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themselves and others. Relate that preventive Correcting improper use through
drug therapy can result in serious health effects immediate constructive feedback
(e.g., liver damage).
Acting as a role model by properly
Believe that the respirator can control following respiratory use procedures
the risk
The worker must understand that the use of a Consistently enforcing respirator policy
respirator can effectively reduce the risk of for employees
exposure. To convey this information, explain
the way respirators work and the importance of Make workers aware of their own role in
proper use, fit-testing, and maintenance. Use motivating others to wear respirators. Peer
the fit-testing exercise to simulate leakage, and influences are often effective in encouraging
give the worker a sense of how a toxic agent can self-protective behavior. Inform physicians that
be inhaled if the seal is not sufficient. Workers they often serve as role models for other
need to know the basic principles of respirator hospital workers, and that by the simple act of
operation in order to accept them and believe they wearing a respirator, they may be encouraging
can provide protection if used properly. many other workers to wear respirators.
Unfortunately, the opposite may also be true.
Believe that the benefits of respirator
use outweigh the barriers
Environmental and Organizational
Wearing a respirator is a major inconvenience Supports
to most workers. A training program that
ignores this point lacks credibility. Instead, A safety management program cannot succeed
emphasize that despite the drawbacks, wearing without the sincere support and commitment of
a respirator and protecting one’s health are the highest levels of the organization. A token
worth the inconvenience. or superficial endorsement of the safety pro-
gram is quickly perceived by members of the or-
ganization as manipulative and hypocritical; it
Additional Responsibilities of the is likely to produce resentment and resistance.
Supervisor Steps an organization can take to demonstrate
In addition to providing workers with the kind its level of commitment to the respiratory pro-
of information described above, the immediate tection program might include the following:
supervisor must take steps to assure that work-
ers’ intentions to wear respirators are carried
over and sustained in the workplace. This is a Developing and distributing a written
continuing responsibility of the supervisor— respiratory protection policy
much like work scheduling and production
oversight. The supervisor must convey to the Establishing a visible and formal training
worker his or her commitment to the respirator program documenting worker training
program through actions as well as words. Ex-
amples of what this requires from the supervi- Including safety as a topic on the agenda
sor are as follows: at all meetings
Actively monitoring respirator use Tracking and documenting worker
training
Periodically complementing workers for
proper respirator use
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