Source: https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=2275&p_table=DIRECTIVES
Timestamp: 2020-01-18 07:27:20
Document Index: 637908964

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 11', 'art 84', 'art 11', 'art 84', 'art 84', 'art 11']

CPL 02-00-120 - CPL 2-0.120 - Inspection procedures for the Respiratory Protection Standard. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Directive Number: CPL 02-00-120
• Old Directive Number: CPL 2-0.120
• Title: Inspection procedures for the Respiratory Protection Standard.
• Information Date: 09/25/1998
• Standard Number: 1910.134
DIRECTIVE NUMBER: CPL 2-0.120 EFFECTIVE DATE: September 25, 1998
Purpose: This instruction establishes agency interpretations and enforcement policies, and provides instructions to ensure uniform enforcement of the Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134
Scope: This instruction applies OSHA-wide
References: OSHA Instruction, CPL 2.103, Field Inspection Reference Manual. OSHA Instruction CPL 2.111, Citation Policy for Paperwork and Written Program Violations 29 CFR 1910.134, Respiratory Protection Standard. NIOSH Respirator Certification Requirements 42 CFR 84 and 30 CFR 11.
Contact: Office of Health Compliance Assistance (202) 219-8036
Definitions-1910.134(b): The revised standard now contains definitions in paragraph (b) that provide a clearer understanding of specific terminology used in the standard and how these terms are applied to respirators and their use. Some definitions in the proposal were not included in the final standard, and some new definitions were added.
"Adequate warning properties" was not included in the final standard because the two major warning properties, odor and irritation, are unreliable or otherwise inappropriate to be used as primary indicators of sorbent exhaustion.
"Assigned Protection Factor" has not yet been included in the standard. OSHA is conducting further rulemaking on this issue, and will eventually add the APFs to the final standard. In the interim, OSHA will continue to refer to NIOSH APFs except in cases where APFs have been published in substance-specific standards or are addressed by OSHA in separate letters of interpretation. Employers must rely on the best available information when selecting the appropriate respirator.
"Filtering facepiece" (dust mask) means 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. Whenever a filtering facepiece is used to meet the requirements of the standard, it must be NIOSH approved.
A "HEPA filter"(High Efficiency Particulate Air) is a filter that is 99.97% efficient in removing monodispersed particles of 0.3 micrometers in diameter. NIOSH no longer uses this term in its new respirator certification standard (42 CFR 84). However, OSHA has retained this definition because it is used in many of the existing substance-specific standards. When HEPA filters are required by an OSHA standard, N100, R100, and P100 filters can be used to replace them.
Note:	NIOSH Respirator Certification Requirements, 30 CFR 11 (Part 11) were replaced by 42 CFR 84 (Part 84) on July 10, 1995. Only certifications of non-powered, air-purifying, particulate-filter respirators were affected by this change. The remaining portions of Part 11 were incorporated into Part 84 without change. Part 84 permitted the manufacture and sale of non-powered-particulate respirators certified under Part 11 until July 10, 1998.
Respiratory Protection Program-1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program is required when necessary to protect the health of the employee from workplace contaminants or when the employer requires the use of respirators. A limited written program is also required when respirators (other than filtering facepieces) are being voluntarily worn by employees. The program must include workplace specific procedures and contain all applicable program elements. Where respirators are required, respirators (and their associated requirements such as fit-testing and maintenance), training and medical evaluations must be provided at no cost to the employee. It is the intent of the standard that the employer would not be required to incur any costs associated with voluntary use of filtering facepieces other than providing a copy of Appendix D to each user. If employers allow the voluntary use of respirators other than filtering facepieces, the costs associated with ensuring the respirator itself does not create a hazard, such as medical evaluations and maintenance must be provided at no cost to the employee.
Inspection Guidelines. During inspections of workplaces where respirators are used, the CSHO is to evaluate the respiratory program and determine if the employer's written program is adequate and complete for that particular site.
The program must be tailored to cover the specific work operations and practices in the workplace. The provisions listed in paragraph (c)(1)(i) thru (ix) of the standard must be included in the written program unless it is determined they are not applicable.
(iv) procedures for proper use during routine and emergency situations,
(v) procedures for cleaning, storing, disinfecting, etc.,
(vi) procedures to ensure adequate air quality and flow for atmosphere-supplying respirators
(vii) training on respiratory hazards,
(viii) training on proper use, donning and removing the respiratoretc.,
Citation Guidelines. If respirators are required to be worn in the workplace or respirators other than dust masks are worn by voluntary users, a written program is required. An overexposure is not required to cite this paragraph. If the CSHO determines that specific provisions are lacking or deficient in the written program, the CSHO should cite section (c)(1) with the specific element(s) that are missing. Discrepancies between the written program and implemented work practices at the worksite should be cited by the appropriate paragraph in the standard that requires the work practice. If overexposures are found and no program at all exists, paragraph (a)(2) should be cited.
