WAC 296-856-40030   Respirators.  

     IMPORTANT:

     • The requirements in this section are in addition to the requirements found in the following separate chapters:

     – Respiratory hazards, chapter 296-841 WAC.

     – Respirators, chapter 296-842 WAC.

     • Medical evaluations meeting all requirements of Medical and emergency evaluations, WAC 296-856-30020, will fulfill the medical evaluations requirements found in Respirators, chapter 296-842 WAC, a separate chapter.

     You must:

     • Develop, implement, and maintain a respirator program as required by chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, which covers each employee required by this chapter to use a respirator.

     – Require that employees use respirators in any of the following circumstances:

     ▪ Employees are in an exposure control area.

     ▪ Feasible exposure controls are being put in place.

     ▪ Where you determine that exposure controls are not feasible.

     ▪ Feasible exposure controls do not reduce exposures to, or below, the PEL.

     ▪ Employees are performing tasks presumed to have exposures above the PEL.

     ▪ Emergencies.

     • Select, and provide to each employee who uses a respirator required by this chapter, an appropriate respirator as specified in this section and in WAC 296-842-13005 in the respirator rule.

     • Equip full-facepiece air-purifying respirators with cartridges or canisters approved for protection against formaldehyde.

     • Provide to employees, for escape, one of the following respirator options:

     – A self-contained breathing apparatus operated in demand or pressure-demand mode;

     OR

     – A full-facepiece air-purifying respirator equipped with a chin-style, or front- or back-mounted industrial size canister or cartridge.

     • Make sure all air-purifying respirator use is accompanied by eye protection either through the use of full-facepiece models or effective, gas-proof chemical goggles.

     • Provide employees with powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) when:

     – The employee has difficulty using a negative pressure respirator or a LHCP recommends this type of respirator;

     AND

     – The employee chooses to use this type of respirator.

     • Replace the chemical cartridges or canisters on air-purifying respirators;

     – When indicated by NIOSH-approved, end-of-service-life indicators if these are used;

     OR

     – When NIOSH-approved ESLIs aren't used:

     ▪ At times specified by your cartridge change schedule;

     OR

     ▪ At the end of the work shift, when this occurs before the time indicated by your cartridge change schedule.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 09-15-145, § 296-856-40030, filed 7/21/09, effective 9/1/09; 07-05-072, § 296-856-40030, filed 2/20/07, effective 4/1/07; 06-08-087, § 296-856-40030, filed 4/4/06, effective 9/1/06.]