Date of Adoption: October 1, 2003.

     Purpose: Chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators; and WAC 296-62-071 Respiratory protection.

     The Department of Labor and Industries has adopted newly rewritten and clarified requirements relating to respirators in nonagricultural industries. This rule making is part of our four-year plan to rewrite for clarity all of our general occupational safety and health rules. This project provides additional flexibility for employers in some situations.

     No increase in requirements were proposed, although one requirement was reduced. A mandatory fit test procedure will give two options when performing the procedure. The portions of the current rule regulating engineering controls and employee exposure assessment are being moved into a new chapter, respiratory hazards. The rest of the rule has been rewritten for clarity and ease of use.

Amended Section:

WAC 296-62-071 Respiratory protection.

•     A note has been added to WAC 296-62-071 stating that requirements relating to respirators have been moved and the requirements left in WAC 296-62-071 only apply to agriculture.

New Sections:

WAC 296-842-100 Scope.

•     Clarifies responsibilities of employers to provide respiratory protection.

WAC 296-842-105 Respirator program administrator.

•     Clarifies responsibilities of employers to designate a program administrator.

WAC 296-842-10505 Designate a program administrator.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07113 to this section.

WAC 296-842-110 Voluntary use requirements and recordkeeping.

•     Clarifies responsibilities of employers when employees voluntarily choose to use respirators.

WAC 296-842-11005 Make sure voluntary use of respirators is safe.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07117 to this section.

WAC 296-842-11010 Keep voluntary use respirator program records.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07117 and 296-62-07194 to this section.

WAC 296-842-120 Required use respirator program and recordkeeping.

•     Clarifies responsibilities of employers when respirators are required.

WAC 296-842-12005 Develop and maintain a written program and records.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07109 and 296-62-07111 to this section.

WAC 296-842-12010 Keep respirator program records.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07194 to this section.

WAC 296-842-130 Respirator selection.

•     Clarifies responsibility of employers to make sure the correct respirators are used.

WAC 296-842-13005 Select and provide appropriate respirators.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07130, 296-62-07131, 296-62-07132 and 296-62-07133 to this section.

WAC 296-842-140 Medical evaluations.

•     Clarifies responsibility of employers to provide medical evaluations.

WAC 296-842-14005 Provide medical evaluations.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07150, 296-62-07151, 296-62-07152, 296-62-07153, 296-62-07154, 296-62-07155, and 296-62-07156 to this section.

WAC 296-842-150 Fit-testing.

•     Clarifies responsibilities of employers to provide fit testing.

WAC 296-842-15005 Conduct fit testing.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07160, 296-62-07161, 296-62-07162, 296-62-07202, 296-62-07206, and 296-62-07231 to this section.

WAC 296-842-160 Training.

•     Clarifies responsibilities of employers to provide training.

WAC 296-842-16005 Provide effective training.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07186, 296-62-07188, and 296-62-07190 to this section.

WAC 296-842-170 Maintenance.

•     Clarifies responsibilities of employers to maintain respirators.

WAC 296-842-17005 Maintain respirators in a clean and reliable condition.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07175 to this section.

WAC 296-842-17010 Store respirators properly.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07176 to this section.

WAC 296-842-17015 Inspect and repair respirators.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07177, 296-62-07178 and 296-62-07179 to this section.

WAC 296-842-180 Safe use and removal of respirators.

•     Clarifies responsibilities regarding the safe use of respirators.

WAC 296-842-18005 Prevent sealing problems with tight-fitting respirators.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07170 and 296-62-07171 to this section.

    
WAC 296-842-18010 Make sure employees leave the use area before removing respirators.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07170 and 296-62-07171 to this section.

WAC 296-842-190 Stand-by requirements for IDLH conditions.

•     Clarifies responsibilities to provide standby employees in IDLH conditions.

WAC 296-842-19005 Provide stand-by assistance in IDLH conditions.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07172 to this section.

WAC 296-842-200 Air quality for SCBAs and air-line respirators.

•     Clarifies requirements for air quality.

WAC 296-842-20005 Make sure breathing air and oxygen meet established specifications, 296-842-20010 Prevent conditions that could create a hazardous breathing air supply, and 296-842-20015 Make sure compressors don't create a hazardous breathing air supply.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07182 to these sections.

WAC 296-842-210 Labeling of air purifying filters, cartridges, and canisters.

•     Clarifies responsibilities to label equipment.

WAC 296-842-21005 Keep readable labels on filters, cartridges, and canisters during use.

•     Moved requirements from WAC 296-62-07184 to this section.

WAC 296-842-220 Required procedures for respiratory protection programs.

•     Clarifies responsibility to make sure required procedures are followed.

WAC 296-842-22005 Use this medical questionnaire for medical evaluations.

•     Moved requirements from Appendix C to this section.

WAC 296-842-22010 Follow these fit-testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators.

•     Moved requirements from Appendices A-1, A-2, and A-3 to this section.

WAC 296-842-22015 Follow procedures established for cleaning and disinfecting respirators.

•     Moved requirements from Appendix B-2 to this section.

WAC 296-842-22020 Follow procedures established for seal checking respirators.

•     Moved requirements from Appendix B-1 to this section.

WAC 296-842-300 Definitions.

•     Moved the definitions from WAC 296-62-071 to this section.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 296-62-071 Respiratory protection.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 03-08-044 on March 28, 2003.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: As a result of written and oral comments received, the following sections are being revised as indicated: Chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators.

    
WAC 296-842-100 Scope.

•     Table 1, after the words "required to use a respirator" added "by WISHA or the employer."

WAC 296-842-11005 Make sure voluntary use of respirators is safe.

•     Added an "Important" note clarifying the difference between required and voluntary use.

•     Clarified the note containing examples of health hazards.

WAC 296-842-12010 Keep respirator program records.

•     Added a sub-bullet to include "written recommendations from the LHCP."

•     Added a bullet to "Allow records required by this section to be examined and copied by affected employees and their representatives.

WAC 296-842-14005 Provide medical evaluations.

•     Added an "Important" note clarifying that a previous medical evaluation addressing respirator use was sufficient to meet this requirement.

•     Added a note to Step 3, clarifying the LHCP's discretion to add questions to the medical questionnaire.

•     Add a note under the sub-bullet addressing employee confidentiality to stress the importance of maintaining confidentiality.

WAC 296-842-22005 Use this medical questionnaire for medical evaluations.

•     Added a note clarifying the LHCP's discretion to add questions to the medical questionnaire.

WAC 296-842-22010 Follow these fit-testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators.

•     Added a note in Table 13 to allow the option of using commercially prepared solutions.