(c)(2) Voluntary Use: Normally, respirators that are voluntarily used by employees will be filtering facepieces (dust masks). NIOSH-approved respirators are strongly recommended, but they are not required for voluntary use. This voluntary use of dust masks alone does not require the employer to have a written program. For filtering facepiece respirator use, the employer needs only ensure that dust masks are not dirty or contaminated, that their use does not interfere with the employee's ability to work safely, and that a copy of Appendix D is provided to each voluntary wearer. Merely posting Appendix D is not considered adequate.
Inspection Guidelines Even though employees may be voluntarily using respirators, adverse health conditions can be caused by the wearing of a respirator itself. Examples include, but are not limited to;
(1) an employee's health being jeopardized by the wearing of a respirator (e.g., employee has a cardiac and/or pulmonary disorder that could be aggravated by respirator use),
(2) the wearing of a dirty respirator that can cause dermatitis or ingestion of a hazardous chemical;
(3) the sharing of a respirator that leads to transmittal of disease.
Citation Guidelines Maintenance (h) and medical evaluation (e) violations should be considered for all situations where employees have elected to use a respirator, other than a dust mask, for personal comfort. If overexposures are found, then all other applicable subparagraphs should be cited.
(c)(3) Program Administrator: A "respiratory protection program administrator" is required to oversee and evaluate the respirator program. This individual must be suitably trained and have the appropriate accountability and responsibility to manage the full respiratory protection program.
Companies with multiple worksites may have a program administrator at each worksite, as long as this person is qualified and retains the accountability and responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the specific program for that site. Alternatively, a company may opt to have one program administrator for several sites and/or one program for several similar sites as long as the program contains the necessary elements and addresses the hazards at those sites.
Selection of Respirators and Hazard Evaluation-1910.134(d): The employer is required to select and provide an appropriate respirator (NIOSH certified) based on the respiratory hazard(s) present in the workplace. The employer must identify hazardous airborne contaminants that employees may inhale and make a reasonable estimate of employee exposures in determining the appropriate respirator for employees to use. Oxygen deficient atmospheres and those atmospheres that are not or cannot be estimated must be treated as IDLH environments. Where a contaminant is regulated by a substance-specific standard that requires monitoring, failure to monitor in accordance with the standard's terms would be cited under that standard. For other contaminants, although the most reliable and accurate method to determine exposure is to conduct personal air monitoring, it is not explicitly required by the respirator standard. Instead, other means can be used to estimate workplace exposures. Acceptable means include:
Use of objective data - this is the use of data obtained from industry studies, trade associations, or from tests conducted by chemical manufacturers which demonstrate that air contaminants cannot be released in the workplace in airborne concentrations that are IDLH. The objective data shall represent the highest contaminant exposures likely to occur under reasonably foreseeable conditions of processing, use, or handling. The employer must document the use of objective data as part of their written program.
Application of mathematical approaches - the preamble to the final rule (p. 1199) states that employers can use data on the physical and chemical properties of air contaminants, combined with information on room dimensions, air exchange rates, contaminant release rates, and other pertinent data including exposure patterns and work practices to estimate the maximum exposure that could be anticipated in the workplace.
As a continuing practice, employers are required to identify hazards as a result of changes in the workplace such as a change in equipment, process, products, or control measures that could result in new exposures. Appropriate respirators should be provided as necessary.
Inspection Guidelines. The CSHO should closely scrutinize the employer's estimate of employee exposure and determine if the hazard assessment is based on appropriate data and reliable information. OSHA personnel have considerable experience evaluating air monitoring data for representativeness of the sample and reliability and accuracy of data. Where objective data are used in the workplace to determine employee exposure, the data must have been obtained under conditions which closely resemble the process, types of materials, control methods, work practices, and environmental conditions.
In regards to mathematical predictive equations, their use should be limited to situations where workplace factors, such as contaminant release and ventilation system performance, are fairly constant over the work shift and predictable. The results should incorporate reasonable safety factors and be interpreted conservatively. CSHO's must exercise a great deal of professional judgement in concluding if the mathematical approach provides appropriate guidance. (e.g., The methylene chloride standard forbids the use of APR's for protection against methylene chloride and would supercede any model which predicts a changeout time for this chemical.)
Citation Guidelines. If the employer has not made any effort to assess the respiratory hazards, and there is potential for an overexposure, the CSHO should cite section (d)(1)(iii). The extent to which the employer explored ways to reasonably estimate exposures must be evaluated at each worksite.
