Respiratory Protection

When administrative and engineering controls are not feasible or do not provide adequate protection, respirators are worn to protect the user from airborne hazards such as particulates (dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, smoke) and gases/vapors.

What Information is on this page?

Written Program, How to Enroll in the Program, Important Information, Frequently Asked Questions, Additional Resources

 

Everyone who wears a respirator at UVM must be enrolled in the Respiratory Protection Program (RPP). 

Environments that might require the use of a respirator could include areas that may be oxygen deficient such as a confined space, or atmospheres that may be contaminated with toxic particulates, vapors or gases (i.e. asbestos, silica, pesticides, certain lab chemicals, paint fumes etc.).

This program also supports UVM personnel who choose to voluntarily wear a respirator in environments where it has been determined that they are not required or recommended.  

Please visit the UVM RPP SharePoint Site for specific updates and information.

UVM RRP SharePoint Site

Respiratory Hazard Pictogram Worker wearing Respirator, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection Types of Respirators

Respiratory Protection Program

The UVM Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) has been developed by the Occupational Health and Safety Office in an effort to assure safe work practices for UVM personnel who have known or potential exposure to airborne pollutants and wear a respirator.

Written Program (PDF)

How to Enroll in the UVM Respiratory Protection Program

Introduction
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Enrolling in the UVM RPP is a multi-step process designed for federal compliance. 

These program elements are required for all respirator users at UVM. Personnel who have been approved for voluntary use of disposable filtering facepiece respirators (dust mask, N95) are strongly encouraged to enroll in the program. 

The use of respirators is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) through the Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134).

1. Manager or Supervisor Completes a Respiratory Hazard Assessment
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A Hazard Assessment is a formalization of identifying and documenting any known or potential hazards and making a reasonable estimate of the occupational exposures anticipated to occur as a result of those hazards, including those likely to be encountered in reasonably foreseeable emergency situation. Certain activities may require the use of special work procedures, controls, or PPE, such as a respirator.

An initial Respiratory Hazard Assessment is done once per job task or grouped work procedures. It is then reviewed and updated when the following conditions are met: 

  1. When new equipment or processes are implemented,
  2. After an accident or injury has occurred,
  3. The suitability of previously selected PPE needs to be reevaluated, or
  4. Every three years following the initial assessment.

A hazard assessment will be performed by qualified individual(s), such as managers and/or supervisors. EHS staff are available to assist upon request.

Respiratory Hazard Assessment Form

A different format of the form can be provided if needed. 

The Hazard Assessment will include looking at engineering and administrative controls that can be used in the area and determines if you need to wear a respirator at all. If it is determined that a respirator is needed to conduct your work safely, the type of respirator will be determined through the assessment. 

Prior to the selection of respiratory protection, the University impacted department/college/unit must make a reasonable estimate of the employee exposures anticipated to occur as a result of those hazards, including those likely to be encountered in reasonably foreseeable emergency situations. As part of the hazard assessment the University has three options to use: Initial Exposure Assessment, Historical Data and/or Objective Data are all acceptable. When using Initial Exposure and Historical Data, a periodic monitoring plan must be in place to ensure exposure levels are acceptable. The affected UVM department is responsible for initiating and maintaining that plan with the support of EHS. 

The assessment may indicate that further evaluation is required or if air monitoring sampling may be needed to make a proper determination.

If the results of the Hazard Assessment indicate that you are required to wear a respirator, the next step is to take the required trainings. 

2. Student or Employee Submits a Respirator Use Request
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Each UVM Student or Employee required or recommended to use a respirator need to fill out and submit a Request Form. 

Respirator Use Request Form 

Upon request, a different format of the form can be provided. 

The Program Administrator will review the Respirator Use Request Form and determine if further investigation of the Hazard Assessment is required or recommended. You and a supervisor may be contacted to set up a time to conduct a Hazard Assessment of your work tasks.

3. Complete Respiratory Protection Training
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Who needs to take Respiratory Protection Training?

  • Managers and Supervisors that oversee personnel that use respirators.
  • Students and Employees that are required or recommended to wear a respirator.

Online and/or in-person training is an annual requirement before you can wear your respirator.  You will be trained on the use, care, and maintenance for the type of respirator you have been assigned.  

Online training must be completed every year.

Please go to Brightspace Course: 

Respiratory Protection Program Training and Enrollment  

Training Objectives:

  • How the respiratory systems works
  • Respiratory hazards and how they affect the respiratory system
  • Purpose of respiratory protection
  • Different types of respirators and their purposes
  • Proper fit, inspection, cleaning, and disinfecting, and storage of respirators
  • How to completely disassemble and assemble a respirator
  • Medical evaluations
  • Hierarchy of controls

Hands-on or Site-Specific training may be deemed necessary. 