•     Added a note in Table 14 to allow the option of using commercially prepared solutions.

•     Revised Table 19 so that the Controlled Negative Pressure procedures are in one place at the end of the table.

WAC 296-842-300 Definitions.

•     Revised the definition for "IDLH" to match other recently rewritten rules.

•     Corrected the reference in "respiratory hazard."

•     Clarified the definition for "required use."

•     Added a definition for "service life."

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 37, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 37, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 37, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 37, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
     Effective Date of Rule: January 1, 2004.

October 1, 2003

Paul Trause

Director

OTS-6276.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-10-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99)

WAC 296-62-071   Respiratory protection.  

Note:

The requirements in WAC 296-62-071 through 296-62-07295 apply only to agriculture. The requirements for all other industries relating to respiratory protection have been moved to chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, and chapter 296-841 WAC, Respiratory hazards.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-62-071, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. 81-16-016 (Order 81-19), § 296-62-071, filed 7/27/81.]

OTS-6224.4

     IMPORTANT:

     Before you decide to use respirators, you are required to evaluate respiratory hazards and implement control methods as outlined in chapter 296-841 WAC, Respiratory hazards.

     The term "respiratory hazards" will be used throughout this chapter to refer to oxygen deficient conditions and harmful airborne hazards.

     Definition:

     Respirators are a type of personal protective equipment designed to protect the wearer from respiratory hazards.

     You can use Table 1 for general guidance on which chapter sections apply to you.

Table 1

Chapter sections that apply to your workplace

If employees...	Then the sections marked with an "X" apply...
	105	110	120	130-210	220	300
Request and are permitted to voluntarily use filtering-facepiece respirators, and are not exposed to a respiratory hazard		X				X
Request and are permitted to voluntarily use respirators that are NOT filtering-facepiece respirators, and are not exposed to a respiratory hazard	X	X			X	X
Are required to use any respirator by WISHA or the employer	X		X	X	X	X
Would use an escape respirator in an emergency	X		X	X	X	X

Reference:

See WAC 296-800-160, Personal protective equipment (PPE) to find requirements for other types of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as eye, hand, and head protection.

[]

     Your responsibility:

     To make sure a capable individual is in charge of respirator program development and management.

[]

Exemption:

You do not need to designate a program administrator if employees use only filtering-facepiece respirators and do so only as voluntary use.

     Definition:

     Voluntary use is respirator use that is requested by the employee AND permitted by the employer when NO respiratory hazard exists.

     You must:

     • Designate a program administrator who has overall responsibility for your program and has sufficient training or experience to:

     – Oversee program development and coordinate implementation

     – Conduct required evaluations of program effectiveness outlined in WAC 296-842-12005.

[]

     To make sure voluntary use of respirators by employees does not create job safety or health hazards.

     You must:

     Make sure voluntary use of respirators is safe

     WAC 296-842-11005

     Keep voluntary use respirator program records

     WAC 296-842-11010.

     IMPORTANT:

     • Respirator use is NOT voluntary if a respiratory hazard, such as exposure to a substance over the permissible exposure limit (PEL) or hazardous exposure to an airborne biological hazard, is present.

     • To evaluate respiratory hazards in your workplace, see chapter 296-841 WAC, Respiratory hazards.

     • Some requirements in this section do not apply if only filtering-facepiece respirators are used voluntarily. Some filtering-facepiece respirators are equipped with a sorbent layer for absorbing "nuisance" organic vapors. These can be used for voluntary use, but are not NIOSH certified for protection against hazardous concentrations of organic vapor.

[]

     Definition:

     Voluntary use is respirator use that is requested by the employee AND permitted by the employer when NO respiratory hazard exists.

     IMPORTANT: If you choose to require respirator use, use is NOT voluntary and the required use sections of this chapter apply.

     You must:

     (1) Make sure voluntary respirator use does NOT:

     • Interfere with an employee's ability to work safely, such as restricting necessary vision or radio communication

     OR

     • Create health hazards.

    

Note:	Examples of health hazards include:
	• Skin irritation, dermatitis, or other health effects caused by using a dirty respirator
	• Illness created by sharing contaminated respirators
	• Health effects caused by use of an unsafe air supply, such as carbon monoxide poisoning.

     You must:

     (2) Provide all voluntary respirator users with the advisory information in Table 2 at no cost to them.

Note:

If you have provided employees with the advisory information required in the previous rule, WAC 296-62-07117, you do not need to provide the additional information in Table 2 to those employees.

     You must:

     (3) Develop and maintain a written program that includes the following:

Exemption:

If employees use only filtering-facepiece respirators and do so only voluntarily, you do not need to develop and maintain a written program.

     • Medical evaluation provisions as specified in WAC 296-842-140.

     • Procedures to properly clean and disinfect respirators, according to WAC 296-842-22015, if they are reused.

     • How to properly store respirators, according to WAC 296-842-17010, so that using them does not create hazards.

     • Procedures to make sure there is a safe air supply, according to WAC 296-842-200, when using air-line respirators and SCBAs.

     • Training according to WAC 296-842-160 when necessary to ensure respirator use does NOT create a hazard.

    

Note:	• Pay for medical evaluations, training, travel related costs, and wages. You do NOT need to pay for respirators employees use only voluntarily.
	• If you have both voluntary and required respirator users, you may choose to treat voluntary users as required users. Doing this exceeds the requirements in this section.

     Use Table 2 to provide information to employees who voluntarily use any type of respirator.

Table 2

[]

Exemption:

If employees use only filtering-facepiece respirators voluntarily, you do not need to follow these recordkeeping requirements.

     You must:

     • Keep copies of:

     – Your current written respirator program

     – Written recommendations from the LHCP

     • Allow records required by this section to be examined and copied by affected employees and their representatives.

Reference:

See chapter 296-62 WAC, Part B, Access to records for additional requirements that apply to medical records.

[]

     Your responsibility:

     To develop, implement, and maintain a written program that provides clear instruction for safe and reliable respirator use.

     You must:

     Develop and maintain a written program

     WAC 296-842-12005

     Keep respirator program records

     WAC 296-842-12010.

[]

     (1) Develop a complete worksite-specific written respiratory protection program that includes the applicable elements listed in Table 3.

Note:

Pay for respirators, medical evaluations, fit testing, training, maintenance, travel costs, and wages.

     You must:

     (2) Keep your program current and effective by evaluating it and making corrections. Do ALL of the following:

     • Make sure procedures and program specifications are followed and appropriate.

     • Make sure selected respirators continue to be effective in protecting employees. For example:

     – If changes in work area conditions, level of employee exposure, or employee physical stress have occurred, you need to reevaluate your respirator selection.

