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THE ORCBS > Occupational Safety > Programs & Guidelines > Respiratory Protection > Respiratory Protection Program >
 RESPIRATOR
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS - SPECIAL PROBLEMS
1. Vision
When a respirator
user must wear corrective lenses, a protective spectacle or goggle,
a face shield, a welding helmet, or other eye and face protective
device, the item shall be fitted to provide good vision and shall
be worn in such a manner as to not interfere with the seal between
the respirator and the wearer.
Temple bars
or straps of a corrective spectacle which pass between the sealing
surface of a full facepiece respirator and the face may prevent
a good seal and therefore such a spectacle shall not be worn with
a full facepiece respirator. Special corrective lenses, which
are made to be mounted inside a full facepiece, are available
and should be used by a person who needs corrective lenses.
2. Communications
Speech transmission
while wearing a respirator is often necessary to perform specific
tasks. Although a respirator facepiece distorts the human voice
to some extent, the respirator's exhalation valve usually provides
a pathway for some speech transmission over short distances in
relatively quiet areas. However, talking while wearing a respirator
equipped with a facepiece may adversely affect the seal of the
facepiece, especially a quarter-mask or half-mask facepiece.
3. Immediately
Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) Atmospheres
An IDLH atmosphere
is one that is oxygen deficient or contains excessive concentrations
of a contaminant, including concentrations of a substance above
the lower flammable limits. Under no circumstances should air
purifying respirators be used in an IDLH atmosphere. When respirators
are required for entry into IDLH atmospheres, an supplied air
respirator shall be used, and at least one standby person shall
be present in a safe area. The standby person shall have the proper
equipment available to assist the respirator wearers in case of
emergency. Communications (visual, voice, signal-line, telephone,
radio, or other suitable means) shall be maintained between the
standby person and the respirator wearers. Respirator wearers
in IDLH atmospheres shall be equipped with a safety harness and
a safety line to permit them to be removed to a safe area in case
of an emergency.
4. Confined
Spaces
All confined
spaces shall be entered in accordance with the MSU Confined Space
Program.
5. Low-Temperature
Environments
A low-temperature
environment may cause fogging of the lens in a respiratory-inlet
covering and freezing or improper sealing of the exhalation valve.
Coating the inside surface of the lens may prevent fogging at
low atmospheric temperatures approaching 32 °F, but severe fogging
of the lens may occur at temperatures below 0 °F. Full facepieces
are available with nose cups that direct the warm and moist air
through the exhalation valve without contacting the lens, and
these facepieces should provide satisfactory vision at temperatures
as low as -25 °F. At very low atmospheric temperatures, the exhalation
valve of a respirator may freeze open or closed due to the presence
of moisture. Dry respirable air should be used with an airline
respirator and with the type of self-contained breathing apparatus
that employs a cylinder of air when these devices are used in
low-temperature atmospheres.
6. High-Temperature
Environments
A person working
in a high temperature environment is under stress due to the heat.
Wearing a respirator in such an environment applies additional
stress, which can be minimized by using a respirator having a
low weight and a low resistance to breathing. The air-line-type
supply-air respirator is recommended for use in a high-temperature
environment.
Evaluation of Respirator Program Effectiveness
Respiratory Protection Program
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