4. Obtain Medical Clearance
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It is required to have an initial medical evaluation prior to using a respirator and then resubmitted every three (3) years.  Certain employees may require more frequent medical evaluations, such as employees in the Asbestos Management Program, the Lead/Lead Based Paint Program, or employees who are covered by the OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard.

If you are a student and have a MyWellbeing Account

Please go to 

MyWellbeing Account Login 

Under the Home menu enter "messages". Select the "new message" tab to find "I want to submit an OSHA Respiratory Screening"

 

If you are a UVM Employee (Staff and Faculty Members Only)

Please go to 

Champlain Medical Urgent Care | South Burlington, VT

A health care provider will review your medical questionnaire and determine if you are medically cleared to wear a respirator.  UVM's Occupational Health Program staff will contact you by email with the medical evaluation results. 

5. Get a Fit Test
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Once you have obtained medical clearance, you must be fit tested to ensure the proper fit and size of your respirator. 

There are two categories of fit tests

Qualitative (QLFT) – Relies on the individual's response to a test agent (e.g., irritant smoke). QLFT is used for fit testing negative pressure APRs that must achieve fit factors of less than 100.

Quantitative (QNFT) - Involves a numerical measurement of mask leakage

Concentration of a substance in ambient air/Concentration inside the respirator when worn

E.g., Condensation nuclei counter (TSI Portacount). Used for fit factors of 100 or greater. Must yield a fit factor of 100 or greater for half-mask or 500 or greater for full facepiece

For a Fit Test employees will be instructed to: 1) breathe normally, 2) breathe deeply, 3) turn head side to side, 4) move head up and down slowly, 5) read the VOSHA rainbow passage, 6) grimace, 7) bending over, repeatedly (or alternative to simulate physical demands of work on the device), 8) breathe normally.

An appointment for a fit test can be booked and scheduled by going to:

Respirator Fit Test_bookings

EHS staff may contact you to schedule your fit test after you have been medically cleared. 

Fit testing is an annual requirement. Additional fit tests should be scheduled during the year if you have had significant visible changes to your facial structure that could impact fit (dental surgery, significant weight loss/gain) or you are unable to get a good seal during a user seal check.

During the fit test, you will be shown the following:

  1. How to put on your respirator correctly,
  2. How to achieve a comfortable fit, and
  3. How to conduct a user seal check.

How To Prepare for Your Fit Test:

  1. Bring your personal respirator if you have already been assigned a make and model. Otherwise, several make and model sample respirators are available for those who do not yet have one.
  2. Bring proof of your medical clearance.
  3. Coming to your appointment, you CAN NOT have facial hair, jewelry, or cosmetics (excessive sunscreen, moisturizer, makeup, etc.) that impede on a proper fit. If this is not possible, contact ohealth@uvm.edu.
  4. Please avoid eating thirty minutes before your scheduled appointment.
  5. If you are a smoker, please refrain from smoking at least 1 hour before your fit test.

A fit test can take approximately 20-30 minutes. If for some reason you cannot keep your scheduled fit test appointment time, contact ohealth@uvm.edu in advance.  A technician is scheduled to conduct your fit test - please be respectful of their time.

6. Stay Up to Date on Program Requirements
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The Medical Evaluation Questionnaire must be submitted every three years.  Certain employees may require more frequent medical evaluations.

Fit testing and training are annual requirements and must be completed every year.  

These program elements are required for all respirator users at UVM.

Important Information for Respirator Use

Documentation and Evaluation

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The designated Program Administrator will maintain documentation of employee respirator selection, medical evaluation and potential/actual exposure to contaminants. The employee record is available to the respective employee, the immediate supervisor and any individual who has received approval from EHS.

Documented repair and maintenance of respirators includes the dates of respirator repairs, the name of the respirator user, the type of repair and parts used. During workplace safety audits and upon request, a designated, qualified individual from EHS will periodically inspect on-site procedures, equipment and program documentation. For laboratory use of respirators, such records should be maintained in the Lab Safety Notebook.

The respirator program will include an annual evaluation to be reviewed by EHS. The program may be reviewed as necessary and at any time.

Engineering and Administrative Controls

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To prevent illness or disease caused by breathing hazardous air in the workplace, administrative and engineering controls must be used to the extent possible to prevent contamination of the workplace atmosphere. Appropriate respirators must be used when engineering controls are not feasible, adequate or while they are being put in place.