Inappropriate respirators [(d)(1)(i)] should be cited when the CSHO documents an overexposure is possible, and a suitable respirator is not being used for protection against that exposure . Unapproved [(d)(1)(ii)] respirators can be cited even where an overexposure has not been established.
a. Acrylonitrile 1910.1045(h)(2)(ii) end-of-service life or end of shift (whichever occurs first)
b. Benzene 1910.1028(g)(2)(ii) end-of-service life or beginning of shift (whichever occurs first)
c. Butadiene 1910.1051 (h)(2)(ii) every 1, 2 or 4 hours dependent on concentration according to Table 1 and at beginning of each shift
d. Formaldehyde 1910.1048 (g)(2)(ii) - for cartridges every three hours or end of shift (whichever is sooner); for canisters, every 2 or 4 hours according to the schedule in (g)(3)(iv)
e. Vinyl chloride 1910.1017(g)(3)(ii) end-of-service life or end of shift in which they are first used (whichever occurs first)
f. Methylene chloride -
Inspection Guidelines - OSHA understands that new or existing objective data could be presented in a variety of formats and from a number of different sources. CSHOs should approach the evaluation of this requirement with professional judgement and flexibility. There are a number of factors that influence the service life of a cartridge. Some of the more significant factors include: the contaminant's chemical properties, temperature, humidity, contaminant concentration, work rate (breathing rate) of the respirator user, variability of respirator cartridges between manufacturers, and the presence of multiple contaminants. To ensure fair and reasonable enforcement of this provision, the following guidelines are presented to assist the CSHO in determining compliance with this provision.
Availability of Objective Data: Ascertain if there are sources of objective data for the particular make and model of the respirator cartridge/canister and if this data is sufficient to implement change schedules. Typical sources would include: respirator manufacturers, industry organizations, trade associations, professional societies, chemical manufacturers (MSDS), academic institutions, and ad hoc committees. The CSHO should determine if the employer has access to adequate information to comply with this provision. For a list of some options that employers may use in developing their change schedules, refer to Appendix A.
Use of Inappropriate Respirator Cartridge/canister: Determine if the air purifying respirator is appropriate for the contaminant present in the workplace. In some cases, the breakthrough time may be so rapid (minutes) that air purifying respirators are not feasible and supplied air respirators should be used. CSHOs should consult respirator manufacturers and other reference material for this information.
Change Schedules For Mixtures: Establishing cartridge service life for mixtures of contaminants is a complex task and one that requires considerable professional judgement to create a reasonable change schedule. Cartridge service life for mixtures is best determined using experimental methods. Change schedules are very difficult to develop for mixtures using predictive mathematical models.
The change schedule for a mixture should be based on reasonable assumptions that include a margin of safety for the worker wearing the respirator. Where the individual compounds in the mixture have similar breakthrough times (i.e. within one order of magnitude), service life of the cartridge should be established assuming the mixture stream behaves as a pure system of the most rapidly migrating component or compound with the shortest breakthrough time (i.e., sum up the concentration of the components). Where the individual compounds in the mixture vary by 2 orders of magnitude or greater, the service life may be based on the contaminant with the shortest breakthrough time. OSHA believes that an approach such as this reflects good health and safety practice where neither objective or experimental data is available for the mixture.
Medical Evaluation - 1910.134(e): Employers must provide a medical evaluation to determine each employee's fitness to wear a respirator. The evaluation must be provided before the initial fit-testing and before the respirator is used for the first time. Medical evaluations consist of the administration of a medical questionnaire, which is found in the mandatory Appendix C of the standard, or provision of a physical examination that elicits the same information as the questionnaire for the employee. An employer, who opts to provide physical examinations to his or her employees, need not also administer the medical questionnaire. These evaluations are required for all respirator users except for employees who voluntarily use dusts masks and for those whose only respirator would be the use of escape-only respirators. SCBA's are not considered escape-only respirators. Employees who refuse to be medically evaluated cannot be assigned to work in areas where they are required to wear a respirator.
Where employers use a transient workforce, (e.g., temporary or construction workers), the employer may accept the written medical recommendation of the employee's ability to use a respirator as determined by their previous employer's PLCHP only if the work conditions and type and weight of the respirator remains the same and appropriate for use at their new work site. In this situation, the employer must obtain from the previous employer a copy of the PLCHPs written recommendation.
The employer must ensure that the questionnaire is administered in such a manner that employees can understand the content and the confidentiality of the record is maintained. Where the employee cannot understand English, the employer must have the questionnaire translated into the employee's language either through a translator or a translated written copy. The questionnaire has been translated into Spanish and is available on OSHA's homepage (www.osha.gov) in the Respirator Q & A Document. In cases where the employee cannot read, the employee can request someone other than the employer to orally read them the questionnaire or the PLHCP may obtain through an interview or examination the same information requested on the medical questionnaire.
Inspection Guidelines. The CSHO should determine if the requirements of paragraph (e) are being met by interviewing a number of employees and asking if they have been provided with a confidential evaluation of their ability to wear a respirator, either by the administration of the medical questionnaire or by physical examination. Compliance officers should determine what mechanism the employer is using to ensure that the employer does not see the answers to the questionnaire in order to maintain confidentiality. The CSHO can verify that these medical evaluations have in fact been conducted by asking the employer to see the written recommendation of the employee's ability to use a respirator. The employee should have also received a copy. The recommendation must contain only the information required by subparagraph (e)(6).
The CSHO should determine what supplemental information was given to the PLHCP by the employer. This can be done through interviewing the PLHCP or reviewing documentation from the employer. If the employer is relying on a medical evaluation for the employee from a previous employer (which is allowed only when the employer uses a transient workforce), the CSHO should determine that the work conditions and respirator remained the same.
