NAME, a University of Pennsylvania employee, is required to wear a respirator at work. The University of Pennsylvania requests that you provide this employee with a medical evaluation that meets the requirements outlined in the Occupation Health and Safety Administration's Respirator Standard, 1910.134 paragraph (e). We have provided you with this portion of the Respirator Standard. Please follow this procedure when you examine this employee.

An OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire was provided to this employee. A completed questionnaire must be provided to you by the employee.

The following supplemental information is provided to you to assist in your evaluation of this employee's respirator use.

1. The type and weight of the respirator that will be used:
2. The duration and frequency of the respirator use:
3. The expected physical work effort:
4. Additional protective clothing and equipment that will be worn:
5. Temperature and humidity extremes experienced during work:

We request that you provide the Environmental Health and Radiation Safety Office with a signed statement on letterhead indicating that the employee is medically able to wear a respirator under the conditions described.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Encl.: 1910.134 (e) and OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire
File: Respirator Program/emp. fit test

  APPENDIX D

APPENDIX D to Sec. 1910.134 (Mandatory) Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard

Respirators are an effective method of protection against designated hazards when properly selected and worn. Respirator use is encouraged, even when exposures are below the exposure limit, to provide an additional level of comfort and protection for workers. However, if a respirator is used improperly or not kept clean, the respirator itself can become a hazard to the worker. Sometimes, workers may wear respirators to avoid exposures to hazards, even if the amount of hazardous substance does not exceed the limits set by OSHA standards. If your employer provides respirators for your voluntary use, of if you provide your own respirator, you need to take certain precautions to be sure that the respirator itself does not present a hazard.

You should do the following:

1. Read and heed all instructions provided by the manufacturer on use, maintenance, cleaning and care, and warnings regarding the respirators limitations.
2. Choose respirators certified for use to protect against the contaminant of concern. NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, certifies respirators. A label or statement of certification should appear on the respirator or respirator packaging. It will tell you what the respirator is designed for and how much it will protect you.
3. Do not wear your respirator into atmospheres containing contaminants for which your respirator is not designed to protect against. For example, a respirator designed to filter dust particles will not protect you against gases, vapors, or very small solid particles of fumes or smoke.
4. Keep track of your respirator so that you do not mistakenly use someone else's respirator.

Updated: October 20, 2005