CoatingsPro Magazine

JUL 2016

CoatingsPro offers an in-depth look at coatings based on case studies, successful business operation, new products, industry news, and the safe and profitable use of coatings and equipment.

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26 JULY 2016 COATINGSPROMAG.COM respirator. The most important factor in determining the best respi- rator for your individual needs is understanding the environmental factors involved on your jobsite through proper air sampling. Respirator and cartridge selection are determined by these two factors: 1. The results of your air sampling program; 2. The accepted NIOSH, OSHA, or American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) exposure limits for contaminants and the maximum use concentration of those substances. • Cartridge Life Expectancy Calculator: The Cartridge Life Expectancy Calculator is an interac- tive means to help determine when a specific cartridge should be replaced, based on length of use and concen- tration. OSHA requires respirator cartridge replacement on a fixed, predetermined schedule to avoid "time of break through." Breaking through occurs when the hazard- ous chemical breaks through the cartridge without being absorbed or collected by the protective barrier. The following information from the jobsite environment is needed to adequately utilize a Cartridge Life Expectancy Calculator: chemical hazard, exposure and concentration, temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, type of respi- rator being used, type of work and average breathing rate, and break through concentration preference. • Interactive Training Program: Most respirator manufacturers now offer training programs in CD format and/ or online through their websites. As part of an effective interactive training program, online courses are available to inform users about the respirator, how to wear it, and how to maintain it. These programs are a necessity as OSHA requires an employee training program on these topics. Online classes offer ease of use since they are available 24 hours a day, and end-users can be trained when it is convenient for them. Users should also consider consulting manufacturers for recom- mendations or for any questions on specific products. A nother source that may help is the A NSI Z88 Committee on Respirator y Protection. T hey have a voluntar y consensus standard, A NSI/ A IH A Z88.2, entitled, "Standard Practices for Respirator y Protection." T his standard is of special interest because it addresses the question of assigned protection factors (APF). APFs are the main factors used by thousands of employers when they select respirators to protect workers from different airborne hazards. T he A NSI standard recommends protective factors that are ver y similar to those in OSH A's proposal, except for a more conser vative APF for filtering face pieces (aka disposable respirators). Te standard also addresses other issues of key importance to the proper use of respiratory protection in the workplace and of interest to stakehold- ers, including: • Requirements for respiratory protection programs; • Standard operating procedures for programs; • Selection, limitation, and use of respirators; • Training; • Fit testing; • Maintenance, inspection, storage, and disposal; • Breathing air and oxygen-deficient atmospheres; • Record-keeping. Interested parties can obtain additional information about this standard or other activities of the ANSI Z88 Committee on Respiratory Protection by visiting www.ansi.org. Information on OSHA can be found at www.osha.gov. Standards First T here are var ious avenues that can help you w ith the tr ia ls and tr ibu- lations of respirator y standard compliance. To stay cur rent on the standards that per tain to your specif ic coatings-related industr y and specif ic work env ironment, it is a lways in your best interest to tur n to the NIOSH and OSH A websites f irst. Contacting the manufacturer of your equipment may a lso be of benef it to you and your crew. CP Dennis Capizzi is the Fire Service marketing manager for NFPA SCBA at MSA . A Pittsburgh native, he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Masters in Marketing and Global Business Management. He has worked with the ISEA on respiratory issues over the past three years and is currently a member of the Marketing Communications Committee. Articles that he has written concerning safety in the workplace and respiratory protection can be found in ISHN, Chemical Engineering, Protection Update, and Safet y + Health Magazine. MSA is a member company of the ISEA . For more information, contact: MSA Safety, www.msasafety.com, or ISEA , www.safetyequipment.org Figure 1. The chart above shows a simplified illustration of the requirements emloyers must follow to comply with the 29 CFR Part 1910.134 standard. Photos courtesy of MSA Safety Watch

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