Environmental Health & Safety
Respiratory Protection Program
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Training
In order to provide adequate protection, employees must be trained on the proper use and care of respiratory protective equipment. This training shall be given before initial use and at least annually thereafter and shall include the following points:
- Why the respirator is necessary
- How improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator
- The limitations and capabilities of the respirator
- How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the respirator malfunctions
- How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator
- Procedures for maintenance and storage of the respirator
- How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators
- The general requirements of this section.
Training and tests are administered via MyPath. Employees are required to take the training prior to their appointment with UHS or SMH Employee Health.
Employees shall be re-trained at least annually, whenever there are changes in the workplace or task that make previous training obsolete, if it becomes apparent that the employee’s knowledge of respiratory protection is inadequate, and when any other situation arises that indicates a need for retraining.
When training has been completed via MyPath, UHS or SMH Employee Health shall require documentation of training completion prior to conducting fit testing.
Research and Clinical laboratory personnel receive basic annual respirator training as part of their mandatory annual lab safety training. Individual departments are required to provide annual site- and/or task-specific training to their personnel.
Annual training for the Spill Response Team, Pest Control, Asbestos Control and the Hazardous Waste Management Unit is conducted through MyPath Training; training records for these personnel are maintained by EH&S.
UHS, SMH Employee Health and EH&S retain written information regarding medical evaluations, fit testing, and the University of Rochester Respiratory Protection Program.
Records of medical evaluations are retained by SMH Employee Health and UHS and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.
Established records of the qualitative and quantitative fit tests are retained by UHS, SMH Employee Health and EH&S and include:
- The name or identification of the employee tested;
- Type of fit test performed;
- Specific make, model, style and size of respirator tested;
- Date of test;
- The pass/fail results for QLFTs or the fit factor and strip chart recording or other recording of the test results for QNFTs
These records are retained for respirator users until the next fit test is administered.
EH&S maintains annual fit test records for the Spill Response Team, Pest Control, Asbestos Control, and the Environmental Compliance Unit.
Respiratory Protection Program Audit and Evaluation
OSHA requires that employers conduct evaluations of the workplace as necessary to ensure proper implementation of the program and consult with employees to ensure proper use.
Respiratory Protection Program Coordinators shall work with EH&S to conduct annual audits of the University's Respiratory Protection Program. The primary tool used to evaluate the program is the Respiratory Protection Program Evaluation Form, found in Appendix B of this document.
QUESTIONS or COMMENTS?
Contact EH&S at (585) 275-3241 or e-mail Questions.
This page last updated 2/3/2021. Disclaimer.
