Masonry Magazine July 2001 Page. 27
Respiratory Protection
Respirators protect workers from silica dust. The respirators must be approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Health Administration (MSHA) approval number. The instructions should provide a description of protection the respirator offers. If work includes sandblasting, a type CE abrasive-blasting respirator will be needed.
Before issuing any respirator, a medical evaluation must be performed. The OSHA standard contains a medical questionnaire for the evaluation. A licensed health care professional, such as an occupational nurse or a physician, must be available to answer employee questions and evaluate the results. Everyone must be trained and fit-tested to use their respirator. The fit-test must be performed by someone competent. They can decide whether to perform a quantitative or qualitative test. Quantitative tests involve the use of measuring devices which determine the amount of contaminants that leak into the system. During a qualitative fit test an irritant, such as smoke or banana oil, is introduced into the breathing space while an individual is wearing the respirator. If the irritant is detected, the respirator must be refitted or another respirator selected. Training and fit tests must be conducted annually.
The use of the respirator must be constantly monitored and a program evaluation performed annually. Employees should conduct a fit check before each use. Anything that compromises a proper seal must be prohibited. Chewing gum or tobacco should not be allowed. Facial hair must be removed. Hair, even stubble, can interfere with a proper seal. Proper inspection, maintenance, cleaning and storing procedures must be established and followed. All procedures, medical evaluations and tests must be recorded.
For assistance with your Respiratory Protection program or to get more information on silica hazards, consult the OSHA web site (www.osha.gov). Helpful materials include a Respiratory Protection Small Entity Compliance Guide and advisory software for Respiratory Protection and Silica. Additional documents on these topics, as well as other hazards, can be found using their search engine or alphabetical index. MCAA is another resource. It publishes the Masonry Safety Training Topics which offer training materials on the silica and respiratory protection and CompliancePlus software, a management tool for developing written programs and maintaining records.
The OSHA PEL for silica is 250/% of silica + 5. For more information consult 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1926.55 Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts and mists.
Joseph O'Connor is Executive Vice President of Intec, Inc. He currently serves as a national representative for various employer organizations participating in OSHA-ACCOSH work groups and ANSI committees.
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