(1) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of WAC
296-62-07355 through
296-62-07389. Respirators must be used during:
(a) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls;
(b) Work operations, such as maintenance and repair activities, vessel cleaning, or other activities, for which engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible;
(c) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the TWA or excursion limit;
(d) Emergencies.
(2) Respirator program. The employer must establish, implement, and maintain a respiratory protection program as required in chapter
296-842 WAC, except WAC
296-842-13005 and
296-842-14005.
(3) Respirator selection. The employer must select the appropriate respirator from Table 1 of this section.
Table 1.—Minimum Requirements for Respiratory Protection for Airborne EtO
Condition of use or concentration of airborne EtO (ppm) | Minimum required respirator |
Equal to or less than 50 | (a) | Full facepiece respirator with EtO approved canister, front- or back-mounted. |
Equal to or less than 2,000 | (a) | Positive-pressure supplied air respirator, equipped with full facepiece, hood or helmet, or |
(b) | Continuous-flow supplied air respirator (positive pressure) equipped with hood, helmet or suit. |
Concentration above 2,000 or unknown concentration (such as in emergencies) | (a) | Positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), equipped with full facepiece, or |
(b) | Positive-pressure full facepiece supplied air respirator equipped with an auxiliary positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus. |
Firefighting | (a) | Positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus equipped with full facepiece. |
Escape | (a) | Any respirator described above. |
Note: | Respirators approved for use in higher concentrations are permitted to be used in lower concentrations. |
(4) Protective clothing and equipment. Where employees could have eye or skin contact with EtO or EtO solutions, the employer must select and provide, at no cost to the employee, appropriate protective clothing or other equipment in accordance with WAC
296-800-160, and to protect any area of the body that may come in contact with liquid EtO or EtO in solution, and must ensure that the employee wears the protective clothing and equipment provided.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
49.17.010,
49.17.040,
49.17.050,
49.17.060. WSR 05-03-093, § 296-62-07367, filed 1/18/05, effective 3/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW
49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 01-11-038, § 296-62-07367, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01; WSR 99-10-071, § 296-62-07367, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter
49.17 RCW. WSR 94-20-057 (Order 94-16), § 296-62-07367, filed 9/30/94, effective 11/20/94; WSR 88-23-054 (Order 88-25), § 296-62-07367, filed 11/14/88; WSR 87-24-051 (Order 87-24), § 296-62-07367, filed 11/30/87.]