     • Have supervisors periodically monitor employee respirator use to make sure employees are using them properly.

     • Regularly ask employees required to use respirators about their views concerning program effectiveness and whether they have problems with:

     – Respirator fit during use

     – Any effects of respirator use on work performance

     – Respirators being appropriate for the hazards encountered

     – Proper use under current worksite conditions

     – Proper maintenance.

     When developing your written program include applicable elements listed in Table 3.

Table 3

[]

     You must:

     • Keep the following records:

     – Your current respirator program

     – Each employee's current fit test record, if fit testing is conducted. Fit test records must include:

     &sqbul; Employee name

     &sqbul; Test date

     &sqbul; Type of fit-test performed

     &sqbul; Description (type, manufacturer, model, style, and size) of the respirator tested

     &sqbul; Results of fit tests, for example, for quantitative fit tests include the overall fit factor AND a print out, or other recording of the test.

     – Training records that include employee's names and the dates trained

     – Written recommendations from the LHCP.

     • Allow records required by this section to be examined and copied by affected employees and their representatives.

Reference:

See chapter 296-62 WAC, Part B, Access to records, for additional requirements that apply to medical records.

[]

     Your responsibility:

     To select and provide respirators that are appropriate for the hazard, user, and worksite conditions.

Exemption:

This section does NOT apply to voluntary respirator use. See WAC 296-842-110 of this chapter for voluntary use program requirements.

[]

     IMPORTANT:

     See chapter 296-841, Respiratory hazards, for:

     • Hazard evaluation requirements. Evaluation results are necessary for respirator selection.

     • A list of substance-specific rules that may also apply to you. Those listed rules have additional respirator selection requirements.

     You must:

     • Select and provide, at no cost to employees, appropriate respirators for routine use, infrequent use, and reasonably foreseeable emergencies (such as escape, emergency, and spill response situations) by completing the following process:

     Step 2: If the respiratory hazard is a biological aerosol, such as TB (tuberculosis), anthrax, psittacosis (parrot fever), or hanta virus, select a respirator appropriate for nonemergency activities recognized to present a health risk to workers AND skip to Step 9.

     • If respirator use will occur during emergencies, skip to Step 9 and document the analysis used to select the appropriate respirator.

     • Use Centers for Disease Control (CDC) selection guidance for exposures to specific biological agents when this guidance exists. Visit http://www.cdc.gov.

     Step 3: If the respiratory hazard is a pesticide, follow the respirator specification on the pesticide label AND skip to Step 10.

     Step 4: Determine the expected exposure concentration for each respiratory hazard of concern. Use the results from the evaluation required by chapter 296-841 WAC, Respiratory hazards.

     Step 5: Determine if the respiratory hazard is classified as IDLH; if it is NOT IDLH skip to Step 8.    

     • The respiratory hazard IS classified as IDLH if:

     – The atmosphere is oxygen deficient or oxygen enriched     OR

     – You CANNOT measure or estimate your expected exposure concentration    

     OR

     – Your measured or estimated expected exposure concentration is greater or equal to the IDLH value in the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

Note:	• WISHA uses the IDLH values in the 1990 edition of the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Hazardous Chemicals to determine the existence of IDLH conditions. You may use more recent editions of this guide. Visit www.cdc.gov/niosh for more information.
	• If your measured or estimated expected exposure concentration is below NIOSH's IDLH values, proceed to Step 8.

     Step 6: Select an appropriate respirator from one of the following respirators for IDLH conditions and skip to Step 9:     • Full-facepiece, pressure demand, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) certified by NIOSH for a minimum service life of thirty minutes

     OR

     • Full-facepiece, pressure demand air-line respirator equipped with an auxiliary self-contained air supply

Exception:

If the respiratory hazard is oxygen deficiency AND you can show oxygen concentrations can be controlled within the ranges listed in Table 4 under ALL foreseeable conditions, you are allowed to select ANY type of SCBA or air-line respirator:

Table 4

Concentration Ranges for Oxygen Deficiency

     Step 9: Consider hazards that could require selection of specific respirator types. For example, select full-facepiece respirators to prevent eye irritation or abrasive blasting helmets to provide particle rebound protection.

     Step 10: Evaluate user and workplace factors that might compromise respirator performance, reliability or safety.

     • If the respiratory hazard is a pesticide, follow the requirements on the pesticide label and skip to Step 12.

     Examples:

     • High humidity or temperature extremes in the workplace.

     • Necessary voice communication.

     • High traffic areas and moving machinery.

     • Time or distance for escape.

     Step 11: Follow Table 6 requirements to select an air-purifying respirator.

     • If Table 6 requirements cannot be met, you must select an air-line respirator or an SCBA.

     Step 12: Make sure respirators you select are certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

     • To maintain certification, make sure the respirator is used according to cautions and limitations specified on the NIOSH approval label.

Note:

While selecting respirators, you will need to select a sufficient number of types, models or sizes to provide for fit testing. You can also consider other respirator use issues, such as accommodating facial hair with a loose fitting respirator.

     Use Table 5 to identify the assigned protection factor for different types of respirators.

Table 5

Assigned Protection Factors (APF) for Respirator Types

     Use Table 6 to select air-purifying respirators for particle, vapor, or gas contaminants.

Table 6

Requirements for Selecting Any Air-purifying Respirator

[]

     Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
NEW SECTION
WAC 296-842-140   Medical evaluations.  

     Your responsibility:

     To make sure a respirator used under your specific worksite conditions is not a health risk to employees.

Exemption:	This section does NOT apply to employees who only use:
	• Filtering-facepiece respirators voluntarily. See WAC 296-842-110 of this chapter for voluntary use requirements
	OR
	• Escape-only respirators that are mouthpiece, loose-fitting, or hooded respirators.

     IMPORTANT:

     • Using a respirator can create physical risks for an employee each time it is worn. The extent of these risks depends on these factors:

     • Type of respirator

     • Environmental conditions at the worksite

     • Physical demands of the work

     • Use of other protective clothing

     • Employee's health status.

[]

     IMPORTANT:

     If you have provided an employee with a medical evaluation addressing respirator use, as required by another chapter, that evaluation will meet the requirements of this section.

     You must:

     • Follow the medical evaluation process, Steps 1 through 7 in this section, to provide medical evaluations for employees at no cost to them.

     • Are required to use respirators

     OR

     • Voluntarily use respirators that are not filtering-facepiece respirators

Note:	You may use a previous employer's medical evaluation for an employee if you can:
	• Show the employee's previous work and use conditions were substantially similar to yours
	AND
	• Obtain a copy of the licensed health care professional's (LHCP's) written recommendation approving the employee's use of the respirator chosen by you.