Citation Guidelines: If medical evaluations are not provided, a violation of (e)(1) exists. If the PLHCP designated by the employer is not operating within the scope of their license or their license has expired or is invalid, the employer should be cited under paragraph (e)(2)(i) for choosing an inappropriate PLHCP.
If the employer's medical evaluation does not obtain the mandatory information required in Part A, Sections 1 and 2 of Appendix C, then a violation of (e)(2)(ii) exists.
If the PLHCP is not provided with the appropriate supplemental information, a violation of (e)(5) exists.
Fit Testing-1910.134(f): Fit testing is required for all employees using negative or positive pressure tight-fitting respirators, where such respirators are required by OSHA or where the employer requires the use of such a respirator. A fit test is not required for voluntary users or for escape-only respirators.
The fit test must be performed before the respirator is used in the workplace. It must be repeated at least annually and whenever a different respirator facepiece is used or a change in the employee's physical condition could affect respirator fit. If the respirator subsequently becomes unacceptable (i.e., causes irritation or pain to the employee) to the employee, the employee must be given the opportunity to select a different respirator facepiece and be retested.
Inspection Guidelines. The CSHO should determine which protocol was used for fit testing and if all employees who are wearing tight-fitting respirators have been fit-tested in the last twelve months for the respirator they are wearing. Fit testing procedures should be discussed with the program administrator. If fit testing is being performed, the CSHO should observe the company's procedures and evaluate their adherence to the prescribed protocol.
Where employees move from job to job within the year (e.g., temporary or construction workers), their fit test need not be repeated, if the employer obtains a copy of the original fit test record and the same respirator make, model and size is available and appropriate for use at their new work site.
Citation Guidelines. Fit test records should be reviewed. If no fit test record is found it must be determined if they were not maintained [(m)(2)(ii)] or the test was not performed [(f)(2)] and cited accordingly. For not following prescribed protocol, cite (f)(5). Using QLFT for negative pressure APR's used in atmospheres greater than 10 times the PEL would be cited as (f)(6).
If fit testing was done by a previous employer within the required time, but no fit test record was obtained by the current employer, a citation for (m)(2) should be issued.
If the CSHO determines the fit testing was not appropriate for the present respirator usage, citations for the appropriate requirements of paragraph (f) should be issued.
QLFT QNFT
Half-Face, Negative Pressure, APR (<100 fit factor) Yes Yes
Full-Face, Negative Pressure, APR (<100 fit factor) used in atmospheres up to 10 times the PEL Yes Yes
Full-Face, Negative Pressure, APR (>100 fit factor) No Yes
PAPR Yes Yes
Supplied-Air Respirators (SAR), or SCBA used in Negative Pressure (Demand Mode) (>100 fit factor) No Yes
Supplied-Air Respirators (SAR), or SCBA used in Positive Pressure (Pressure Demand Mode) Yes Yes
SCBA - Structural Fire Fighting, Positive Pressure Yes Yes
SCBA/SAR - IDLH, Positive Pressure Yes Yes
Mouthbit Respirators Fit-testing Not Required
Use of Respirators - 1910.134(g): Employers must establish and implement procedures for the proper use of respirators. These procedures include prohibiting conditions that may result in facepiece leakage, preventing employees from removing respirators in hazardous environments, ensuring continued respirator operation throughout the shift, and establishing procedures for the use of respirators in IDLH atmospheres.
Facepiece Seal Protection (g)(1):
Inspection Guidelines - The CSHO should be alert for the presence of facial hair (more than one day's growth) that comes between the sealing surface of the respirator and the face as well as other conditions that could result in facepiece seal leakage or interfere with valve function of tight-fitting respirators, such as the presence of facial scars, the wearing of jewelry, or the use of headgear that projects under the facepiece seal. Corrective glasses or goggles or other personal protective equipment (such as faceshields, protective clothing, and helmets) must not interfere with the seal of the facepiece to the face of the user. If employees wear other safety equipment with their respirators, the employee must pass an appropriate fit test while wearing the equipment to determine if it interferes with the seal.
Employees should be observed to determine if the seal check procedures are being performed each time the respirator is donned. The procedure used must be one listed in Appendix B-1 or recommended by the manufacturer if the employer demonstrates it is as effective as those listed in Appendix B-1. Alternative seal checks must be based on scientific studies. [The face fit is considered satisfactory if a slight positive pressure can be built up inside the facepiece when the exhalation valve or surface is covered, the user exhales gently, and there is no evidence of outward leakage at the seal. The negative check requires covering the inlet opening or surface, inhaling gently, and having the facepiece remain in a slightly collapsed condition with no inward leakage of air detected.]
Inspection Guidelines - The employer is required, by paragraph (c)(1)(ix), to address in its written program the type of regular surveillance of the workplace necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the respirator program. The surveillance procedures may include continuous or periodic monitoring, on-site observations, and notation of problems. The intensity of the surveillance should be tailored to the hazards present in the workplace. Highly hazardous substances that pose acute respiratory hazards merit a higher degree of surveillance.
