Environmental Health & Safety
Respiratory Protection Program
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V. PROCEDURES
Proper respiratory protection selection is made based on a hazard assessment of potential exposure of employees to harmful concentrations of air-borne contaminants in the workplace. This evaluation will be performed prior to the start of any routine or non-routine tasks requiring respirators. It is the responsibility of EHS Occupational Safety and Laboratory Safety units to ensure the hazards are assessed, once contacted by management or an RPC. The following items shall be considered in the selection of respirators:
- Feasibility of engineering or administrative controls in lieu of PPE
- Estimated maximum concentration of the substance in the work area
- General environment and ventilation (open shop or confined space, etc.)
- Known limitations of the respiratory protective device
- Comfort, fit, and worker acceptance
- The task to be performed, including the anticipated workload
- Other contaminants in the environment
- Potential for oxygen deficiency
- Other PPE that may be required
- Verification of the respirator’s NIOSH certification for its intended use
- Effectiveness of the device against the substance of concern
Assigned Protection Factors (APFs) for Respirators
APFs is the level of protection that a respirator can be expected to provide if it is functioning properly and the user is wearing it correctly. The APF is the ratio of the contaminant concentration outside the respirator to the contaminant concentration inside the respirator. The APF table below is provided as a guide in the selection of air purifying, powered air-purifying, supplied air (or airline respirator), and self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) respirators.
Type of Respirator |
Quarter Mask |
Half Mask |
Full Face piece |
Helmet/Hood |
Loose-Fitting Facepiece |
Air-purifying respirator |
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Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) |
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Supplied-Air Respirator (SAR) or Airline Respirator |
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Ø Demand Mode |
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Ø Continuous flow mode |
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Ø" Pressure-demand or other posititive pressure mode |
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Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)1 |
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Ø Demand Mode |
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Ø Pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode (e.g., open/closed circuit) |
Notes:
1 UR does not use any SCBAs
Conditions which are Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health
Some circumstances may arise where it is not possible to accurately identify or estimate potential exposures. If this should occur, the task or area shall be considered Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH). Oxygen deficient atmospheres shall also be considered IDLH. Because auxiliary self-contained air supplies are not provided, the University's airline respirators must not be used in IDLH conditions.
UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ENTER IDLH ATMOSPHERES
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This page last updated 2/3/2022. Disclaimer.
