PPE Appendix H

Environmental Health & Safety has developed a Respiratory Protection Program to comply with state and federal regulations and to coordinate efforts to reduce occupational respiratory exposures and prevent occupational illness. Respiratory protection is necessary whenever a hazardous concentration cannot be reduced below the Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) established by OSHA. All respiratory protection devices used at Virginia Tech must be certified by NIOSH and shall only be used in accordance with the terms of that certification and their assigned protection factors. All mandatory respiratory protection users must be enrolled in the Occupational Health Assurance Program administered by Environmental Health & Safety.

Departments and organizational units are responsible for identifying respiratory hazards to employees and students. A Respiratory Hazard Evaluation (RHE) form is available from Environmental Health & Safety to assist with this process. Once completed, it should be submitted to Environmental Health & Safety for review. Departments must notify Environmental Health & Safety of new employees who are required to wear respiratory protection as part of specific job duties as outlined in the pertaining standard operating procedures and must consult with Environmental Health & Safety prior to instituting such a requirement. 

All employees with consistent occupational exposure to any of the following general hazards should have their supervisors submit the RHE form to Environmental Health & Safety.

• Particulate contaminants (ex. stone dust, asbestos, lead dust, coal dust, fly ash, organic dust, etc.).
• Gas and vapor contaminants (ex. solvents, lacquers, acids, epoxy resins, etc.).

Note: Any employee required to perform work in oxygen-deficient atmospheres (ex. oxygen less than 19.5% by volume) must contact Environmental Health & Safety for additional training.

Once a respiratory hazard has been identified, the department must determine appropriate engineering or administrative controls for this hazard. Engineering control is most often achieved by the use of fume hoods, local exhaust ventilation, or substitution of the chemical of concern. An example of administrative control is changing work practices to decrease potential exposure. Environmental Health & Safety will assist with identifying appropriate controls upon request and perform follow-up evaluations as needed. If personal monitoring is deemed necessary, Environmental Health & Safety will perform it free of charge to the departments. Supervisors and employees will be informed of the findings in a timely manner.

The need for use of respiratory protection is determined based on the RHE, personal sampling results (if available), anticipated contaminant levels during any given task/job duty, and medical provider recommendations, when available.

When respiratory protection use is mandatory, respirator users must be enrolled in the Occupational Health Assurance Program (OHAP) administered by Environmental Health & Safety. Enrolling in this program is necessary to determine if a person is physically fit to wear certain types of respiratory protection. Environmental Health & Safety will identify the respirator that has an appropriate fit for each user during the fit testing process. The respirators and associated supplies are provided free of charge to the employee and paid for by their respective departments.

When an employee chooses to wear respiratory protection for his/her personal comfort, even when not exposed to levels of respiratory hazards above any permissible limits, the use of such respirators is considered voluntary. Their departments may or may not choose to pay for voluntary-use respirators.

When an employee is enrolled in the Respiratory Protection Program or OHAP, s/he receives the following services:

• Annual medical evaluation (pulmonary function test if deemed appropriate by Environmental Health & Safety, and Respirator Questionnaire),
• Annual respiratory protection training,
• Initial respirator selection and fit-testing (annual fit-testing thereafter).

There are two primary types of respiratory protective devices that may be used when engineering or administrative controls are not feasible, effective, or are in the process of being implemented.

Air-purifying Respirators

• Remove particles and certain vapor and gas contaminants from the air prior to inhalation by a cartridge or canister, which is affixed to the respirator face piece.
• Must not be used in oxygen-deficient atmospheres, or in atmospheres that are "immediately dangerous to life and health" (IDLH).
• May be powered (PAPR) or non-powered (i.e. tight-fitting half and full face units).

Air-supplying Respirators

• Supply breathing air to the face piece from a separate air source, such as a cylinder. 
• May be used in oxygen-deficient and/or in highly toxic atmospheres,
• Include self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and supplied-air respirators (SAR). Specialized training is required prior to use.

Environmental Health & Safety makes recommendations for appropriate respiratory protection based on hazard evaluation, monitoring, anticipated levels of exposure and medical provider requests, if available. One or more types of respirators are usually acceptable for any given situation. Priority will be given to respirators that have a high user acceptance factor and accommodate proper use of any additional PPE that is required by a particular work environment.

• Respirators for use in areas where biohazardous agents are used or stored must be selected based on a review of the biohazardous agent, workstation design, standard operating procedures, and protocols. The Environmental Health & Safety biosafety officer will determine appropriate biosafety levels for laboratories and will work with Environmental Health & Safety industrial hygienists to determine corresponding required personal protective equipment. 
• Although exposure to airborne animal dusts is not currently regulated to protect workers from developing allergic problems, there is a large body of evidence indicating that animal handling can induce respiratory health problems, such as asthma, allergic reactions, or sensitizations. Enrollment in the Respiratory Protection Program is available for any employee who chooses to wear a tight-fitting respirator in order to perform animal care related job duties.
• No Virginia Tech employee is permitted to enter a space that might present a situation that is "immediately dangerous to life and health" (IDLH) without a thorough evaluation and implementing appropriate precautions. Environmental Health & Safety must be notified immediately to determine appropriate controls, precautions, training, and equipment necessary for safe entry. If the space is a confined space, additional training is required from Environmental Health & Safety.
• Emergency escape respirators may be kept in work areas identified as having the potential for dangerous leaks or spills. Environmental Health & Safety must be notified so that appropriate standard operating procedures, respirator inspection schedules, and emergency management planning can be developed in conjunction with the department.

Respirators must be used, maintained, and stored according to the manufacturer's recommendations and/or the Respiratory Protection Program requirements.