Respiratory Protection Program

Purpose

This program has been developed for the protection of all District employees who wear the types of respirators used by the District and shall identify the proper procedures for conducting a Qualitative Respirator Fit Test. The program shall include all of the following disciplines.

  1. Procedures used for evaluating the hazard and selecting the appropriate respirator.
  2. Medical evaluations of those personnel who use respirators.
  3. A method and procedure for fit testing members to use respirators.
  4. Procedure for the appropriate use of respirators.
  5. A method for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, maintaining and retiring from service respirators used by the department.
  6. How the department will insure that air quality meets the standard for Type 1 Grade D breathing air.
  7. Procedures to keep respirators in serviceable condition meeting NIOSH certification.
  8. The content of the training program for personnel utilizing respirators, covering the limitation, how to don, how to doff, and how to care for the respirator.
  9. Procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of the “respiratory protection program”.
  10. Record keeping to establish and retain written information regarding the medical evaluations, fit testing, and the respiratory program.
  11. Glossary of Terms.

Scope

This SOP shall be applicable to all District personnel.

Responsibility

It shall be the responsibility of all District personnel to ensure that the intent of this order be followed.

Procedure

A. PROCEDURE FOR EVALUATING THE HAZARD AND SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE RESPIRATOR

All respirators used by Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District shall meet NIOSH certification requirements. Selection of the proper respirator shall be based on the respiratory hazard, and factors that affect respirator performance and reliability.

When encountering an immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) atmosphere, all District personnel shall utilize Positive Pressure Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

The use of positive pressure respirators may be downgraded when the Incident Commander determines through the use of air monitoring that the decreased level of respiratory protection will not result in hazardous inhalation exposures to personnel. This action is allowed by the HAZWOPER standard (29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(iv) and will meet the requirements of this respiratory program.

Respirators selected for atmospheres that are not IDLH shall be adequate to protect the health of the employee and insure compliance with all other OSHA requirements. The respirator selected shall be appropriate for the chemical state and physical form of the contaminant.

This shall include the MSA Air Purifying Respirator, the MSA Ultra Lite, and Ultra Lite II facepieces when used with NIOSH approved cartridges.

B. MEDICAL EVALUATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES WHO USE RESPIRATORS

All District employees who wear respirators shall have a medical evaluation to determine their ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested, or when required to use the respirator. District employees whose job responsibilities do not require them to wear a respirator are not required to be medically evaluated for respirator use.

The District shall select a physician or a licensed health care professional (PLHCP) to perform medical evaluations using a medical questionnaire or an initial medical examination that obtains the same information as the medical questionnaire. The medical evaluation shall obtain the information requested in Part A, Sections 1 and 2, of the questionnaire. (See Appendix A “Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire).

A follow up medical examination shall be provided for any person giving a positive response to any question among questions 1 through 8 in Section 2, Part A of the respirator medical evaluation questionnaire or whose initial medical examination demonstrates the need for a follow up medical examination.

The medical evaluation and questionnaire shall be administered confidentially during the employee’s normal working hours or at a time and place convenient to the employee. If the respirator is a negative pressure, (APR) and the PLHCP finds a medical condition that may place the employee’s health at increased risk if the respirator is used, the employee shall not use the negative pressure respirator.

Additional medical requirements shall be provided in the following situations:

  1. An employee reports medical signs or symptoms related to the ability to use a respirator.
  2. A PLHCP, supervisor, or the Respiratory Protection Officer (RPO) informs the employer that the employee needs to be reevaluated.
  3. Information from the respirator program, including observations made during fit testing and program evaluation, indicates a need for the employee reevaluation.
  4. A change occurs in the workplace.
C. FIT TESTING PROCEDURES FOR SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (SCBA)

These procedures are to insure that a proper Qualitative Respirator fit test is performed at least annually on every individual who wears a SCBA. The forms for fit testing are included as Appendix B of this policy.

Selection and fit:

  1. The person being tested shall be allowed to pick the face piece or respirator that fits them. After the employee passes the fit testing for his/her facepiece, the employee shall only use a facepiece from another District fire apparatus that is the same size and type as theirs.
  2. Prior to the selection process, the person shall be shown how to put the face piece or respirator on, including how to position it on their face, proper strap tension, and how to determine an acceptable fit.
  3. If the person is not familiar with using a particular face piece, they shall be directed to don the face piece several times to become familiar with it.
  4. The assessment of comfort shall include a review of the following points with the person being tested and allowing the person adequate time to determine the comfort of the face piece.
    • Position of the face piece
    • Room for eye wear if available
    • Room to talk
    • Position of face piece on face and cheek
  5. The following criteria shall be used to help determine the adequacy of the face piece fit.
    • Chin properly placed
    • Adequate strap tension, not overly tightened
    • Fit across nose bridge
    • Face piece of proper size to span distance from nose to chin
    • Tendency of respirator to slip
  6. The person shall conduct a user seal check of the face piece. This shall be conducted as recommended by the manufacturer of the self contained breathing apparatus being used.
  7. The test shall not be conducted if there is any hair growth between the skin and the face piece sealing surface, such as stubble beard growth, beard, mustache or sideburns which cross the face piece sealing surface.
  8. Any type of apparel which interferes with a satisfactory fit shall be altered or removed.
  9. If a person exhibits difficulty in breathing during the tests, they shall be referred to a physician or other licensed health care professional, as appropriated, to determine whether the person can wear SCBA while performing their duties, or the person shall be restricted from wearing a SCBA.
  10. If the person finds the fit of the face piece unacceptable, the person shall be given the opportunity to select a different face piece and be retested.
  11. Prior to the commencement of the fit test, the person shall be given a description of the fit test person’s responsibilities during the test procedure, which shall include a description of the test exercise that will be used during the fit test.

