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NIOSH Recommended Steps orSteps
is physically able to safely do the work while NIOSH Recommended f for
using the respiratory protection equipment. I Improving hemproving t the K and
Knowledgenowledge and SkillsSkills
The physician must determine what health and
Program
of he rogramf
Administratordministrator
physical conditions are pertinent. The o t the P A
respirator user's medical status should be
reviewed periodically (e.g., annually). Become completely familiar with and un-
derstand the OSHA respirator standard.
Respirators must be selected from those Also understand standards, interpreta-
approved by the National Institute for Occupa- tion letters, and field manuals which
tional Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the provide interpretation and inspection
provisions of 42 CFR 84 or 30 CFR 11 (high- methods used by OSHA inspectors (see
efficiency particulate air [HEPA] filter only). Appendix B).
If a health care facility uses respirators for Attend a respirator course given by com-
worker protection against other regulated haz- mercial vendors and NIOSH Educational
ards (e.g., formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, etc.), Resource Centers.
then a respirator program must be imple-
mented for these hazards that incorporate all Obtain materials from respirator manufac-
the requirements of OSHA standard 1910.134. turers. These include VCR tapes, slide
shows, publications, etc.
NOTE: Each of these requirements will be addressed in Read and understand the NIOSH Guide to
more detail throughout this document. Industrial Respiratory Protection [Bollinger
and Schutz 1987], the American National
Standard for Respiratory Protection [ANSI
Z88.2-1992], the American Industrial Hy-
Respiratorespirator ProgramProgram AdministrationAdministration
R giene Association Respiratory Protection
Manual [AIHA 1993], and the Centers for
G e n e r a le n e r a l
G Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guide-
lines for Preventing the Transmission of My-
For a respirator program to be properly estab- cobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care
lished and effective on a continuing basis, Facilities [CDC 1994].
written SOPs must be established. One person
(the program administrator) must be in charge Read respirator articles in the American
Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, Ap-
of the program and be given the authority and
responsibility to manage all aspects of the plied Occupational and Environmental Hy-
giene, and other journals. The Internet may
program. The administrator must have suffi- also be a source of information.
cient knowledge (obtained by training or
experience) to develop and implement a respi- Read books on respiratory protection
ratory protection program. Preferably, he or available from The American Industrial
she should have a background in industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), The Ameri-
hygiene, safety, health care, or engineering. can Conference of Governmental Indus-
The program administrator should report to trial Hygienists (ACGIH), and others.
the highest official possible (manager of the
safety department, supervisor of nurses, Visit installations (health care and others)
worker health manager, infection control that have ongoing respiratory protection
manager, etc.) and should be given sufficient programs.
time to administer the respirator program in
addition to any other duties assigned.
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