     Step 2: Identify a licensed health care professional (LHCP) to perform your medical evaluations.

Note:

If you select a different LHCP, you do not need to have new medical evaluations done.

     Step 3: Make sure your LHCP has the following information before the evaluation is completed:

     • Information describing the respirators employees may use, including the weight and type.

     • How the respirators will be used, including:

     – How often the respirator will be used, for example, daily, or once a month

     – The duration of respirator use, for example, a minimum of one hour, or up to twelve hours

     – The employee's expected physical work effort

     – Additional personal protective clothing and equipment to be worn

     – Temperature and humidity extremes expected during use     • A copy of your written respiratory protection program and this chapter.

Note:	• You may choose to send the questionnaire to the LHCP ahead of time, giving time to review it and add any necessary questions
	• The LHCP determines what questions to add to the questionnaire, if any; however, questions in Parts 1-3 may not be deleted or substantially altered.

     Step 4: Administer the medical questionnaire in WAC 296-842-22005 to employees, OR provide them a medical exam that obtains the same information.

Note:

You may use on-line questionnaires if the questions are the same and requirements of this section are met.

     • Administer the examination or questionnaire at no cost to employees:

     – During the employee's normal working hours

     OR

     – At a time and place convenient to the employee

     • Maintain employee confidentiality during examination or questionnaire administration:

     – Do not view employee's answers on the questionnaire

     – Do not act in a manner that may be considered a breach of confidentiality

Note:

Providing confidentiality is important for securing successful medical evaluations. It helps make sure the LHCP gets complete and dependable answers on the questionnaire.

     • Make sure employees understand the content of the questionnaire.

     • Provide the employee with an opportunity to discuss the questionnaire or exam results with the LHCP.

     Step 5: Provide follow-up evaluation for employees when:

     • The LHCP needs more information to make a final recommendation

     OR

     • An employee gives any positive response to questions 1-8 in Part 2 OR to questions 1-6 in Part 3 of the WISHA medical evaluation questionnaire in WAC 296-842-22005.

Note:	Follow-up may include:
	• Employee consultation with the LHCP such as a telephone conversation to evaluate positive questionnaire responses
	• Medical exams
	• Medical tests or other diagnostic procedures.

     Step 6: Obtain a written recommendation from the LHCP that contains only the following medical information:

     • Whether or not the employee is medically able to use the respirator

     • Any limitations of respirator use for the employee

     • What future medical evaluations, if any, are needed

     • A statement that the employee has been provided a copy of the written recommendation.

     Step 7: Provide a powered, air-purifying respirator (PAPR) when the LHCP determines the employee should not wear a negative-pressure air-purifying respirator AND is able to wear a PAPR.

Reference:

See WAC 296-842-130 for requirements regarding selection of air-purifying respirators.

Note:	• You may discontinue medical evaluations for an employee when the employee no longer uses a respirator.
	• If you have staff conducting your medical evaluations, they may keep completed questionnaires and findings as confidential medical records, if they are maintained separately from other records.

     Use Table 7 to determine medical evaluation frequency.

Table 7

Evaluation Frequency

[]

     Your responsibility:

     To make sure negative and positive-pressure tight-fitting respirators can provide an adequate fit and acceptable level of comfort to employees.

Exemption:	This section does NOT apply to any respirators that are:
	• Voluntarily used. See WAC 296-842-110 for voluntary use requirements.
	• Mouthpiece respirators.

     IMPORTANT:

     • Fit testing is an activity where the seal of a respirator is tested to determine if it is adequate.

     • This section covers general requirements for fit testing. Fit testing procedures are covered in WAC 296-842-22010 of this chapter.

[]

     You must:

     • Provide, at no cost to the employee, fit-tests for ALL tight fitting respirators on the following schedule:

     – Before employees are assigned duties that may require the use of respirators

     – At least every twelve months after initial testing

     – Whenever any of the following occurs:

     &sqbul; A different respirator facepiece is chosen such as a different type, model, style, or size

     &sqbul; You become aware of a physical change in an employee that could affect respirator fit. For example, you may observe, or be told about, facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or obvious weight changes

     &sqbul; An employee notifies you, or your LHCP, that the respirator fit is unacceptable. During the retest, you must give an employee reasonable opportunity to select a different respirator facepiece (size, model, etc.).

Note:	You may accept a fit-test completed by a previous employer IF:
	• You obtain written documentation of the fit-test
	AND
	• The results of the fit-test are not more than twelve months old
	AND
	• The employee will use the same respirator (the same type, model, style, and size)
	AND
	• The fit test was conducted in a way that meets the requirements of WAC 296-842-150 and 296-842-22010.

     You must:

     • Select an appropriate fit-testing procedure from WAC 296-842-22010 of this chapter AND:

     – Use quantitative fit-test methods when a negative pressure respirator will be used in concentrations requiring a protection factor greater than 10. This includes:

     &sqbul; Full facepiece air-purifying respirators

     &sqbul; SCBAs operated in demand (negative pressure) mode

     &sqbul; Air-line respirators operated in demand mode.

     – Make sure PAPRs, SCBAs, or air-line respirators are fit tested in negative-pressure mode.

     • Make sure the person conducting fit testing is able to do ALL of the following:

     – Prepare test solutions if required

     – Make sure equipment works properly

     – Perform tests properly

     – Recognize invalid tests

     – Calculate fit factors properly if required.

Note:	• No specific training program or certification is required for those who conduct fit tests.
	• You should consider evaluating these individuals to determine their proficiency in the fit-testing method to be used.
	• You can use an evaluation form such as the form included in the American National Standard for Respirator Fit Testing Methods, ANSI/AIHA Z88.10-2001 to determine if the individual meets these requirements. Visit www.ansi.org or www.aiha.org.

[]

     Your responsibility:

     To make sure employees who are required to use respirators understand and can demonstrate proper respirator use and maintenance.

     IMPORTANT:

     This section applies to employees who voluntarily use respirators only when training is necessary to prevent the respirator from creating a hazard. See WAC 296-842-110 for voluntary use requirements.

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     You must:

     • Train employees, based on their duties, if they do any of the following:

     – Use respirators

     – Supervise respirator users

     – Issue, repair, or adjust respirators

     • Present effective training in a way that employees understand.

Note:	• Training may be provided using audiovisuals, slide presentations, formal classroom instruction, informal discussions during safety meetings, training programs conducted by outside sources, or a combination of these methods.
	• You may want to have instructors available when using video or automated training methods to:
	– Encourage and provide responses to questions for the benefit of employees
	– Evaluate employees' understanding of the material
	– Provide other instructional interaction to employees.