Section (g)(2)(ii) requires that employers ensure that employees leave the respirator-use area to correct certain problems associated with respirator use, including the detection of contaminant breakthrough, and to replace the respirator or its filters or cartridges. Employees should be interviewed [e.g., What do you do if you notice a leak? ] to determine whether there are any policies or actions which would prohibit or impede them from leaving the area should they have significant problems with their respirators or which impede the replacing of filters or cartridges. Paragraph (g)(2)(iii) is designed to prevent employees from reentering a workplace after leaving because of a significant respirator failure without first assuring the proper functioning of the respirator.
Procedures for IDLH Atmospheres (g)(3):
Inspection Guidelines - The employer must be prepared for emergency rescue or respirator failure whenever employee(s) are working inside of an IDLH atmosphere. At least one person must be on standby outside the IDLH atmosphere and maintain communication with the person inside at all times. The standby person(s) must be trained and equipped to provide an effective emergency rescue. Except in emergency situations, environments containing IDLH atmospheres are frequently well enough characterized and controlled that a single standby person can monitor the status of multiple entrants. The need for multiple standbys should be evaluated in context with the ability of the standby personnel to meet all their standby duties, including their ability to monitor the worker(s) in the area and their ability to initiate effective rescue procedures. Planning is critical for effective response to emergency situations through the development of specific emergency procedures. These procedures should address how the employer will be notified when standby person(s) outside of the IDLH atmosphere enter the IDLH atmosphere to provide emergency rescue and what actions will be taken or assistance provided by the employer. Emergency procedures must be developed and included in the employer's written respirator program.
For work performed outside of visual contact, voice, radio or signal line are permitted. CSHOs should specifically review protocols for communication, rescue, and notification for employees entering IDLH atmospheres. Communication protocols must be established that allow the standby person to monitor entrant status and enable the standby(s) to alert entrants of the need to evacuate the area. It is not sufficient to rely on the employees in the IDLH area to call for help when needed.
Procedures for Interior Structural Firefighting, 1910.134(g)(4): This section applies to private sector workers engaged in firefighting, including those working in industrial fire brigades and private incorporated fire companies, and to Federal employees under Section 19 of the Act. These or equivalent provisions apply to State and local government firefighters only in the 25 States that operate OSHA-approved State plans which are required to adopt an identical or "at least as effective" standard and extend its coverage to public employees. (Coverage of volunteer firefighters in these States varies by State and depends on State law.) The following guidance will have applicability primarily in the State Plan States and in responding to general inquiries.
The provision is limited to workers performing an interior attack on an interior structural fire. In Subpart L ( 1910.155), OSHA has defined "interior structural fire fighting" to mean: "the physical activity of fire suppression, rescue or both, inside of buildings or enclosed structures which are beyond the incipient stage." This is firefighting to control or extinguish a fire in an advanced stage of burning, producing large amounts of smoke, heat and toxic products of combustion. Firefighter exposure during this activity is extremely hazardous. The atmosphere is considered IDLH and the use of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus is required. By contrast, incipient stage fire fighting involves the control or extinguishment of a fire in the initial or beginning stage, using portable fire extinguishers or small hose lines without the need for personal protective equipment. It is the incident commander's responsibility, based on training and experience, to judge whether a fire is an interior structural fire, and how it will be attacked.
There must always be at least two firefighters stationed outside during interior structural firefighting, and they must be trained, equipped and prepared to enter if necessary to rescue the firefighters inside. However, the incident commander has the responsibility and flexibility to determine when more than two outside firefighters are necessary given the circumstances of the fire. The two-in/two-out rule does not require an arithmetic progression for every firefighter inside, i.e. the rule should not be interpreted as 4-in-4-out, 8-in-8-out, etc.
It is important that the CSHO recognize that life-saving activities in interior structural fire fighting are not precluded by the standard. There is an explicit exemption in the standard that if life is in jeopardy, firefighters have the discretion to perform the rescue, and the "two-in/two-out" requirement is waived. There is no violation of the standard under such life-saving rescue circumstances.
The two-in/two-out provision is not intended as a staffing requirement. It does not require fire departments to hire additional firefighters; it does not require four-person fire companies; it does not require four persons on a fire truck. Most fire departments have more than four firefighters and can assemble the numbers required on the scene by waiting for others to arrive. During this time the fire may be attacked only from the outside, sizing-up operations may occur, and emergency rescue necessary to save lives may take place as discussed above. The "two-in/two-out" rule is a worker safety practice requirement, not a staffing requirement.
The standard allows one of the standby firefighters to have other duties such as serving as the incident commander, safety officer, or operator of fire apparatus. However, one of the outside firefighters must actively monitor the status of the inside firefighters and may not be assigned additional duties. The second outside firefighter may be involved in a wide variety of activities. Both of the outside personnel must be able to provide support and assistance to the two interior firefighters; any assignment of additional duties for one of the outside firefighters must be weighed against the potential for interference with this requirement. Proper assignment of firefighting activities at an interior structural fire must be determined on a case-by-case basis and is dependent on the existing firefighting situation. Compliance will always depend on consideration of all the worksite variables and conditions, and the judgement of the incident commander is critical in meeting this performance standard.