Test Exercise Using Bitrex Fit Test Procedure:

  1. The following test exercises shall be performed on each person that does a fit test:
    • Sensitivity Check Using the Bitrex Solution - The test operator shall advise the person that the Bitrex solution will cause a sweet taste in the mouth. The person shall be allowed to smell the solution in the sensitivity test, so that they might recognize its properties during the actual fit test.
    • Initial Check with Bitrex Solution with Respirator on - The test operator shall have the subject don the face mask and pull the hood over and around the surrounding areas of their head. The operator shall then squeeze the Bitrex bulb into the hood as many times as was necessary for them to identify its properties in the sensitivity test.
    • Normal Breathing - In a normal standing position, without talking, the person shall breathe normally.
    • Deep Breathing - In a normal standing position, the person shall breathe slowly and deeply, taking caution so as not to hyperventilate.
    • Turning Head Side to Side - Standing in place, the person shall slowly turn their head from side to side between the extreme positions on each side. The head shall be held at each extreme momentarily so the person can inhale at each side.
    • Moving Head Up and Down - Standing in place the person shall slowly move their head up and down. The person shall be instructed to inhale in the up position.
    • Talking - The person shall talk out loud slowly and loud enough so as to be heard clearly by the test conductor. The person shall recite the Rainbow Passage.
    • Grimace - The person shall grimace by smiling or frowning.
    • Bending Over - The person shall bend at the waist as if they were to touch their toes.
    • Normal Breathing - Same as the first exercise.
    • Re-check Sensitivity Using Bitrex Solution - Each person passing the Bitrex solution test without evidence of a response shall be given a second sensitivity test. The aerosol bulb and solution shall be used in the same manner as the first with the respirator off. If there is no recognition of the solutions presence then the person shall fail the test and need to retake it.
  2. If the above test are passed and a response is produced during the second sensitivity check, then the fit test is passed.
  3. Each exercise shall be performed for one minute, except for the grimace exercise which shall be performed for 15 seconds. The person shall be questioned by the test conductor regarding the comfort of the face piece or mask upon completion of the test.

Any adjustment of the face piece or mask during the fit test voids the test, and the test must be repeated.

