When University employees are exposed or potentially exposed to hazardous air contaminants, the primary method of protection is through use of accepted engineering methods such as local exhaust ventilation, elimination of the hazardous substance, or isolating the contaminant process. However, when these control methods are infeasible, or if they fail to reduce the exposure to acceptable levels, respirators will be provided to and worn by employees.
Respirators are personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to cover the nose and mouth and work by removing air contaminants, or by providing clean air to the user. Proper use of a respirator is essential to the health of the user.
Health, Safety, and Risk Management (HSRM) is responsible for the written RPP to ensure it is up-to-date and effective. Supervisors and respirator users must refer to the written program for information about their responsibilities.
Preparation for Using a Respirator
Hazard Assessment
In a hazard assessment, HSRM staff will identify the contaminant properties and evaluate the potential exposure against regulatory personal exposure limits (PELS), or threshold limit values (TLVs). Staff will then determine if an exposure is at the level that may cause harm. To learn more about PELS and TLVs, see the OSHA Annotated Table and MNOSHA PEL. When levels do not exceed PELS or TLV, voluntary use may be recommended to reduce nuisance exposures. When levels are exceeded or likely to be exceeded, respirator use is mandatory.
Contact HSRM for assistance at [email protected] or (612) 626-6002.
Respirators and Cartridge Selection
Each respirator must be selected to provide a level of protection necessary for health and safety. In addition, when respirator use is mandatory, the respirator must be approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Information about the different types of respirators and their assigned protection factors is available in the OSHA Assigned Protections Factors for the Revised Respiratory Protection Standard.
Chemical cartridges do not last forever. If the cartridge does not have an End-of-Service-Life Indicator (ESLI), then a change-out schedule must be developed and followed. Cartridge service life is based upon environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and the amount of physical effort required during the work task.
Contact HSRM for assistance at [email protected] or (612) 626-6002.
Mandatory and Voluntary Respirator Use Requirements
Mandatory and voluntary use of respirators both require that employees complete specific steps to comply with the University Respiratory Protection Program. Select the option that applies to the respirator use and follow the instructions listed within.
Resources for Supervisors and Employees
Health, Safety & Risk Management uses a software (Cority) to enroll employees into the Respiratory Protection Program. This enables the University to track the OSHA requirements for each user, send reminders to the user, and facilitate user access to required medical services. Supervisors can contact HSRM at [email protected] or (612) 626-6002 to receive automated reporting that summarizes department/unit user requirements, completion dates, and due dates.
Additional resources available to employees are:
- Respiratory Protection Program Enrollment Survey: this tool can be used to enroll in the program, complete requirements, or update enrollment information
- Occupational Health Portal: a resource that employees can log-into to see their respiratory protection program requirements