Respiratory Protection

Longwood University Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has developed a Respiratory Protection Program to promote a safe work environment and to protect the health and safety of Longwood University faculty and staff who are potentially exposed to airborne contaminants or may occupy an oxygen deficient atmosphere.

This program ensures that Longwood University complies with the requirements of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134.  This standard applies to all employees who are required to wear a respirator for any of their job tasks.

The Respiratory Protection Program applies to all Longwood University faculty and staff who are exposed to airborne contaminants that cannot be controlled through engineering or administrative controls.  Employees who anticipate wearing respiratory equipment during an emergency incident are also covered.

Respirators for the purpose of this program include: N95 respirator, half face respirators, full face respirators, air-purifying respirator (APRs), supplied-air respirator (SARs) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).  Surgical mask and nuisance dust mask are not part of this program.

This program has the following objectives:

* Identify employees that are exposed to hazardous levels of airborne contaminants or become involved in tasks that take place in oxygen deficient atmospheres

* Choose a respirator and filter or cartridge that will offer adequate protection.  If a filter or cartridge doesn’t offer adequate protection, supplied air respirator may be needed such as a SCBA

* Conduct all required medical surveillance to ensure that employees are physically able to wear respiratory protection

* Fit test all employees who are required to wear a respirator during their work task

* Train employees who are required to wear a respirator on the proper use, maintenance and storage of the respirator

Voluntary Use of Respirators

If Longwood University provides respirators for voluntary use, or if you provide your own respirator, you need to take certain precautions to be sure that the respirator itself does not present a hazard.

You should do the following:

* Read and heed all instructions provided by the manufacturer on use, maintenance, cleaning and care, and warnings regarding the respirators limitations.

* Choose respirators certified for use to protect against contaminate of concern. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, certifies respirators. A label or statement of certification should appear on the respirator or respirator packaging.  It will tell you what the respirator is designed for and how much it will protect you.

* Do not wear your respirator into atmospheres containing contaminants for which the respirator is not designed to protect against.  For example, a respirator designed to filter dust particles will not protect you against gases, vapors or very small solid particles of fumes or smoke.

* Keep track of you respirator so that you do not mistakenly use someone else’s respirator.

For more information or a written copy of the Longwood University’s Respirator Protection Program please send an email to safety@longwood.edu