Professional Development for Health & Safety Experts

CIH Question 01/07/2021 – PPE

An industrial hygienist takes several random samples of diesel particulate matter on

railroad workers. The sample with the greatest concentration was 136 mg/m3, and the
95% Upper Tolerance Limit (UTL) is 246 mg/m3 (consider this the maximum use
concentration). What type of respirator is the minimum necessary to keep employee
exposures below the TLV of 100 mg/m3?

A. Half-face air-purifying respirator

B. Full-face air-purifying respirator
C. Positive air-purifying respirator with loose hood
D. Positive air-purifying respirator with tight-fitting hood

(Solution on next page)

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 Professional Development for Health & Safety Experts

Solution:

Step 1: Calculate the minimum APF required.

𝑀𝑈𝐶 𝐴𝑃𝐹 ∗ 𝑇𝐿𝑉

𝑀𝑈𝐶
𝐴𝑃𝐹
𝑇𝐿𝑉

246 𝑚𝑔/𝑚
𝐴𝑃𝐹 2.5
100 𝑚𝑔/𝑚

Step 2: Determine which respiratory type is the minimum required.

- Half-face air-purifying respirator APF = 10
- Full-face air-purifying respirator APF = 50
- Positive air-purifying respirator with loose hood APF = 25
- Positive air-purifying respirator with tight-fitting hood APF = 1000

The correct solution is A.

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Copyright © 2021 Bowen EHS – A Division of Bowen Learning Network, Inc.