Disclaimer:
The information and steps outlined in this article are intended to support in providing direction when running a respiratory protection program. Always consult a safety professional or occupational hygienist when conducting exposure monitoring and reviewing the results.
Delta Health and Safety provide products that comply with all relevant standards (NRCS, SABS etc) and homologation. These products are supplied in line with the findings of an occupational hygienist or safety professional. Unfortunately, we are not qualified to assist in the assessment process itself.
How to Create and Maintain an Effective Written Respiratory Protection Program
As part of our efforts in providing our clients with valuable and helpful knowledge on personal protective equipment, we have created a blog series that concentrates specifically on respiratory protection.
We have previously unpacked:
- The Six Steps to Creating a Successful Respirator Program
- How to Perform a Respiratory Exposure Assessment
In this article, we unpack how to keep a written respiratory protection program. This is the second step in setting up a respiratory protection program. It is vital in keeping staff safe and is required for compliance and auditing purposes.
Guidelines to Keep Your Employees Breathing Easy
Employees that work in environments with airborne chemical hazards require two things to keep them adequately protected:
- Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE): Fit-tested, trustworthy respirators that directly match the potential hazards of their environment.
- Knowledge – It is important that employees understand the detail of how to fit, use, inspect, store, clean and discard the RPE supplied to them. This should be provided in the form of a written respiratory protective program that can be used as a convenient reference guide.
In this article, Delta Health and Safety together with 3M, provide you with the guidelines you need to compile and maintain a written respiratory protection program.
The Key to Keeping an Up-To-Date Written Program
Appointing a knowledgeable administrator is key to developing a comprehensive written program and ensures that everyone has access to the general policies.
This will make complying with regulations easier.
Your program administrator must be knowledgeable in chemical exposure, respirator usage, and limitations. They must keep track of respirator fit-testing, storage, cleaning, and maintenance.
Their duty involves checking that the content in the written program stays updated and that rules and guidelines are being followed. This will give you the peace of mind that your employees and company are protected.
Describe Policies Used and Employee Responsibilities
The conditions at your workplace are unique and your written respiratory protection program must be specific to your working environment. All policies must be compliant with SAIOSH regulations.
The information in your written program must describe actual conditions and actions relevant to your location and application. All employees, from management to staff, should be able to refer to it at any time. This will help to keep all parties both protected and accountable.
Provide Specific Procedures for Each Part of the Safety Program
A well-formulated written program should spell out exactly what needs to be done in all phases of respiratory protection.
Below we unpack seven aspects that should always be considered when developing your procedures. Each has its own unique factors to be considered in the compiling of your program.
1 – Exposure Assessment
- Determine which methods to use to identify hazards.
- Establish acceptable levels of contamination and know if there is a need for respiratory protection.
At this stage, you need to constantly measure exposure levels and keep a record that will help you comply with regulations. This also enables clear and accurate communication on which safety measures are to be adhered to by employees.
2 – Respirator Selection
- Evaluate the use of chemicals to provide the clear and specific information needed in selecting a respirator.
There are different types of respiratory protection equipment often categorised according to the type of hazard they protect against. Delta Health and Safety is ready to help you select respirators that are matched to your environment.
3 – Medical Evaluation
- Ensure that copies of all medical evaluations and questionnaires are available.
During a medical evaluation, a professional or industry expert needs to document questionnaires with the help of your safety offer. This will allow you to notice any warning signs before you move to the fit testing process.
4 – Fit Testing
- Determine the fit-testing procedures used and include records of fit tests that were done.
Two types of tests can ensure that you are using the right respiratory for your environment and expected hazards.
Quantitative fit testing – a test performed by a machine to measure the precise amount of leakage into any tight-fitting face piece.
Qualitative fit testing – a pass or fail technique that identifies air leakage from respirators by using senses such as taste and smell.
Delta Health and Safety in conjunction with 3M can:
- conduct on-site fit testing
- supply equipment that allows you to perform your own fit testing as well as provide training on fit testing
- guide you on how to correctly wear, use and care for your RPE
5 – Respirator Training
- Provide training about respiratory hazards for new employees as well as annual training for the entire workforce.
Ensure that all your employees who use respirators undergo training and fit testing on an annual basis. This must include the following:
- Written procedures
- Respiratory hazards
- Uses and limitations
- Donning and adjustment
- Hands-on practice
- User seal check
- Maintenance and storage
- Medical signs and symptoms
- Training documentation
Be sure to document that your employees have been through the respirator training and can demonstrate an adequate understanding and memory of the protocols.
Record the successful completion of training and fit testing with documentation signed by all employees that are required to use respirators. Keep these in your written respiratory protection program.
6 – Respirator Maintenance
- Provide training for the usage, inspection, and cleaning of respirators in your workplace.
When it comes to equipment maintenance, document every detailed procedure. This includes the process for inspecting and cleaning respirators, and the schedule used for cartridge changes.
7 – Program Evaluation
- Evaluate the effectiveness of your respiratory program.
This is the documentation for the criteria used to audit the program and a summary of the findings. It is an annual process.
Ensure your Written Respiratory Protection Program Stays Current
Your appointed administrator must make sure that writing your program is an ongoing process. This includes keeping a record of every assessment conducted and any adjustments made to the program.
An annual review must take place to ensure that updates are regular and consistent. Your written program must also be easily accessible. We suggest keeping soft copies on a shared drive, or a physical file in a known and convenient location on site.