If these checks are not successful, the respirator should not be used. Employees must pass both the medical examination and the fit test in order to wear a respirator. Employees may not wear a respirator if they have facial hair which comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or any condition which interferes with the face to facepiece seal or valve function. Employees who wear respirators are permitted to leave the regulated area to wash their faces and respirator facepieces as necessary. This may be done to prevent skin irritation associated with respirator use or to change the filter elements if a change in breathing resistance or chemical vapor breakthrough is detected.
Every employee is required to perform a negative and positive seal check prior to respirator use.
All respirators shall be maintained using the procedures in 29 CFR 1910.134 Appendix B-2 or procedures recommended by the manufacturer, provided that such procedures are of equivalent effectiveness. Detergents with a bactericide are preferable. If detergent with a bactericide is not used, the detergent wash shall be followed with a disinfecting rinse. Components shall be hand-dried with a clean lint free cloth or air dried before assembly. Storage Dry, clean, disinfected respirators shall be sealed in clean plastic bags out of direct sunlight with the facepiece and exhalation valve in a non-distorted position.