     You must:

     • Make sure a qualified instructor provides training

     • Provide training, at no cost to the employee, at these times:

     – Initially, before worksite respirator use begins

     – Periodically, within twelve months of the previous training

     – Additionally, when the following occur:

     &sqbul; The employee has not retained knowledge or skills

     OR

     &sqbul; Changes in the worksite, or type of respirator make previous training incomplete or obsolete.

Note:	• You may accept an employee's previous training, such as training provided by another employer, to satisfy the initial training requirement if:
	– You can demonstrate the employee received training within the past twelve months
	AND
	– The employee can demonstrate the knowledge and skills to use required respirators effectively.
	• If you accept an employee's previous training to satisfy the initial training requirement, you are still responsible for providing periodic, and additional training when needed. Periodic training would need to be provided within twelve months of the employee's previous training.

     You must:

     • Make sure employees can demonstrate the following knowledge and skills as required by their duties:

     – Why the respirator is necessary. Include, for example, information identifying respiratory hazards such as hazardous chemicals, the extent of the employee's exposure, and potential health effects and symptoms

     – The respirator's capabilities and limitations. Include, for example, how the respirator provides protection and why air-purifying respirators cannot be used in oxygen-deficient conditions

     – How improper fit, use, or maintenance can compromise the respirator's effectiveness and reliability

     – How to properly inspect, put on, seal check, use, and remove the respirator

     – How to clean, disinfect, repair, and store the respirator, or how to get this done by someone else

     – How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations; including what to do when a respirator fails and where emergency respirators are stored

     – Medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators such as shortness of breath or dizziness

     – The employer's general obligations under this chapter. For example, developing a written program, selecting appropriate respirators, and providing medical evaluations.

[]

     Your responsibility:

     To make sure respirators are maintained so they will function properly and not create health hazards such as skin irritation.

     You must:

     Maintain respirators in a clean and reliable condition

     WAC 296-842-17005

     Store respirators properly

     WAC 296-842-17010

     Inspect and repair respirators

     WAC 296-842-17015

     IMPORTANT:

     This section applies to employees who voluntarily use respirators only when maintenance is necessary to prevent the respirator from creating a hazard. See WAC 296-842-110 for voluntary use requirements.

[]

     You must:

     • Make sure respirators are kept, at no cost to the employee, clean, sanitary and in good working order. Do at least the following:

     – Clean and disinfect respirators as often as specified in Table 8 of this section.

Note:	• Use required cleaning and disinfecting procedures in WAC 296-842-22015, or the manufacturer's procedures that:
	– Result in a clean and sanitary respirator
	– Do not damage the respirator
	– Do not harm the user
	• Automated cleaning and disinfecting are permitted
	• Cleaning and disinfecting may be done by a central facility as long as you make sure respirators provided are clean, sanitary, and function properly.

     You must:

     – Make sure respirators are assembled properly after cleaning or disinfecting.

     Use Table 8 to determine how often to clean and disinfect respirators.

Table 8

Required Frequencies for Cleaning and Disinfecting Respirators

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     You must:

     • Store respirators to protect them from ALL of the following:

     – Deformation of the facepiece or exhalation valve

     – Sunlight or extreme temperatures or other conditions

     – Contamination such as dust or damaging chemicals

     – Excessive moisture.

Note:

Use coffee cans, sealable plastic bags, or other suitable means of protection.

     You must:

     • Follow these additional requirements for emergency respirators:

     – Keep respirators accessible to the work area

     – Store respirators in compartments or with covers clearly marked as containing emergency respirators

     – Follow additional storage instructions from the respirator manufacturer

     – Store an adequate number of emergency respirators in each area where they may be needed.

Note:

Emergency respirators include mouthpiece respirators and other respirators that are limited to escape-only use by their NIOSH certification.

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     You must:

     • Conduct respirator inspections as often as specified in Table 9.

     • Make sure respirator inspections cover all of the following:

     – Respirator function

     – Tightness of connections

     – The condition of the facepiece, head straps, valves, connecting tubes, and cartridge, canisters or filters

     – Pliability and deterioration of elastomeric parts

     – Maintenance of air or oxygen cylinders

     – Making sure SCBA air cylinders are at ninety percent of the manufacturer's recommended pressure level

     – Proper functioning of SCBA regulators when air-flow is activated

     – Proper functioning of SCBA low-pressure warning devices when activated

     • Certify inspections for emergency respirators by documenting the following:

     – Inspection date

     – Serial number of each respirator or other identifying information

     – Inspector's name or signature

     – Inspection findings

     – Required action, if problems are found.

Note:	• When documenting inspections you may either:
	– Provide the information on a tag or label and attach it to the respirator compartment
	OR
	– Include the information in an inspection report stored in paper or electronic files accessible to employees.

     You must:

     • Repair or replace any respirator that is not functioning properly before the employee returns to a situation where respirators are required.

     – If respirators fail inspection or are not functioning properly during use due to problems such as leakage, vapor or gas breakthrough, or increased breathing resistance, ALL of the following apply:

     &sqbul; Do NOT permit such respirators to be used until properly repaired or adjusted

     &sqbul; Use only NIOSH-certified parts

     &sqbul; Make sure repairs and adjustments are made by appropriately trained individuals

     – Use the manufacturer or a technician trained by the manufacturer to repair or adjust reducing and admission valves, regulators, and warning devices on SCBAs or air-line respirators.

     &sqbul; Follow the manufacturer's recommendations and specifications for the type and extent of repairs.

     Use Table 9 to determine how often to inspect respirators.

Table 9

Required Frequencies for Respirator Inspections

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     Your responsibility:

     To make sure respirator use and removal is safe.

Exemption:

These sections do NOT apply to employees who voluntarily use any type of respirator. See WAC 296-842-110 for voluntary use requirements.

     You must:

     Prevent sealing problems with tight-fitting respirators

     WAC 296-842-18005

     Make sure employees leave the use area before removing respirators

     WAC 296-842-18010.

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     You must:

     • Make sure employees use the procedure in WAC 296-842-22020 to perform a user seal check each time they put on their tight-fitting respirator.

     • Make sure you do NOT permit respirator use if employees have a characteristic that interferes with the respirator facepiece seal or valve function. For example, stubble, moustaches, sideburns, bangs, hairlines, or scars between the face and the sealing surface of the respirator will affect the seal.

     • Make sure corrective glasses or personal protective equipment (PPE) do NOT interfere with the facepiece seal. Examples of PPE include safety glasses, goggles, faceshields, clothing, and hard hats.

