WAC 296-155-17317   Respiratory protection.  (1) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide each employee with an appropriate respirator that complies with the requirements of this section. Respirators must be used during:

     (a) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls.

     (b) Work operations, such as maintenance and repair activities and spray application processes, for which engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible.

     (c) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PELs.

     (d) Emergencies.

     (2) Respirator program. The employer must develop, implement and maintain a respiratory protection program as required by chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, which covers each employee required by this chapter to use a respirator.

     (3) Respirator selection.

     (a) The employer must select and provide to employees appropriate respirators as specified in this section and WAC 296-842-13005 in the respirator rule.

     (b) An employee who cannot use a negative-pressure respirator must be given the option of using a positive-pressure respirator, or a supplied-air respirator operated in the continuous-flow or pressure-demand mode.

     (c) Provide HEPA filters or N-, R-, or P-100 filters for powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) and negative-pressure air-purifying respirators.

     (d) Provide to employees, for escape, one of the following respirator options:

     (i) Any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece or hood, operated in the positive-pressure or continuous-flow mode

     OR

     (ii) A full facepiece air-purifying respirator.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 09-15-145, § 296-155-17317, filed 7/21/09, effective 9/1/09; 07-05-072, § 296-155-17317, filed 2/20/07, effective 4/1/07; 05-03-093, § 296-155-17317, filed 1/18/05, effective 3/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,[49.17].040 and [49.17].050. 99-10-071, § 296-155-17317, filed 5/4/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 93-04-111 (Order 92-15), § 296-155-17317, filed 2/3/93, effective 3/15/93.]