Engineering controls physically change the work environment to reduce employee exposure to air contaminants. Such controls may include, but are not limited to:

  • Change of the work process (i.e., wet mop vs. dry sweep).
  • Substitution of less hazardous substances for more harmful materials (i.e., latex paints vs. oil based paints).
  • Isolation or enclosure of the work process or of employees (i.e., seal the doorway to where work is being performed).
  • Local exhaust or general dilution ventilation (i.e., use of chemical fume hoods or biological safety cabinets)

To ensure the administrative and engineering controls are sufficient to protect the employee's health for a particular hazard the affected department is responsible for contacting the Department of Risk Management and Safety.

Determining Voluntary Respirator Use

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The UVM Respiratory Protection Program is intended to protect employees against recognized health hazards.  However, an employee may be irritated by the presence of non-hazardous air contaminants, such as dust, pollen or dander.  In this case, the University will permit an employee to wear a disposable filtering facepiece (dust mask, N95) respirator for comfort reasons and will consider this Voluntary Use under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2).

Voluntary Respirator Use means:

  1. An exposure assessment has been conducted, and it has been determined that a respirator is NOT required to reduce exposures below their current levels, 

  2. The permissible exposure limits are not being exceeded. 

  3. The Program Administrator or other qualified person designated does not require, recommend, encourage or suggest that a respirator be used. 

Voluntary Respirator Use will be approved only when it is appropriate for protection against an irritating substance and when it poses no health risk to the wearer.

Once approved for Voluntary Respirator Use, the wearer must:

  1. Complete a VOSHA respirator medical questionnaire; and, once medically cleared for respirator use
  2. Complete the online training
  3. Read and understand the information contained in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, OSHA Respiratory Protection regulation
  4. Report any changes, questions or concerns in your work environment that may affect respirator use to your supervisor and EHS.

Respirator Selection

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Employees may not rely on respirators to control exposures when feasible engineering controls are available. When engineering controls are not sufficient, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators will be used.

Based on the information provided from the hazard assessment performed, a qualified individual(s) will identify and evaluate respiratory hazards and the logic in this section will be used to determine the appropriate type of respirator to be worn. Where a contaminant source is identified and cannot be reasonably estimated, it will be considered IDLH.

All respirators must be certified and bear an approval number by NIOSH. This includes all replaceable parts, disposable filters and fit testing equipment. Modifications of respirator equipment are not permitted beyond the manufacturer's intent, instructions or accessories.

The University will provide the appropriate respirators, when necessary, which are applicable and suitable for the purpose intended. Different brands, models and sizes will be available for the individual to achieve the most comfortable fit.

Canister/Cartridge and Filter Selection

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Managers and Supervisors shall ensure that all filters, cartridges and canisters used in the workplace are labeled and color coded with the NIOSH approval label and that the label is not removed and remains legible. 

Filter – A component used in respirators to remove solid or liquid aerosols from the inspired air. Also called air- purifying element.

High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter (HEPA) – Filter that is at least 99.97% efficient in removing monodisperse particulates of 0.3 micrometers in diameter.

Equivalent NIOSH 42 CFR 84 particulate filters are:

  • N100
  • R100
  • P100

Categories of Resistance to Oil:

  • N = Not resistant to Oil
  • R = Resistant to Oil
  • P = Oil proof

Percentage (%) of Filtering Efficiency:

  • 95 = filters 95% of airborne particles
  • 99 = filters 99% of airborne particles
  • 100 = filters at least 99.97% of airborne particles

Although there are nine (9) classes of filters for NIOSH-approved filtering facepiece respirators available at this time, ninety-five percent (95%) is the minimal level of filtration that will be approved by NIOSH. N95 and P100 are the most commonly used.

Canister or Cartridge – A container with a filter, sorbent, or catalyst, or combination of these items, which removes specific contaminants from the air passed through the container. The service life is a period of time that respirator, filter or sorbent or other respiratory equipment provides adequate protection to the wearer. An ESLI is a system that warns the user of the approach of the end of adequate respiratory protection; e.g., the sorbent is approaching saturation or is no longer effective. 

For canisters and cartridges without a built-in ESLI, the University will use a Respirator Change-Out Schedule. A change schedule is the part of a Sit-Specific Respiratory Protection Plan, which states how often cartridges should be replaced and what information was relied upon to make this judgment. A cartridge's useful service life is how long it provides adequate protection from harmful chemicals in the air. The service life of a cartridge depends upon many factors, including environmental conditions, breathing rate, cartridge filtering capacity, and the concentration of contaminants in the air. It is suggested that employers apply a safety factor to the service life estimate to assure that the change schedule is a conservative estimate. 