[]

     You must:

     • Make sure employees leave the use area for any of these reasons:

     – To replace air-purifying filters, cartridges, or canisters

     – When they smell or taste (detect) vapor or gas leakage from, for example, cartridges, canister, or the facepiece seal

     – When they detect changes in breathing resistance

     – To readjust their respirators

     – To wash their faces and respirators as necessary to prevent skin or eye irritation

     – If they become ill

     – If they experience sensations of dizziness, nausea, weakness, breathing difficulty, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, fever, or chills.

[]

     Your responsibility:

     To provide adequate assistance to employees using respirators in conditions immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).

[]

     IMPORTANT:

     WISHA currently uses the IDLH values in the 1990 NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards to determine the existence of IDLH conditions. You may use more recent editions of this guide. Visit www.cdc.gov/niosh for more information.

     You must:

     • Provide at least two standby employees outside the IDLH area.

Note:	You need only one standby employee if the IDLH condition is well characterized, will remain stable AND you can show one employee can adequately do ALL of the following:
	• Monitor employees in the IDLH area
	• Implement communication
	• Initiate rescue duties.

     • Train and equip standby employees to provide effective emergency rescue. Equip them with:

     – A pressure-demand SCBA or a pressure-demand air-line respirator with an auxiliary SCBA, for each standby employee

     – Appropriate retrieval equipment, when it would help with the effective rescue of the entrant, or an equivalent means of rescue

     • Make sure standby employees maintain visual, voice, or signal line communication with employees in the IDLH area

     • Make sure that in the event of an emergency:

     – Standby employees notify you or your designee before they enter the IDLH area to provide emergency rescue

     – You provide necessary assistance when notified.

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     Your responsibility:

     To provide employees who use SCBAs or air-line respirators with an acceptable air supply.

     You must:

     Make sure breathing air and oxygen meet established specifications

     WAC 296-842-20005

     Prevent conditions that could create a hazardous breathing air supply

     WAC 296-842-20010

     Make sure compressors do not create a hazardous breathing air supply

     WAC 296-842-20015.

[]

     You must:

     • Make sure that all SCBAs and air-line respirators are provided with safe breathing air and oxygen according to the following:

     – Compressed breathing air must meet the following specifications for Grade D air:

     &sqbul; Oxygen (volume/volume) within 19.5-23.5%

     &sqbul; Hydrocarbon (condensed): NO MORE than five milligrams per cubic meter of air

     &sqbul; Carbon monoxide (CO): NO MORE than ten parts per million (ppm)

     &sqbul; Carbon dioxide (CO2): NO MORE than 1,000 ppm

     &sqbul; No noticeable odor

Reference:

See the American National Standards Institute - Compressed Gas Association Commodity Specification for Air (G-7.1.1989) for more information. Contact your local library to access a copy.

     – Make sure the moisture content of the air supplied meets the following:

     &sqbul; Air supplied to respirators from cylinders must NOT exceed a dew point of -50°F (or -45.6°C) at 1 atmospheric pressure.

     &sqbul; Compressor supplied air must NOT exceed a dew point of 10°F (or 5.56°C) BELOW the use temperature at 1 atmospheric pressure.

     – Cylinders obtained from a supplier of breathing air must have a certificate of analysis that verifies each cylinder's contents meet Grade D and dew point standards.

     – Compressed and liquid oxygen must meet the United States Pharmacopoeia requirements for medical or breathing oxygen.

[]

     You must:

     • Use SCBA and air-line respirators safely:

     – Do NOT supply compressed oxygen to SCBAs or air-line respirators that previously used compressed air.

Note:

Compressed air leaves residues containing hydrocarbons such as oil or grease. Fire or explosion can occur if compressed oxygen makes contact with these residues.

     You must:

     – Use breathing air couplings on air-line respirators that are NOT compatible with couplings for nonrespirable air or other gas systems, for example, utility air used for manufacturing purposes.

     – Do NOT allow asphyxiating substances to enter breathing air lines; for example, do not flush nitrogen through worksite air lines also used for breathing air.

     – Use equipment specifically designed for oxygen service or distribution IF oxygen concentrations greater than 23.5% are used.

Note:

Respiratory equipment NOT designed for oxygen service or distribution can create fire or explosion hazards in oxygen concentrations higher than 23.5%.

     You must:

     – Make sure cylinders used to supply breathing air for SCBAs or air-line respirators are tested and maintained as described in the federal Department of Transportation's (DOT) Shipping Container Specification Regulations, Title 49 CFR Parts 173 and 178.

Note:	• Use only cylinders marked (with serial number, cylinder pressure, DOT exemption number, and test dates) according to these DOT regulations
	• To find any Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) visit: www.access.gpo.gov.

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     IMPORTANT:

     • Ambient-air movers (or pumps) used to supply air to respirators must be used according to the manufacturer's instructions.

     • Respirators used with ambient-air movers must be approved by NIOSH to operate within the pressure ranges of the air mover.

     You must:

     (1) Locate or modify compressor intakes so they will not pick up contaminated air OR exhaust gases such as carbon monoxide from:

     • Fuel-powered vehicles

     OR

     • The internal combustion motor of the compressor

     OR

     • Other contaminant sources in the area, for example, a ventilation system discharge.

Note:	• You may need to reposition or extend the compressor's intake or engine exhaust pipe or outlet, especially if they are located near each other.
	• Be aware that exhaust gases may not adequately disperse when the compressor is operated in:
	– An enclosed space such as a small room, a corner, or near a wall
	OR
	– In turbulent wind conditions.

     You must:

     (2) Equip compressors with suitable air-purifying filters, water traps, and sorbents (such as charcoal beds) and maintain them as follows:

     • Periodically change or clean them according to the manufacturer or supplier's instructions

     • Keep a tag at the compressor with the following information:

     – When the sorbent and filters were last replaced or cleaned

     – The date of the most recent changes or cleaning

     – The signature of the person authorized by the employer to perform changes or cleaning.

Note:

To be sure you are providing the recommended operating pressure for respirators, you may need to install a delivery pressure gauge at the point where the manifold where the respirator hose is attached.

     You must:

     (3) Make sure the carbon monoxide (CO) level in breathing air from compressors does NOT exceed ten parts per million (ppm).

Note:	If you do not have a reliable CO-free area available for locating your compressor intake, consider these examples of methods to prevent CO contamination of the air supply:
	• Use of continuous and effective carbon monoxide alarms and filters
	• Conduct frequent monitoring of air quality
	• Use a CO converter (converts CO to carbon dioxide).

