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Updates to NIOSH Respirator Standards
(Summary of Safety Breakfast Meeting held Wednesday, May 10, 1998)
RESPIRATOR STANDARDS CHANGE
Representatives of agriculture and other industries gathered recently
at California State University, Fresno to discuss safety and
certification standards for respirators. The event was the May 1998
Safety Breakfast Meeting hosted by the Center for Agricultural Business
(CAB).
Mike Castro, a sales representative for Moldex, a company that
manufacturers respirators and other safety equipment, was the featured
speaker for the gathering. Castro discussed updated respirator standards
established by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH). Previous standards, known as 30 CFR 11, were replaced by
particulate respirator certification standard 42 CFR 84 in 1995. “In a
nutshell, the filters have changed and the standards for testing have
changed,” Castro explained during the May 16 session.
In addition to the changes made by NIOSH for certification of
respirators, new regulations governing their use in the workplace also
have been established by the federal Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA). Among other things, OSHA mandates that any
employer providing respirators to its employees must use respirators
certified by NIOSH. The most recent OSHA regulations affect all
industries, including general industry, construction, shipyard,
longshoring, marine terminal workplaces, and agriculture, Castro noted.
Annual compliance costs for an estimated 1.3 million workplaces are
expected to be $111 million, or an average of $22 per employee.
The basic NIOSH standards for respirators outlined in 42 CFR 84 still
exist. However, the new OSHA regulations bring “...clarification on
issues such as beards and irritant smoke,” Castro explained.
During his presentation Castro provided information published by
Moldex to explain the standards for particulate respirators in the
workplace. Following are excerpts from that material, beginning with
questions and answers about respirators and their use, followed by more
specific information about 42 CFR 84:
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT RESPIRATORS
Q. What is a respirator?
A. Respirators are devices that cover the mouth and nose of the
wearer and help prevent that person from breathing in contaminants
present in the air. Respirators are designed to filter out contaminants
and to fit snugly to avoid leaks. Respirators, which have filters, must
meet minimum criteria and are tested and certified by NIOSH.
Q. What are the regulatory agencies involved with respiratory
protection?
A. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the
agency that enforces health and safety regulations in the workplace.
OSHA determines the appropriate respiratory protection for specific
hazards and enforces respirator use. NIOSH regulates the manufacture and
testing of respirators, but does not control their use. OSHA only allows
the use of NIOSH certified respirators.
Q. Is fit testing of respirators required?
A. Yes, OSHA requires that all respirators be fit tested in
accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134. A respirator must be fit tested before
is can be issued to a user. A new fit test must be conducted any time
the user changes respirator models or sizes. The Moldex Saccharin Fit
Test Kit is recommended for fit testing Moldex N95 respirators.
Q. What is a fit test?
A. Fit testing is a way of ensuring that a respirator fits each
individual wearer. Fit testing requires a subject to wear a respirator
and a person to administer the test. There are two types of fit tests:
quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative fit tests require
sophisticated monitoring instruments.
A qualitative fit test (QLFT) is a pass/fail test which requires the
wearer to detect a test agent. OSHA accepts three protocols, which use
isoamyl acetate (banana oil), saccharin, and irritant smoke as test
agents. The isoamyl acetate test is used for chemical cartridges and
relies on odor detection by the wearer. The Saccharin and Irritant Smoke
Tests are used for particulate respirators. The Saccharin test depends
on taste detection by the wearer and the irritant smoke test relies on
involuntary coughing by the wearer. The most popular QLFT test is
conducted with Saccharin.
Q. How is a qualitative fit test conducted?
A. A test administrator challenges a subject wearing an N95
respirator with a test aerosol. To perform a Saccharin fit test, the
subject will don the respirator and a fit test hood. The test aerosol is
sprayed inside the hood while the subject performs prescribed exercises.
For Moldex N95 HealthCare Particulate Respirators, Saccharin is
recommended. If the subject can taste the Saccharin, the respirator
fails the test and another respirator must be tested. Prior to
conducting the test, the administrator must determine if the subject can
detect the test agent. If the subject can't detect the test agent,
another one that can be detected must be used. The fit test procedure
requires about 15 to 20 minutes.
Q. Is a fit check the same as a fit test?
A. No. A fit check is not the same as a fit test, and it does not
take the place of a fit test. A wearer performs a fit check to determine
if the respirator has correctly sealed before a contaminated work area
is entered. A fit check is required each time the respirator is donned.