3M Cartridge and Filter Selection Poster

Honeywell North Cartridge and Filter Selection Chart

More information can be found at OSHA Respirator Change Schedules

Respirator Use

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A tight-fitting facepiece respirator is not to be worn if facial hair (24 hour growth or more) compromises the peripheral seal or valve function. If the employee is not receptive to removal of facial hair or if the assigned activity cannot be transferred to another employee, a positive pressure hood or helmet type respirator must be used, given that the respirator provides adequate protection.

Employees may wear corrective lenses or goggles, but they may not interfere with the seal of the facepiece to the face of the user. The University will provide spectacle kits and corrective lenses for use with tight-fitting full face respirators. Hard contact lenses are not to be worn with any PAPR or SAR. Soft contact lenses with a full face, helmeted or hooded respirator are allowed. Contact lenses are not recommended in dusty environments while wearing a half face respirator.

Every person assigned a respirator should complete the following procedures:

  • The respirator user will be responsible for routinely inspecting their assigned respirator for defects, signs of wear, and for replacing deteriorated parts.
  • Reusable respirators should be cleaned with warm water and disinfected on a daily basis. Particulate filters should be changed weekly when used a few hours a day on a daily basis. Filters should always be changed when breathing resistance is detected
  • The respirator should be stored in a safe, clean manner, in an area free from excessive dust, sunlight, temperature, moisture and chemicals. The storage area should be large enough so as to not disfigure the respirator.
  • If cartridges are to be re-used, they should be removed from the respirator and stored in a separate plastic bag. The respirator should be stored in a separate plastic bag as well.
  • Supervisory personnel will periodically monitor and inspect the use of respirators to ensure proper use and care.
  • The respirator is to be properly donned and a user seal check performed prior to every use. A negative user seal check is conducted by sealing the filter openings and inhaling. Air leakage should not be detectable. A positive user seal check is conducted after sealing the exhalation valve and exhaling until a slight bulge is achieved in the nose cup. Air leakage should not be detectable.
  • Positive User Seal Check Negative User Seal Check
  • Straps should be adjusted for a snug fit. The respirator should be properly fitted on the face, cheeks and nose-bridge with room for eye protection and limited talking.
  • Respirator straps should be worn inside the hood of the suit to avoid premature or accidental respirator removal.
  • Verbal communication should be kept to a minimum while wearing a respirator to avoid breaking the seal of the facepiece.
  • Always read cartridge and filter labels prior to use. Make certain purifying cartridges are NIOSH approved and provide the required protection for the specific contaminant.
  • Air purifying respirators MUST NOT BE USED for protection against gas or vapor, which does not have a warning property such as odor, taste, respiratory irritation or increased breathing resistance.
  • Air purifying respirators MUST ONLY BE USED when the warning properties of a gas or vapor are detectable before the contaminant reaches the VOSHA PEL level.

Special Considerations for Respirator Use

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Respirator Use in Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) Atmospheres

Workers must consider all oxygen deficient atmospheres to be IDLH. IDLH environments require the highest level of respiratory protection and reliability. UVM, as the employer, must provide either of the following for use in IDLH environments: full-facepiece pressure demand SCBA’s that are certified by NIOSH for a minimum service life of 30 minutes, or a combination full-facepiece pressure demand supplied air respirators with auxiliary self-contained air supply.

Respirator Use in Low Temperature Environments

A low temperature environment may cause fogging of the lens in a respiratory inlet covering and freezing or improper sealing, or both, of the exhalation valve. Coating the inside surface of the lens (i.e. recommended manufacturer’s product or saliva) may prevent fogging at low atmospheric temperatures approaching 0 degrees Centigrade (32 degrees Fahrenheit), but severe fogging of the lens may occur at temperatures below -18 degrees Centigrade (0 degrees Fahrenheit). Full facepieces are available with nose cups that direct the warm and moist exhaled air through the exhalation valve without contacting the lens. These facepieces should provide satisfactory vision at temperatures as low as -32 degrees Centigrade (-25 degrees Fahrenheit).

At very low atmospheric temperatures, the exhalation valve of a respirator may freeze open or closed due to the presence of moisture. Dry respirable air should be used with an air-line respirator and with the type of SCBA that employs a cylinder of air when these devices are used in a low temperature atmosphere. The dew point of this breathing air should be appropriate to the temperature of the atmospheric air. High pressure connections on SCBA may leak because of metal contractions at low atmospheric temperature.