The two firefighters (buddies) entering an IDLH atmosphere to perform interior structural firefighting must maintain visual or voice communication at all times. Electronic methods of communication such as the use of radios shall not be substituted for direct visual contact between the team members in the danger area. However, reliable electronic communication devices are not prohibited and certainly have value in augmenting communication and may be used to communicate between inside team members and outside standby personnel.
For further explanation refer to the preamble of the Respiratory Protection standard (vol. 63, No. 5, 1245-1248) and the Respirator Question and Answer document (August 3, 1998). Both documents can be found at OSHA's Homepage - www.osha.gov.
Inspection Guidelines - Section (g)(4) includes the requirements of (g)(3). The first and critical step in evaluating an employers response using the two-in/two-out rule is to determine if there was interior structural fire fighting activity. This determination will require consideration of the factors existing at the time of the firefighting action and the basis for the Incident Commander's finding. CSHO should seek expert opinion from other authorities such as a state or local fire Marshall or other fire protection professionals and should thoroughly interview affected personnel to document the violation.
Citation Guidelines - If the CSHO's investigation reveals that the two-in/two-out rule was not followed during the interior attack of an interior structural fire and there was no reasonable expectation that someone was in jeopardy inside the building, the CSHO should cite (g)(4)(i) or (g)(4)(ii) as a serious violation. If adequate communication is not maintained between the team inside and the standby personnel located outside the IDLH, (g)(3)(ii) should be cited.
Maintenance and Care of Respirators - 1910.134 (h)(1):	Respirators must be cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to keep them in a sanitary condition. They must be properly stored to prevent damage and contamination, inspected regularly and repaired as necessary.
Inspection Guidelines. To ensure that respirators are clean and in good working order, the employer can have respirators cleaned and repaired in a centralized operation where respirators are passed out to employees OR the employer may require the respirator user to perform all cleaning and respirator maintenance functions. The CSHO should verify that the procedures in the mandatory Appendix B-2 or an equivalent method specified by the manufacturer are being followed and are performed by employees who are adequately trained in the proper respirator care procedures. Respirators issued to more than one employee must be cleaned and disinfected before being worn by another user. The use of individually-wrapped cleaning towelettes may be used as an interim method in the cleaning schedule for individually assigned respirators, but they must not be the only method in place. During fit-testing, towelettes may also be used between employees being tested, however these respirators must be thoroughly cleaned at the end of each day, using the procedures in Appendix B-2.
The employer must ensure that respirators are inspected before each use and during cleaning. The CSHO should observe the condition of the respirators being used in the workplace. One or more respirators should be checked before employees enter, or as they leave the respirator area. A minimally acceptable inspection procedure for ALL respirators includes a check of respirator function, tightness of connections and the condition of the various parts, including but not limited to, the face piece, head straps, valves, connecting tube, and cartridges, canisters, or filters, and a check of the respirator's elastomer parts for pliability and signs of deterioration.
Respirators That Are Available for Emergency Use: An inspection must be conducted monthly for all emergency use respirators. The employer must certify in writing that an inspection was performed. The certification must include the name (or signature) of the person who made the inspection, the findings of the inspection, any remedial action, and a serial number or other means of identifying the inspected respirator. The respirator must also be checked before and after each use.
Emergency escape-only respirators carried by employees must be inspected before being taken into the workplace for potential use.
Section (h)(4) Repairs: Defective respirators must be removed from service. A respirator is defective if one or more of its components is missing, damaged, or visibly deteriorated. The employer must develop some means to ensure defective respirators are not used in the workplace. The employer can comply by placing an "out of service" tag on the respirator to help ensure that the defective respirator is not inadvertently used or by removing the respirator from the work area. An "appropriately trained" person must be responsible for performing repairs or adjustments to respirators.
Inspection Guidelines. The CSHO must interview the employee(s) at the worksite who repair respirators, and determine what training they have received. An appropriately trained person is an individual who has received training from the manufacturer or otherwise has demonstrated that he or she has the skills to return the respirator to its original state of effectiveness. The training is performance-oriented, so it is acceptable for the employee to have acquired the skills through practice rather than by attending a formal training course. Repairs to reducing and admission valves, regulators, and alarms must be done by a technician trained by the manufacturer.
Only the respirator manufacturer's NIOSH-approved parts that are designed for the particular respirator being repaired can be used to repair a respirator.
CSHOs should cite for defective respirators not effectively being removed from service.
Breathing Air Quality and Use 1910.134 (i): Compressed breathing air must meet at least the requirements for Grade D breathing air. The ANSI/CGA G.7-1 - 1989 specifies the contents of Grade D breathing air as: oxygen (volume/volume) of 19.5 to 23.5 %; hydrocarbon (condensed) of 5 mg/m³ of air or less; carbon monoxide of 10 ppm or less; carbon dioxide of 1,000 ppm or less; and the lack of a noticeable odor.
