Respiratory Protection

Self-Inspection Checklist

Guidelines

This checklist applies to the use of either atmosphere-supplying or air-purifying respirators being worn, voluntarily or otherwise, for comfort or to protect health. The checklist is divided into three sections. “Section One” should be used if filtering facepiece (dust mask) respirators are voluntarily used. “Section Two” should be used if respirators other than dust masks are voluntarily used. “Section Three” should be used if respirators are required to protect individuals from exposure to air contaminants above applicable limits. This checklist does not deal with respirators for immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) atmospheres, for agricultural use, or for emergency escape. Definitions of underlined terms are provided at the end of the checklist to help you understand some of the questions.

Questions marked with this symbol may require the help of an outside expert.

1. Voluntary Use of Filtering Facepieces (Dust Masks)

2. Are filtering facepieces (dust masks) provided which are clean and uncontaminated? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)]
3. Does the use of the dust mask not interfere with the individual’s ability to work safely? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)]
4. Has a copy of Appendix D been given to each voluntary wearer? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i)]Note: A copy of Appendix D is included in this checklist.
   

   Voluntary Use of Respirators Other Than Dust Masks

5. Does the use of the respirator not interfere with the individual’s ability to work safely? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)]
6. Has a copy of Appendix D been given to each voluntary wearer? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i)]Note: A copy of Appendix D is included in this checklist.
7. Is there a written respiratory protection program that includes the following? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)]
   1. Medical evaluations of individuals who will wear respirators; and [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(ii)]
   2. Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators. [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(v)]
8. Was a medical evaluation performed, before a respirator was used in the workplace, that determined the individual’s ability to use a respirator? [29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1)]Note: Consult 29 CFR 1910.134(e) for required medical evaluation procedures.
9. Are respirators which are issued for the exclusive use of an individual cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition?[29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(i)]Note: Exclusive use means the respirator is used only by one person and is not shared.
10. Are respirators which are issued to more than one individual cleaned and disinfected before being worn by different individuals? [29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(ii)]
11. Are respirators stored so as to be protected from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, or damaging chemicals? [29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i)]
12. Are respirators which are used in routine situations inspected before each use and during cleaning? [29 CFR 1910.134(h)(3)(i)(A)]
13. Are respirators that fail an inspection or are otherwise found to be defective removed from service and either discarded or repaired? [29 CFR 1910.134(h)(4)]
    