These connections should not be over tightened, since they may break when the apparatus is returned to an atmosphere at normal room temperature. Some air-line type supplied air respirators may be equipped with a device called a vortex tube to warm the air supplied to the respirator inlet covering of the respirator.

Emergency use respirators that are stored in low temperature environments may require special elastomeric components that will retain their elasticity at low temperatures (i.e., regulator diaphragms, gaskets, and breathing tubes). Facepieces stored in low temperature environments can become stiff and distorted to a degree that may prevent an adequate seal of the face to the facepiece. Special care will be used to prevent distortion of facepieces stored at low temperatures. Some SCBA models have cold temperature accessories that may be utilized to help overcome these problems. The manufacturer's instructions will be followed when utilizing these cold temperature accessories.

Respirator Use in High Temperature Environments

A person working in a high temperature environment is under stress. Wearing a respirator in such an environment applies additional stress on the person. The additional stress, because of wearing a respirator in a high temperature environment, should be minimized by using a respirator having a low weight and offering low resistance to breathing. The air-line type supplied air respirator is recommended for use in a high temperature environment. Air-line type supply air respirators equipped with a vortex tube to cool the air supplied to the respirator inlet covering will substantially reduce the temperature of the air supplied to the respirator.

Elastomeric components of respirators stored in high temperature environments may deteriorate at an accelerated rate and the facepiece may become permanently distorted. Special care will be used to prevent facepiece distortion. All such respirators will be inspected and maintained at frequency rate that will prevent the use of respirators with deteriorated elastomeric components.

Breathing Air and Oxygen for Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs) and Supplied Air Respirators (SARs)

Compressed gaseous or liquid oxygen will meet the requirements of the United States Pharmacopoeia for medical or breathing oxygen.

Chemically generated oxygen will meet the requirements of U.S. Department of Defense Military Specification MIL- E-83252 or Military Specification MIL-O-15633c.

Compressed gaseous air will meet at least the requirements of the specification for Type C - Grade D breathing air.

Compressed gaseous air may contain low concentrations of oil. If high-pressure oxygen passes through oil or grease- coated orifice, an explosion or fire may occur. Therefore, compressed gaseous oxygen will not be used in supplied air respirators or in open circuit type self-contained breathing apparatus that have previously used compressed air. A compressor will be constructed and situated so as to avoid entry of contaminated air into the air supply system and will be equipped with a suitable in line air purifying sorbent bed and filter to further assure breathing air quality. If an oil lubricated compressor is used, it will be equipped with a high temperature alarm and a carbon monoxide alarm.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a respirator?

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A respirator is a protective facepiece, hood or helmet that is designed to protect the wearer against a variety of harmful airborne agents.

Can any respirator be used?

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No, respirators shall be selected on the basis of hazards to which the worker is exposed (i.e., particulates, vapors, oxygen-deficiency, or combination). Also, OSHA requires the use of certified respirators.

Why is a formal respirator program needed?

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A respirator program increases the chances of using a respirator correctly. A respirator will only protect if it is used correctly. Also, OSHA requires a number of written elements for all respiratory protection programs.

What do employees need to know about the respirator program?

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Employers must establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use. The provisions of the program include procedures for selection, medical evaluation, fit testing, training, use and care of respirators.

How is the proper respirator size determined?

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Proper respirator size is determined through a fit test. Employees using negative or positive pressure tight-fitting facepiece respirators must pass an appropriate fit test using the procedures detailed in OSHA’s respirator standard.

When is respirator fit testing required?

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Fit testing of all negative or positive pressure tight-fitting facepiece respirators is required prior to initial use, whenever a different respirator facepiece is used, and at least annually thereafter. An additional fit test is required whenever there are changes in the user’s physical condition that could affect respirator fit (e.g., facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight). The employer must be fit tested with the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used.

What is the proper way to store a respirator that is used routinely?

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Respirators must be stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals. They must also be packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve. A good method is to place them in individual storage bins. Keep in mind that respirator facepieces will become distorted and the straps will lose their elasticity if hung on a peg for a long time. Check for these problems before each use. Storing the respirator in a plastic sealable bag after use is not considered a good practice. The respirator may be damp after use and sealing prevents drying and encourages microbial growth. If plastic bags are used, respirators must be allowed to dry before storage.

Is training required before a respirator is used?

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Yes, training must be provided to employees who are required to use respirators. The training must be comprehensive, understandable, and recur annually, and more often if necessary.

Additional Resources and Information