Inspection Guidelines. If compressors are used to supply breathing air, the CSHO should note the location of the compressor intake and ensure it is located in an area uncontaminated by either combustion exhaust gases produced by vehicles or the compressor itself (if applicable), or by other exhaust gases ventilated from plant processes. A tag containing the signature of the person authorized by the employer to change the in-line sorbent beds and filters and the date of the latest change must be maintained at the compressor.
For air compressors that are not oil lubricated, a CO alarm is not required. However, the employer is required to ensure that carbon monoxide levels in the breathing air do not exceed 10 ppm. Some practical methods for ensuring that the carbon monoxide level does not exceed 10 ppm include; placing the air intake for the compressor in an area that the employer knows is free from contaminants; frequent or continuous monitoring of the breathing air supply; the use of carbon monoxide filters; or the use of a high temperature alarm or shut off devices.
Identification of Filters, Cartridges, and Canisters 1910.134 (j): The employer must ensure that all canisters and filters are properly labeled and color coded with the NIOSH approval label and that the label is not removed, obscured, or defaced while in service. This requirement enables the employee using the respirator to check and confirm that the respirator has the appropriate filters before the respirator is used and also allows fellow employees, supervisors, and the respirator program administrator to readily determine that the employee is using the appropriate filters.
Inspection Guidelines. The CSHO should verify that properly labeled filters and canisters are being used, and that the labels remain legible.
Citation Guidelines. Date and time labels applied to the filters/cartridges should not be considered violations, but the employer must obscure as little as possible of the label to allow ready identification.
Training and Information 1910.134 (k): The employer is required to provide effective training to employees who wear respirators. Training must be provided prior to an employee's use of a respirator in the workplace and must be comprehensive and understandable. Training must recur annually, and more often if retraining appears necessary to ensure safe use. The employer must ensure that each employee can demonstrate a knowledge of all items in (k)(1)(i) thru (vii). Pre-testing may be used as a training aid to determine extent of retraining required.
Inspection Guidelines. The effectiveness of the training program can be evaluated by determining how well employees understand how to use their respirators. If respirators are improperly worn, missing parts, dirty, improperly stored, or the wrong cartridges are being used, the compliance officer should interview the employee for knowledge of the respirator requirements.
Employees should be interviewed to determine if they have received the required training and the extent of that training. If the CSHO detects a trend in employee responses that indicate training is not being conducted, or is conducted in a cursory manner, a closer review of the training program is necessary.
Program Evaluation 1910.134(l): The employer must conduct evaluations of the workplace to ensure the written respiratory protection program is properly implemented. The employer must observe and consult employees to determine if they have any problems with the program and ensure that the respirators are used properly.
Inspection Guidelines. The CSHO should evaluate how well the written respiratory program is being implemented in the workplace. Observed deficiencies in the program and evaluation procedures should be discussed with the program administrator to determine what previous efforts she or he may have made to evaluate how well their program was working. Deficiencies should also be discussed with employees to determine how long any deficiency has existed and what requests or complaints about the respirator program if any they have made to the program administrator. If the program administrator keeps a written assessment, implemented changes may be considered as efforts toward improvement. Recent changes in the workplace such as new processes should have been evaluated for necessary respiratory program changes.
Citation Guidelines. Multiple deficiencies found during the inspection, especially long term deficiencies, could indicate inadequate program evaluation.
Recordkeeping - 1910.134(m): For every employee required to wear a respirator, the employer must establish and retain medical evaluations and fit-testing records. Medical evaluation records must also be retained for employees who wear elastomeric facepiece respirators. An employee's medical evaluation records must be made available to the employee and to OSHA in accordance with 1910.1020. The employer must also make an employee's fit-testing records available to that employee and to OSHA. The standard does not intend for the employer to make an employee's medical or fit-testing records available to any other individual unless that individual is the employee's "designated representative" as defined in 1910.1020(c)(3).
Inspection Guidelines. Even though the employer must ensure the medical evaluations are maintained, the actual medical evaluations will normally be maintained with the PLHCP, not the employer. Alternatively, the company nurse or doctor may maintain these files, but only medical confidentiality is maintained. The employer must retain a record of the medical evaluation which includes the PLHCP's written recommendation. If an employee states she or he has not had a medical evaluation, the CSHO should check if a medical evaluation record is on file.
Fit test records must be kept until the next fit test is administered. Each fit test record must contain the employee identification, type of fit test, date last tested, the results of the test, and the make, model and size of the respirator tested. The CSHO should review these records to verify that fit-testing is being done annually and confirm that the fit-tested respirators are the same models and sizes as those observed in the workplace.
Citation Guidelines. If a medical evaluation record cannot be found, it must be determined whether the record was not maintained or the evaluation was not performed. If not maintained, (m)(1) would normally be cited. If no record can be found and the employee confirms an evaluation was not performed, then (e)(1) would be cited.
Lack of a fit test record or lack of information on a fit test record would be cited under (m)(2). If an employee is wearing a respirator different from that found in his fit test records then (f)(2) should be cited. Improper fit testing procedures would similarly be cited under the appropriate subparagraph in (f).