     You must:

     • Maintain CO levels in oil lubricated compressors by using at least one of the following:

     – An effective CO alarm

     – An effective high temperature alarm AND testing the air supply often enough to see if CO levels exceed ten ppm.

Note:	• How often to test depends on a number of considerations, for example:
	– Compressor age
	– Maintenance history of the compressor
	– Stability of CO readings
	• If the CO or high temperature alarm cannot be heard by the employee, a flashing light or other effective alternative to an audio alarm needs to be used
	• Safeguards, such as alarms, are necessary to prevent CO contamination resulting from compressor overheating
	• Any type of oil-lubricated compressor, such as screw or piston types, may produce dangerous levels of CO if overheating occurs
	– Old compressors are known to leak oil due to worn parts, increasing the possibility for overheating. Newer compressors may also overheat if maintenance practices are poor. For example, poor maintenance practices may lead to disconnected or incorrectly set alarms, inoperative shut-offs, or an impaired cooling system
	• You need to instruct employees to move to a safe area when the alarm sounds AND to stop using respirators.

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     Your responsibility:

     To make sure employees, their supervisors, and program administrators can easily check for the correct air-purifying filters, cartridges, and canisters on respirators.

Exemption:

This section does NOT apply to filtering-facepiece respirators when used voluntarily. See WAC 296-842-110 for voluntary use requirements.

[]

     You must:

     • Make sure the NIOSH certification labeling and color-coding on air-purifying respirator filters, cartridges, and canisters remains readable and intact during use.

Link:

Color-coding specifications for manufacturers can be found in Title 42 CFR, Part 84. Visit www.cdc.gov/niosh.

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     Your responsibility:

     To use the procedures and questionnaire provided in this section when implementing your respiratory protection program.      You must:

     Use this medical questionnaire for medical evaluations

     WAC 296-842-22005

     Follow these fit-testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators

     WAC 296-842-22010

     Follow procedures established for cleaning and disinfecting respirators

     WAC 296-842-22015

     Follow procedures established for seal checking respirators

     WAC 296-842-22020.

[]

     You must:

     • Use the medical questionnaire in Table 10 when conducting medical evaluations.

Note:	• You may use a physical exam instead of this questionnaire if the exam covers the same information as the questionnaire.
	• You may use on-line questionnaires if the questions are the same and the requirements in WAC 296-842-140 of this chapter are met.
	• You may choose to send the questionnaire to the LCHP ahead of time, giving time to review it and add any necessary questions.
	• The LHCP determines what questions to add to the questionnaire, if any; however, questions in Parts 1-3 may not be deleted or substantially altered.

Table 10

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     IMPORTANT:

     • This section contains procedural requirements that apply during actual fit testing.

     • See WAC 296-842-150 of this chapter for fit-testing requirements that apply to your overall program.

Exemptions:	This section does NOT apply to employees who:
	• Voluntarily use respirators
	OR
	• Are required to use mouthpiece respirators.

     You must:

     • Conduct fit testing according to all of the following:

     – Follow the procedure in Table 11 to choose a respirator for fit testing:

     &sqbul; Prior to conducting fit tests

     AND

     &sqbul; Any time your employee must select a different respirator such as when a previously selected respirator fails a test

     – Select and follow at least one of the following fit test procedures:

     &sqbul; Qualitative fit-test procedures:

     ♦ Isoamyl acetate vapor (IAA, banana oil) in Table 12

     ♦ Saccharine aerosol in Table 13

     ♦ Bitrex™ aerosol in Table 14

     ♦ Irritant smoke in Table 15

     &sqbul; Quantitative fit-test procedures:

     ♦ Ambient aerosol condensation nuclei counter such as the Portacount™, in Table 16

     ♦ Controlled negative pressure (CNP) such as the FitTester 3000™, in Table 17

     ♦ Generated aerosol in Table 18

     – Make sure employees perform the appropriate fit test exercises listed in Table 19.

     – Clean and maintain equipment according to the manufacturer's instructions.

     – Make sure during fit testing employees wear any safety equipment that could:

     &sqbul; Interfere with respirator fit

     AND

     &sqbul; Be worn in the workplace. For example, chemical splash goggles.

     – Check, prior to fit testing, for conditions that may interfere with the respirator seal or valve functions. If you find such conditions, do NOT conduct fit testing for that individual.

Note:	Examples of conditions that may interfere with the respirator seal or valve functions include:
	• Moustache, stubble, sideburns, bangs, hairline, and other types of facial hair in areas where the respirator facepiece seals or that interfere with valve function
	• Temple bars of corrective eyewear or headgear that extend through the face seal area.

Table 11

Table 12

Table 13

Table 14

Table 15

Table 16

Table 17

Table 18

Table 19

[]

     You must:

     • Follow the procedure in Table 20 for cleaning and disinfecting respirators.

Table 20

Respirator Cleaning Procedure

[]

     Reviser's note: The brackets and enclosed material in the text of the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
NEW SECTION
WAC 296-842-22020   Follow procedures established for seal checking respirators.  

     IMPORTANT:

     • User seal checks are NOT a substitute for fit tests. See WAC 296-842-22010 for fit test procedures.

     • You may use a seal check procedure recommended by the respirator manufacturer INSTEAD of the procedure outlined in Table 21 if you can demonstrate the procedure is based on a scientific study that, for example, demonstrates the procedure effectively identifies respirators that fit poorly when put on or adjusted.

     You must:

     • Make sure employees perform a user seal check as outlined in Table 21, EACH TIME the respirator is worn, to make sure the seal is adequate.

Table 21

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     Air-purifying respirator (APR)

     A respirator equipped with an air-purifying element such as a filter, cartridge, or canister, OR having a filtering facepiece, for example, a dust mask.

     The element or filtering facepiece is designed to remove specific contaminants, such as particles, vapors, or gases, from air that passes through it.

     Air-line respirator

     An atmosphere-supplying respirator for which breathing air is drawn from a source separate from and not worn by the user, such as:

     • A cylinder or a tank

     • A compressor

     • An uncontaminated environment.

     Air supplied respirator (see air-line respirator)

     Assigned protection factor (APF)

     Indicates the expected level of workplace respiratory protection WHEN the respirator is:

     • Functioning properly

     AND

     • Fitted to the user

     AND

     • Worn by trained individuals

     AND

     • Used with the limitations specified on the NIOSH approval label.

     Atmosphere-supplying respirator

     A respirator that supplies the user with breathing air from sources, such as:

     • A cylinder or a tank

     • A compressor

     • An uncontaminated environment.

     Breathing air

     Air supplied to an atmosphere-supplying respirator. This air meets the specifications found in WAC 296-842-200.

