provide | when |
Abrasive Blasting Respirators | Operators work in any of the following situations: |
- Inside blast cleaning rooms | |
- Where silica sand is used in manual blasting operations | |
- Where concentrations of toxic dust exceed the permissible exposure limits found in a separate chapter: | |
■ Respiratory hazards, WAC 296-841-20020, Table-3 "Exposure Limits for Air Contaminants" | |
Exemption: | |
• An abrasive respirator does not need to be worn if the operator is physically separated from the nozzle and blast by an exhaust ventilated enclosure. | |
Definition: | |
Abrasive-blasting respirator | |
A supplied air or a continuous flow respirator constructed to cover and protect the operator's head, neck and shoulders from rebounding abrasive. | |
Eye and Face protection to both of the following: - Blasting operators | Respirators worn during blasting operations do not provide eye and face protection |
- Personnel working near blasting operations | |
Gloves and Aprons made of heavy canvas or leather; | Operators are exposed to the impact of rebounding abrasives |
or | |
Equivalent protection |
Notes: | 1. Use only respirators certified by NIOSH in 42 C.F.R. Part 84 for protecting employees from dusts, and other hazards produced during abrasive blasting operations, like using a garnet sand to blast a concrete surface, resulting in crystalline silica dust. |
2. A filtering face piece may be used only for short, intermittent, or occasional dust exposures for any of the following tasks: | |
a. To protect the operator during abrasive blasting operations performed outside the enclosure or outdoors where nonsilica abrasives are used on materials with low toxicity; | |
b. Clean-up; | |
c. Dumping dust collectors; | |
d. Unloading shipments of sand at receiving areas when the following controls are not feasible: | |
i. Enclosures; | |
ii. Exhaust ventilation; or | |
iii. Other means. |
Reference: | For additional requirements to help you fully protect employees, go to the following separate chapters: |
1. The Safety and health core rules, chapter 296-800 WAC; | |
Personal protective equipment (PPE), WAC 296-800-160. | |
2. Respiratory hazards, chapter 296-841 WAC; | |
3. Respirators, chapter 296-842 WAC: | |
a. Respirator program, WAC 296-842-120; | |
b. Specifications for air quality, WAC 296-842-200. |