1. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that institutions where employees use respiratory protective devices for protection from the respiratory hazards of airborne gases, vapors, fumes, or particulate matter establish a formal Respiratory Protection Program. The university's Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has developed and will maintain the program. A copy of the program will be provided to all departments where employees are required to wear respiratory protective devices.
2. This policy is applicable to all university employees, including student employees. Although OSHA standards are not applicable to students in an academic setting or to students participating in university approved activities, it is in the best interest of the university to ensure that exposure of students to biological, chemical, or radiological airborne contaminants be kept at the lowest level possible, but in all cases lower than the permissible exposure level established by the appropriate government agency. Academic exposures should always be controlled through administrative or engineering controls and not through use of respiratory protective devices.
3. For the purpose of this policy, a respiratory protective device (respirator) is either:

1. a mask that fits over the nose and mouth or the entire face and is equipped with a filter media designed to remove gases, vapors, fumes, or particulate matter from the air before it is breathed by the wearer of the respirator (this type of mask is classified as an air-purifying respirator); or,
2. a full-face mask to which a safe supply of breathing air is supplied to the wearer. This type of mask is referred to as an air-supplied respirator.

4. A reusable surgical mask and a disposable nuisance dust mask are not regulated as respirators under the OSHA standard.
5. Respirators are to be used only where engineering control of respiratory hazards is not feasible, while engineering controls are being installed, or during emergencies.
6. Should a student or contract employee, who is working under the supervision of a university employee, bring his/her personal respirator to the laboratory or work environment, the supervisor should notify EHS as soon as possible. The director of EHS will inform the individual that the practice of bringing a personal respirator to the laboratory or work environment is discouraged, unless there is a medical reason and the individual has been fit-tested for the respirator and received the required training and medical examination needed for the use of protective devices.
7. The Department of Environmental Health and Safety must be informed of every case involving chemical sensitivity and pregnancy. Refer to Wright Way Policy 6030 (Pregnancy in the Workplace and in Academic and Research Settings).

1. The director of EHS is responsible for all elements of the Respiratory Protection Program and has authority to make decisions to ensure success of the program. Those decisions include but are not limited to the employees authorized to wear respiratory devices, the condition under which they will be worn, the type of respirator to be worn, and approval of any university purchase of respiratory devices. The procedures can be amended only by the director of EHS. Instructions related to the elements of the program are contained in the Standard Operating Procedures manual that is available from EHS.
2. Supervisors of employees who use respirators are responsible for enforcement of the contents of the Respiratory Protection Program.

1. The elements of the Respiratory Protection Program are contained in the Standard Operating Procedures manual. The elements provide all the information required to maintain an effective respiratory program. A copy of the manual will be provided to employees who use respirators and to their supervisors.
2. Elements of the Respiratory Protection Program are:

1. Selection of respirators. Respirators will be selected on the basis of types of hazards to which an employee will be exposed. Respirators certified by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will be selected. Selection of the type of respirator to be used for a specific situation will be made by the director of EHS or his/her designee.
2. Education and training. Users of respirators and their immediate supervisors will be required to attend training sessions in the proper use and care of respirators. Training will follow OSHA and/or NIOSH requirements. The director of EHS or his/her designee will provide the training. Annual refresher training is mandatory.
3. Assignment of respirators. Air-purifying respirators will be provided to employees who require them as part of their assigned duties. Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), powered-air-purifying respirators (PAPR), and respirators intended for emergency escape only will be assigned to employees identified and approved by the director of EHS.
4. Maintenance of respiratory protective devices. An employee who has had an air-purifying respirator assigned for his/her personal use is responsible for cleaning, maintaining, and storing the device. Supervisors are responsible for overseeing that these procedures are followed. EHS will conduct annual, unannounced inspections. When SCBA and PAPR units are being used by more than one individual, procedures must be established to ensure that the units are cleaned and disinfected following each use.
5. Work area monitoring. The supervisor of any unit where respiratory protective devices are used will continually monitor work area conditions, as well as employees' exposure and/or stress which could result from use of the respirator. EHS also will monitor work area conditions and employees' exposure and/or stress.
6. Program review. Supervisors of employees who use respirators shall conduct periodic evaluations of the Respiratory Protection Program as it relates to their work area. In addition, EHS will conduct, minimally, an annual evaluation of the program to ensure its continued effectiveness.
7. Medical monitoring. An employee will not be assigned tasks that require a respirator unless it has been determined that he/she is physically able to perform the work and use the equipment. EHS will administer the medical monitoring requirements. The medical status of the user of the respirator will be reviewed annually.

A department in which an employee is required to use a respirator will be responsible for costs associated with fit-testing of respirators, purchase of respirators and spare parts, hydro-testing of pressurized cylinders, and providing eye lens holders (for employees who wear corrective eye glasses).