D. USE OF RESPIRATORS
  • All respirators used by the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District are NIOSH approved.
  • The duration and frequency of use depends on the type of incident. The expected physical work effort also varies with the type of incident. When the incident dictates using a respirator, the work effort may be heavy at times and the duration of work may be 20 minutes or more without relief. Temperature and humidity varies with the seasons. Depending on the incident, temperatures could soar to above 500 degrees, (interior structure firefighting operations), and in winter, the temperatures could be below zero, (exterior firefighting and, Hazardous Materials operations).
  • Respirators shall not be worn:
    1. When facial hair comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or interferes with the valve function.
    2. Any condition that interferes with the face to facepiece seal or valve function including:
      • Corrective glasses or goggles or other personal protective equipment.
      • All said equipment shall be worn in the proper manner that does not interfere with the proper seal of the facepiece to the face of the user.
  • All District personnel shall be aware of any change in conditions that may decrease the effectiveness or cause failure of the respirator. If the employee detects vapor or gas breakthrough, changes on breathing resistance, or leakage of the facepiece, the employee must report this immediately to their supervisor. If the employee is operating in an IDLH atmosphere the employee must immediately leave the IDLH atmosphere.
  • For IDLH atmospheres the District shall insure that:
    1. One employee or, when needed, more than one employee is located outside the IDLH atmosphere.
    2. Visual, voice, or signal line communication is maintained between the personnel in the IDLH atmosphere and those outside the IDLH atmosphere.
    3. Personnel outside the IDLH atmosphere shall be trained and equipped to effect emergency rescue.
    4. The Incident Commander is notified that personnel are ready to enter the IDLH atmosphere to provide emergency rescue.
    5. The Incident Commander once notified provides the necessary assistance for the rescue situation.
    6. Personnel outside the IDLH atmosphere are equipped with or have immediate access to:
      • Positive pressure SCBA’s.
      • The proper retrieval equipment. When retrieval equipment is required for rescue it must not increase the overall risk resulting from entry.
  • Procedures for structural firefighting:
    1. The Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District shall have no fewer than four (4) fully equipped and trained firefighters on scene prior to initiating interior operations that involve an unknown, potential, or actual IDLH atmosphere.
    2. Firefighters outside the IDLH atmosphere may be assigned an additional role as long as the firefighters are able to perform assistance or rescue activities without jeopardizing the safety or health of any firefighter working at the incident.
    3. The Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District identifies an IDLH atmosphere related to structure fires as any fire which is beyond the ignition stage which cannot be controlled by portable fire extinguishers, class II standpipes or small hose systems without the need for proper PPE and breathing apparatus.
E. MAINTENANCE AND CARE OF RESPIRATORS
  • It is the policy of Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District that all personnel who respond and function in areas of IDLH and non-IDLH atmospheres shall be equipped with the proper type of respirator for that incident. All personnel shall have prior training in the use, care, inspection, and maintenance of the respirator.
  • All personnel using respirators shall strictly follow the Manufacturers Recommendations for care, inspection, and maintenance. A copy of these recommendations shall be posted at all fire stations where respirators are kept and maintained.
  • Attached are the manufacturers recommendations for all respirators used by the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District.
  • Inspection after use - Immediately after use, each device must be inspected for cylinder pressure; face piece and breathing tube wear and cracking, including the exhalation valve and other parts for damage. Then the apparatus is cleaned, disinfected, checked again by sight and sound for normal operation, and is stored in a ready position. After the inspection is completed the date and the initials of the person doing the inspection shall be entered on the inspection tag.
  • Monthly Inspection - This inspection is done as part of the apparatus monthly maintenance. The proper entries shall be made on the records.
F. BREATHING AIR QUALITY AND USE
  • This section is to insure that the compressed breathing air used by District personnel shall meet at least the minimum requirement of GRADE D breathing air described in ANSI/Compressed Gas Association Commodity Specification for Air, G7-1-1989.
  • All District personnel shall be trained at least annually in the proper procedures for the safe operation, care, and maintenance of the COMPAIR MAKO breathing air compressor. This training shall also include the care and use of the ECOLYZER 4000 Carbon Monoxide Analyzer attached to the air compressor.
  • The COMPAIR MAKO breathing air compressor, Model #MKIC comes with the manufacture’s recommendations for the care and maintenance of the compressor. There are also specific safety and filling instructions for the compressed air cylinders used by Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District. These recommendations shall be strictly followed to insure the safety of all personnel and the quality of breathing air. Quarterly and yearly maintenance records for monitoring air quality, filter changes, hydro testing, etc. shall be completed and kept at Station 81 in the Maintenance Officers office. A tag containing the date and signature of persons who changed the filters shall be maintained at the compressor.
G. SERVICING RESPIRATORS
  • Only Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District certified respirator technicians shall service broken or damaged respirators. Respirators that are damaged must be tagged as damaged and taken out of service until repaired. The tag must contain the name of the employee who reported the damage, the date, time, and type of damage sustained to the respirator. Respirators that cannot be repaired by District certified technicians shall be sent to the manufacturer for repairs. Respirators that cannot be repaired shall be destroyed.
H. TRAINING AND INFORMATION
  • Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District has designated the Respiratory Protection Officer as the Training Division Chief who will be responsible for managing the respiratory program.
  • All District personnel will be provided annual training covering the limitations, how to don, how to doff, and caring for respirators. The training program will incorporate the MSA MMR SCBA. The training will be in accordance with District Task Performance Standards Section 1 (see appendix C). Other training will be given to identify the respiratory hazards and respirator use limitations as identified in IFSTA, Essentials of Firefighting, 4th Edition, Chapter 4. Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District has adopted IFSTA as part of it’s firefighting training curriculum.
  • The training will be given every January before the annual fit testing and physicals take place.
  • When new respirators are purchased, re-training shall be given to all personnel using respirators and the training shall be documented.
  • All District personnel shall demonstrate at least annually, their ability to don and doff personal protective equipment. The demonstration shall be recorded on the “Personal Protective Equipment Record” and kept in each employees training file until the next testing date. (see appendix D)
I. EVALUATING THE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM
  • Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District shall conduct annual, or when needed, evaluations of the written respiratory protection program to insure it is being properly implemented, and to consult employees to insure that they are using the respirators properly.
  • Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District shall consult with its employees who use respirators to assess the employee’s views on program effectiveness and identify any problems. Any problems that are identified shall be corrected.
J. RECORD KEEPING
  • Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District shall establish and maintain written information regarding medical evaluations, fit testing, and the respirator program
    1. Medical evaluation records shall be kept in each employee’s personnel file and shall be maintained by the Fire chief of the District in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.
    2. Fit testing records shall be retained for respirator users until the next fit test is administered.
    3. A written copy of the respiratory protection program shall be placed and maintained at each fire station and in each division office of the District.

REFER TO OAR 437 1991.134 FOR REFERENCE TO ANY PART OF THIS RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM. A COPY OF THE OREGON STATE RULES ON RESPIRATORY PROTECTION SHALL ACCOMPANY THE Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM IN EVERY STATION AND DIVISION OFFICE.

Violation of this policy is subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination covered in the disciplinary action SOG.