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Use of Personal Protective Equipment For Respiratory Protection
Use of Personal Protective Equipment For Respiratory Protection
E
ffective management of occupational hazards in bio-
processes that might result in exposures. Properly and ef-
medical research facilities requires the application of
fectively communicating these risks and the potential result
the traditional industrial hygiene responsiblities of an-
of exposure to the respirator user will increase the probabil-
ticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control. Managing
ity of the respirator being used at the correct times and in the
risks includes characterizing the work environment, evalu-
correct manner. During these communications, it is also
ating work tasks and equipment, identifying hazardous
possible to obtain additional information and to suggest po-
agents, and defining exposure groups. Hazards can then be
tential solutions for reducing exposure potentials via open
further defined and the risks quantified through industrial
dialogue with the researchers performing the respective
hygiene samples and subsequent analyses of the derived
tasks.
data and comparisons with acceptable standards. The prod-
uct of recognition and evaluation is an understanding of
1
Edward V. Sargent, M.P.H., Ph.D., is Senior Director of the Department of Abbreviations used in this article: ANSI, American National Standards
Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Merck and Company, Institute; APF, assigned protection factor; NIOSH, National Institute for
Inc., Whitehouse Station, New Jersey; and Frank Gallo, MS, is Project Occupational Safety and Health; OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health
Engineer in the Department of Safety and Industrial Hygiene, Merck and Administration; PAPR, powered air-purifying respirator; PPE, personal
Company, Inc., Rahway, New Jersey. protective equipment; SCBA, self-contained breathing apparatus.
52 ILAR Journal
Safety Standards derscores the primacy of engineering measures in this hier-
archy of exposure control:
In the United States, minimum safety standards for labora-
tories specifically are established by the federal Occupa- “In control of those occupational diseases caused by
tional Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA 1 ) breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs,
Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Labora- fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays or vapors the pri-
tories (OSHA 1990) and Hazard Communication Standards mary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contami-
(OSHA 1994). A hazardous chemical is often defined as a nation. This shall be accomplished as far as feasible by
chemical for which “at least one study conducted in accor- accepted engineering control measures. When effective
engineering control measures are not feasible, or while
dance with established scientific principles exists that acute
they are being instituted, appropriate respirators shall be
or chronic health effects may occur in exposed workers.”
used pursuant to this section.”
Materials categorized as health hazards include irritants,
corrosives, sensitizers, potent toxins, carcinogens, genotox-
It is clear that respiratory protection should not be con-
ins, and chemicals that can affect target organs such as
54 ILAR Journal
same basic manner. The blower motor draws a calibrated pirators. The more complex the respirator (e.g., SCBA), the
and specified volume of air through the filters and/or can- more complex the training. Training should start with a
isters/cartridges; the filtered air is then distributed to either discussion of the reasons respiratory protection is required
a tight-fitting mask or a loose-fitting helmet/hood assembly. and should include the nature, extent, and effects of respi-
The user is not required to overcome the resistance of the ratory hazards. The operational capabilities and limitations
filtering media, which reduces the fatigue that can some- of the respirator selected should be reviewed, followed by
times be a problem with using negative-pressure respirators. instructions for inspecting, donning, cleaning, maintaining,
In addition, because PAPRs deliver a constant flow of air, and storing the respirators. Specific instructions for proper
there is a slight cooling effect to the user if a loose-fitting use and limitations during emergency situations should also
hood or helmet is used. This characteristic may also be be included in the training.
considered a disadvantage because there is a constant flow
of potentially contaminated air being drawn through the
filter media. Reduction of the service life may also be a Respirator Fit Testing
consideration.
Respirators should be cleaned routinely after each use and Respiratory protection is a critical aspect in the effective
sanitized when used by more than one person, and emer- control of occupational hazards in laboratories. Because
gency-use respirators should be cleaned and sanitized after biomedical research facilities present unique occupational
each use (Colton 1991). During inspection, respirators environments, special considerations are needed in making
56 ILAR Journal