     Canister or cartridge (air-purifying)

     Part of an air-purifying respirator that consists of a container holding materials such as fiber, treated charcoal, or a combination of the two, that removes contaminants from the air passing through the cartridge or canister.

     Cartridge respirator (see also air-purifying respirator)

     An air-purifying respirator equipped with one or more cartridges. These respirators have a facepiece made from silicone, rubber OR other plastic-like materials.

     Demand respirator

     An atmosphere-supplying respirator that sends breathing air to the facepiece only when suction (negative pressure) is created inside the facepiece by inhalation. Demand respirators are "negative pressure" respirators.

     Dust mask

     A name used to refer to filtering-facepiece respirators. Dust masks may or may not be NIOSH certified. See filtering facepiece.

     Emergency respirator

     Respirators suitable for rescue, escape, or other activities during emergency situations.

     Emergency situation

     Any occurrence that could OR does result in a significant uncontrolled release of an airborne contaminant. Causes of emergency situations include, but are not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment.

     End-of-service-life indicator (ESLI)

     A system that warns the air-purifying respirator user that cartridges or canisters must be changed. An example of an ESLI is a dot on the respirator cartridge that changes color.

     Escape-only respirator

     A respirator that can only be used to exit during emergencies. Look for this use limitation on the respirator's NIOSH approval label.

     Exposed, or exposure

     The contact an employee has with a toxic substance, harmful physical agent, or oxygen deficient condition. Exposure can occur through various routes of entry, such as inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, or skin absorption.

     Filter

     Fibrous material that removes dust, spray, mist, fume, fog, smoke particles, OR other aerosols from the air.

     Filtering-facepiece respirator

     A tight-fitting, half-facepiece, negative-pressure, particulate air-purifying respirator with the facepiece MAINLY composed of filter material. These respirators do not use cartridges or canisters and may have sealing surfaces composed of rubber, silicone or other plastic-like materials. They are sometimes referred to as "dust masks."

     Fit factor

     A number providing an estimate of fit for a particular respiratory inlet covering to a specific individual during quantitative fit testing.

     Fit test (see also qualitative fit test and quantitative fit test)

     Fit testing is an activity where the facepiece seal of a respirator is challenged, using a WISHA accepted procedure, to determine if the respirator provides an adequate seal.

     Full-facepiece respirator

     A tight-fitting respirator that covers the wearer's nose, mouth, and eyes.

     Gas mask

     An air-purifying respirator equipped with one or more canisters. These respirators have a facepiece made from silicone, rubber OR other plastic-like materials.

     Half-facepiece respirator

     A tight-fitting respirator that only covers the wearer's nose and mouth.

     Helmet

     The rigid part of a respirator that covers the wearer's head AND also provides head protection against impact or penetration.

     High-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA)

     A powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) filter that removes at least 99.97% of monodisperse dioctyl phthalate (DOP) particles with a mean particle diameter of 0.3 micrometer from contaminated air.

Note:

Filters designated, under 42 CFR Part 84, as an "N100," "R100," or "P100" provide the same filter efficiency (99.97%) as HEPA filters.

     Hood

     The part of a respirator that completely covers the wearer's head and neck AND may also cover some or all of the shoulders and torso.

     Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH)

     An atmospheric condition that would:

     • Cause an immediate threat to life

     OR

     • Cause permanent or delayed adverse health effects

     OR

     • Interfere with an employee's ability to escape.

     Licensed health care professional (LHCP)

     An individual whose legally permitted scope of medical practice allows him or her to provide SOME OR ALL of the health care services required for respirator users' medical evaluations.

     Loose-fitting facepiece

     A respiratory inlet covering that is designed to form a partial seal with the face.

     Negative-pressure respirator

     Any tight-fitting respirator in which the air pressure inside the facepiece is less than the air pressure outside the respirator during inhalation.

     NIOSH

     The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH is the federal agency that certifies respirators for occupational use.

     Oxygen deficient

     An atmosphere with an oxygen content below 19.5% by volume.

     Permissible exposure limit (PEL)

     Permissible exposure limits (PELs) are employee exposures to toxic substances or harmful agents that must not be exceeded. PELs are specified in applicable WISHA chapters.

     Positive-pressure respirator

     A respirator in which the air pressure inside the respiratory-inlet covering is greater than the air pressure outside the respirator.

     Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs)

     An air-purifying respirator equipped with a blower that draws ambient air through cartridges or canisters. These respirators, as a group, are NOT classified as positive pressure respirators and must not be used as such.

     Pressure-demand respirator

     A positive-pressure atmosphere-supplying respirator that sends breathing air to the respiratory inlet covering when the positive pressure is reduced inside the facepiece by inhalation or leakage.

     Qualitative fit test (QLFT)

     A test that determines the adequacy of respirator fit for an individual. The test relies on the employee's ability to detect a test substance. Test results are either "pass" or "fail."

     Quantitative fit test (QNFT)

     A test that determines the adequacy of respirator fit for an individual. The test relies on specialized equipment that performs numeric measurements of leakage into the respiratory inlet covering. Test results are used to calculate a "fit factor."

     Respiratory hazard

     Harmful airborne hazards and oxygen deficiency that are addressed in chapter 296-841 WAC, Respiratory hazards.

     Required use

     Respirator use:

     • That is necessary to protect employees from respiratory hazards

     OR

     • That the employer decides to require for his or her own reasons. For example, the employer decides to follow more rigorous exposure limits

     Respirator

     A type of personal protective equipment designed to protect the wearer from harmful airborne hazards, oxygen deficiency, or both.

     Respiratory inlet covering

     The part of a respirator that forms the protective barrier between the user's respiratory tract and an air-purifying device or breathing air source or both. The respiratory inlet covering may be a facepiece, helmet, hood, suit, or mouthpiece respirator with nose clamp.

     Seal check

     Actions conducted by the respirator user each time the respirator is put on, to determine if the respirator is properly seated on the face.

     Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)

     An atmosphere-supplying respirator designed for the breathing air source, to be carried by the user.

     Service-life

     The period of time that a respirator, filter or sorbent, or other respiratory equipment provides adequate protection to the wearer. For example, the period of time that sorbent cartridge is effective for removing a harmful substance from the air.

     Sorbent

     Rigid, porous material, such as charcoal, used to remove vapor or gas from the air.

     Supplied-air respirator (see air-line respirator)

     Tight-fitting facepiece

     A respiratory inlet covering forming a complete seal with the face OR neck. Mouthpiece respirators are not tight-fitting facepieces.

     Voluntary use

     Respirator use that is requested by the employee AND permitted by the employer when NO respiratory hazard exists.

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