    Respirators Required or Respirators Needed to Protect an Individual’s Health

14. Have engineering controls been employed, where possible, to prevent or reduce atmospheric contamination? [29 CFR 1910.134(a)(1)]Note: Measures may include enclosure or confinement of an operation, general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials.
15. Is there a written respiratory protection program? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)]
16. Does the written respiratory protection program include procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i)]
17. Does the written respiratory protection program include medical evaluations of individuals who will wear respirators? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(ii)]
18. Does the written respiratory protection program include fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(iii)]
19. Does the written respiratory protection program include procedures for proper use of respirators in routine as well as reasonably foreseeable emergency situations? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(iv)]
20. Does the written respiratory protection program include procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(v)]
21. Does the written respiratory protection program include procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere- supplying respirators? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(vi)]
22. Does the written respiratory protection program include training of individuals with regards to the respirator hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(vii)]
23. Does the written respiratory protection program include training of individuals in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, limitations of use, and their maintenance? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(viii)]
24. Does the written respiratory protection program include procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(ix)]
25. Has a program administrator been designated who is qualified by appropriate training and experience to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(3)]
26. Are respirators, training, and medical evaluations provided at no cost to individuals? [29 CFR 1910.134(c)(4)]
27. Are respirators selected on the basis of the anticipated hazards? [29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i)]
28. Are all respirators NIOSH certified? [29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(ii)]
29. Has a potential respiratory hazard(s) been identified and evaluated? [29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii)]Note: This evaluation shall include a reasonable estimate of a person’s exposure to respiratory hazard(s) and an identification of the contaminant’s chemical state and physical form. Although personal air monitoring is the most reliable and accurate method to determine exposure, it is not required.
30. Are medical evaluations performed, before a respirator is used in the workplace, to determine an individual’s ability to use a respirator? [29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1)]Note: The employer may discontinue medical evaluations when the individual is no longer required to use a respirator. Consult 29 CFR 1910.134(e) for required medical evaluation procedures.
31. Has an appropriate qualitative fit test or quantitative fit test been conducted on individuals who are using tight-fitting respirators? [29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1)]Note: A record of the fit test should be maintained to document compliance.
32. Was the fit test conducted prior to the initial use of the respirator, whenever a different facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter? [29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2)]
33. Is the wearing of tight-fitting respirator facepieces prohibited whenever any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function is present? [29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)]Note: Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function is prohibited.
34. Are corrective glasses or goggles or other personal protective equipment worn so as not to interfere with the seal of the facepiece to the face of the user? [29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(ii)]
35. Is a user seal check performed by the employee each time a tight fitting respirator is put on? [29 CFR 1920.134(g)(1)(iii)]Note: User seal checks include positive and negative pressure checks to identify potential leakage around the facepiece.
36. Do individuals leave the respirator use area to wash their faces and facepieces as necessary, to replace filter, cartridge, or canister elements, or if they detect vapor or gas breakthrough, changes in breathing resistance, or facepiece leakage? [29 CFR 1910.134(g)(2)(ii)]
37. Are respirators which are issued for the exclusive use of an individual cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition? [29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(i)]
38. Are respirators which are issued to more than one individual cleaned and disinfected before being worn by different individuals? [29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(ii)]
39. Are respirators stored so as to be protected from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture or damaging chemicals? [29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i)]
40. Are respirators which are used routinely inspected before each use and during cleaning? [29 CFR 1910.134(h)(3)(1)(A)]
41. Are respirators that fail an inspection or are otherwise found to be defective removed from service and either discarded or repaired? [29 CFR 1910.134(h)(4)]
42. Does compressed breathing air meet the requirements for Grade D Breathing Air? [29 CFR 1910.134(i)(1)(ii)]Note: Documentation of breathing air quality should be maintained to show compliance.
43. Are compressors used to supply breathing air situated so as to prevent entry of contaminated air into the air supply system? [29 CFR 1910.134(i)(5)(i)]
44. Are compressors used to supply breathing air constructed so as to minimize moisture content? [29 CFR 1910.134(i)(5)(ii)]
45. Are compressors used to supply breathing air equipped with air-purifying sorbent beds and filters to further ensure breathing air quality? [29 CFR 1910.134(i)(5)(iii)]
46. Are compressors used to supply breathing air provided with tags indicating the most recent date on which the air-purification filters or sorbent beds were changed, along with the signature of the authorized person performing the change? [29 CFR 1910.134(i)(5)(iv)]
47. Are high temperature or carbon monoxide alarms, or both, present on oil-lubricated compressors to monitor carbon monoxide levels? [29 CFR 1910.134(i)(7)]
48. Are filters, cartridges and canisters labeled and color-coded with the NIOSH approval label? [29 CFR 1910.134(j)]
49. Has training been provided to individuals who wear respirators on why the respirator is necessary and its proper use, fit, and maintenance? [29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(i)]
50. Has training been provided to individuals who wear respirators on the capabilities and limitations of the respirator? [29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(ii)]
51. Has training been provided to individuals who wear respirators on how to use the respirator in emergency situations? [29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(iii)]
52. Has training been provided to individuals who wear respirators on how to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator? [29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(iv)]
53. Has training been provided to individuals who wear respirators on procedures for maintenance and storage of the respirator? [29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(v)]
54. Has training been provided to individuals who wear respirators on how to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators? [29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(vi)]
55. Are workplace evaluations conducted to ensure that the written respiratory protection program is being properly implemented? [29 CFR 1910.134(l)]
56. Are records maintained for 30 years regarding medical evaluations, fit testing, and the respirator program? [29 CFR 1910.134(m)]

Definitions

Dust mask: a filtering facepiece type respirator.

Engineering control: physical changes to equipment and operations to reduce exposure to air contaminants. Engineering controls may include: adding local exhaust ventilation, changing to better equipment that release less air contaminants and enclosing operations to prevent exposure. Filtering facepiece (dust mask): a negative pressure particulate respirator with a filter as an integral part of the facepiece or with the entire facepiece composed of the filtering medium.

Grade D breathing air: air quality specified by the Compressed Gas Association Commodity Specification G7.1-1989 as referenced in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134(i)(1)(ii). It specifies that the oxygen content be 19.5-23.5%, the condensed hydrocarbon concentration be at or below 5 mg/m3, the carbon monoxide concentration be at or below 10 ppm, and the carbon dioxide concentration be at or below 1,000 ppm.

Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH): an atmosphere that poses an immediate threat to life, would cause irreversible adverse health effects, or would impair an individual’s ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere.

NIOSH “certified” respirator: a respirator meeting the requirements of 42 CFR Part 84. All respirators approved by NIOSH have an approval number that looks like this: TC-84A-111 or TC-23C-222. A respirator is “approved” for a specific set of circumstances and conditions. If the particular circumstances or conditions of use exceed those for which it was approved, the respirator may provide inappropriate protection and is no longer considered to be approved. The following are examples of things you can do to invalidate the approvals: altering the respirator in any way such as by removing a strap or interchanging parts; using an air-purifying respirator equipped with organic vapor cartridges for an organic vapor with poor warning properties; using an air-purifying respirator equipped with organic vapor cartridges for an organic vapor at concentrations above the maximum use concentration established by OSHA or NIOSH.