Dates 1910.134 (n): The final standard became effective April 8, 1998. By September 8, 1998, the employer must have evaluated the workplace to determine if respirator use is required. Compliance with all provisions is required no later than October 5, 1998.
Appendix A details fit testing protocols [see paragraph (f)(5)].
Appendix B-1 details User Seal Check Procedures [see paragraph g(1)(iii)].
Appendix B-2 details Respirator Cleaning Procedures [see paragraph (h)(1)].
Appendix C is the OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire [see paragraph (e)(2)].
Appendix D is Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard. This appendix must be provided to all employees who voluntarily use respirators. [see paragraph (c)(2), (k)(6)]
PEL Overexposures. Overexposures to Permissible Exposure Limits will usually be linked to compliance with the respirator standard. Most of these PEL's are listed in Tables Z1- Z3 in 1910.1000 and Appendix A in 1926.55.
Standards Regulating Toxic Substance Exposure. A number of industry-specific standards and substance-specific standards regulating exposure to toxic substances have been affected by the new respirator revisions. Many paragraphs from these standards that addressed respirator use, selection, and fit testing were deleted and now refer to the provisions in 1910.134. Violations will now be cited under the appropriate paragraphs of 1910.134.
Medical Records Access. The Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020 ) requires that employees have access to all medical and exposure records generated under this standard.
Classification and Grouping of Violations. The procedures in chapter III of the Field Inspection Reference Manual (FIRM) should be followed. The FIRM describes the circumstances, such as proposing Willful or Criminal violations, where the CSHO or AD may need to consult the Region or the Solicitor's office. The Citation Policy for Paperwork and Written Program Requirement Violations, CPL 2.111 , should be reviewed for guidance when citing the written program.
Authorization to Review Limited Medical Information. Appropriately qualified compliance personnel are authorized to review medical records and medical opinions pertinent to compliance with the Respiratory Protection Standard. There are four directives that address the limitations and procedures which are to be followed. They are OSHA Instruction(s) CPL 2-2.30 (Authorization to Review Medical Opinions); CPL 2-2.32 (Access to Biological Monitoring Results); CPL 2-2.33 (Written Access Orders); and CPL 2-2.46 (Authorization to Review Specific Medical Records). In general, each of these instructions defines "qualified compliance personnel" as a field-qualified Industrial Hygienist who is at the journeyman level or a professional with specific training or experience in medical disciplines. When inspections are conducted by teams, the Team leader should ensure that a team member is so qualified.
CSHO Experience. For all inspections on a site where respirators are used and the exposures are expected to be above the 8-hour TWA or the STEL, only experienced and properly trained CSHOs shall perform the on-site evaluations. CSHOs are expected to be knowledgeable of the:
Appropriate PPE to be worn. Each CSHO who will be expected to use PPE must be trained in the proper care, use, and limitations of the PPE.
Instructions for the use of respiratory protection by CSHO's are contained in OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.54. The CSHO should closely review and examine all the data available on site concerning the exposures or potential exposures in this particular location. If the employer cannot supply adequate data to support the selection of the types of respirators that are in use, the CSHO must not enter the areas where respirators are in use. If the hazard determination performed by the employer has been completed in accordance with the standard, the CSHO must don the appropriate respirator required in that work-site prior to the walkaround in areas where respirators are required.
Emergency Procedures. For all inspections on a site where OSHA personnel are investigating an emergency that involves hazardous substances, the CSHO must be knowledgeable of:
Appropriate training required by 29 CFR 1910.120, or any applicable annual refresher training;
The ARA for Technical Support must be consulted for assistance in determining the appropriateness of SCBA use by CSHOs.
Regional Administrators and Area Directors are responsible for implementing the CSHO Medical Examination program in accordance with OSHA Instruction, PER 8-2.5. This medical evaluation is more stringent than what is required by the revised Respiratory Protection Standard.
Many of the hazards that CSHO's may encounter are already regulated by the medical surveillance requirements in other OSHA standards. CSHOs who are required to wear any respiratory protection and Level A or B PPE must be medically cleared via the CSHO Physical Examination procedures.
Protection of OSHA Personnel. The paramount concern addressed in this section is the protection of the CSHO. Compliance Officers are reminded about Agency policy that requires that appropriate personal protective equipment be used when exposed to a hazard. When and if a CSHO is not adequately protected by the use of appropriate PPE, the CSHO should stay out of the contaminated area to avoid being overexposed to any hazardous substance.
Regional Administrators and Area Directors must ensure that appropriate PPE is available for the CSHO.
Eye and face protection must meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.133.
Rules of Thumb: Generalized rules or guidance can be generated from experimental work. Presented below is a rule of thumb for estimating organic vapor service life found in Chapter 36 of the American Industrial Hygiene Association publication
*If a chemical's boiling point is >70 C and the concentration is less than 200 ppm you can expect a service life of 8 hours at a normal work rate.
Note: This first rule of thumb needs further review.