Section 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. WSR 09-15-145, § 296-856-40030, filed 7/21/09, effective 9/1/09; WSR 07-05-072, § 296-856-40030, filed 2/20/07, effective 4/1/07; WSR 06-08-087, § 296-856-40030, filed 4/4/06, effective 9/1/06.]

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

Rules

296-841,296-842,296-856-30020,296-842,296-842,296-842-13005,