Q. How is a fit check performed on Moldex respirators?
A. A fit check should be performed by the wearer prior to entering a
contaminated area. A fit check is performed when the front of the
respirator is covered by cupping both hands over it. The wearer inhales quickly. A negative pressure should be felt inside the respirator. If
any leakage is detected at respirator edges, straps should be adjusted
by pulling them back along the sides and/or repositioning the
respirator. Repeat the fit check until the respirator seals to the face.
If you cannot get a proper fit, do not enter the contaminated area and
contact your supervisor.
Q. What else does OSHA require?
A. OSHA requires all employers providing respirators to their
employees to have a comprehensive respirator protection program in
place. This includes but is not limited to written standard operating
procedures, training, medical surveillance and fit testing. For more
information, refer to 29 CFR 1910.134 or call the Moldex Technical
Services Department for assistance in setting up a respiratory
protection program.
42 CFR 84 FILTER CLASSES
The regulation provides for nine classes of filters (three levels of
filter efficiency, with three categories of resistance to filter
efficiency degradation.) The three levels of filter efficiency are 95
percent, 99 percent, and 99.97 percent. The three categories of
resistance to filter efficiency degradation are labeled N (Not resistant
to oil), R (Resistant to oil), and P (oil Proof). These new
certification categories apply only to non-powered, air-purifying,
particulate-filter respirators. This rule also eliminated the
combination categories of paint spray and pesticide respirator
approvals; however, other combination respirators (e.g., particulates
and acid gases or organic vapors) will be certified under Part 84.
USE LIMITATIONS
The service life of filters in all three categories of filter
efficiency degradation (i.e., N, R, and P series) is limited by
considerations of hygiene, damage, and breathing resistance. All filters
should be replaced whenever they are damaged, soiled, or causing
noticeably increased breathing resistance (e.g., causing discomfort to
the wearer).
Specifically, N-series are effective against particulate aerosols
free of oils; and time-use restrictions may apply. R-series respirators
are effective against all particulate aerosols; and time-use
restrictions may apply. P-series respirators are effective against all
particulate aerosols.
HOW TO TELL IF A RESPIRATOR IS CERTIFIED UNDER 42 CFR 84
All 42 CFR 84 respirators have a certification number that starts
with 84. For example, 84A-0012. If the TC approval number does not begin
with 84, then it is not 42 CFR 84 certified.
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM
OSHA mandates that any employer that provides respirators to its
employees must implement a minimum 10-point program suggested in 29 CFR
1910.134. For information and assistance on setting up a respiratory
protection program, contact the Moldex Technical Services Department.
NIOSH USER GUIDE
Use limitations and selection criteria for the new class of
respirators are detailed in the “NIOSH Guide to the Selection and Use
of Particulate Respirators Certified Under 42 CFR 84,” document number
DHHS (NIOSH) publication No. 96-101. This publication should be reviewed
prior to buying or using any of the new class of respirators.
WHEN TO SWITCH TO THE NEW SERIES OF RESPIRATORS
Respirators certified under the old standard may be sold by
manufacturers until July 1998 and used at least until then. Moldex
respirators certified under 42 CFR 84 are available now, but they don't
have to be used immediately. Products certified under the old standard
still provide appropriate protection. However, you may check the NIOSH
user guidelines for your specific situation.
CONTACTS FOR MOLDEX PRODUCTS
Also present at the meeting was Ken McCollum, regional sales manager
for Jorgensen Co., which distributes Moldex and other manufacturers'
products. For more information, McCollum may be contacted through his
Fresno office at (559) 268-6241. Castro may be contacted through Western
Safety Associates of Castro Valley at (510) 719-6321.
UPCOMING SAFETY BREAKFAST MEETING
The next Safety Breakfast Meeting hosted by the Center for
Agricultural Business will focus on “Hearing Conservation, Not
Compensation.” Speaker Dorie Watkins, an industrial audiologist with
the Center for Hearing health, will address issues of hearing protection
in the workplace.
The meeting will be held Wednesday, June 10, 1998, from 7:30 to 9:30
a.m. in the CATI Conference Room at the California Agricultural
Technology Institute, 2910 E. Barstow Ave., Fresno, California. Persons
planning to attend are asked to RSVP to CAB at (559) 278-4405.
