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dohmh general respiratory protection program 1.0 policy the occupational safety and health administration osha respiratory protection standard 29 cfr 1910.134 requires employers to establish and implement a written respiratory protection program rpp and that respirators be provided and be effective when such equipment is necessary to protect the health of employees respirators are the last line of defense with the ultimate goal being control of respiratory hazards at the point of generation through engineering methods e.g ventilation or administrative controls e.g work practices respirators shall only be used to protect employees from inhalation hazards in the following circumstances 1 when other options for hazard control i.e use of engineering controls or substitution of less toxic materials are infeasible 2 while engineering controls are being installed or repaired or 3 during emergencies respiratory protection is provided at no cost to the employee 2.0 responsibilities dohmh rpa the department of health and mental hygiene dohmh respiratory protection program administrator rpa is responsible for overall administration and evaluation of the respiratory protection program rpp the director of health and safety services hss or designee is the agency s rpa the rpa · assists programs in identifying work areas processes or tasks that require respiratory protection · provide training on respiratory protection and fit testing · selects and approves respirators for use in the agency · monitors osha policy and standards for changes and make changes to agency s policy · arrange for and/or conduct training and fit testing for programs needing assistance · ensure proper storage and maintenance of respiratory protection equipment program-level coordinators programs having a large number of respirator users will assign a program-level division or bureau coordinator who is responsible for overseeing the respiratory protection program on a day-to-day basis the coordinator · · · · · · implements requirements outlined in this program coordinates with the dohmh rpa is trained in respiratory protection principles and fit testing procedures conducts annual training and fit testing for program staff annually review and update program-specific rpp maintain records of annual fit testing and training in central database currently there are three programs that have a respirator program coordinator · · · the office of the chief medical examiner ocme diego bastidas 212 323-1488 the bureau of public health labs phl adefela ogunkeyede 212 447-2540 the bureau of tuberculosis tb albert danquah 347 396-7467 january 29 2010 1

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supervisors supervisors are responsible for ensuring compliance with the respiratory protection program in their particular units supervisors · · · · ensure that their employees who use respirators follow all requirements of the program notify coordinators or rpa of problems with respirator use or changes in work processes that would impact airborne contaminant levels identify new employees or transferred employees who may be covered by this program and arrange for respirator certification medical clearance training fittest ensure appropriate respirators are in stock and readily available employee · · · · · comply with all program requirements participate in all trainings use provided respirator when indicated and in accordance with training provided routinely inspect and maintain equipment report malfunctions or concerns 3.0 program elements 3.1 exposure assessments to comply with osha requirements for respirator selection 1910.134d and 1910.1450d a hazard assessment must be conducted to determine if respiratory protection is required hazard assessments are performed or at least overseen by hss [the exception is risk assessments for exposure to mycobacterium tuberculosis which will be jointly conducted by hss and the bureau of tb the evaluation will include a review of the task/process for which the respirator will be used the hazardous substance associated with the task/process the conditions of use the potential for elevated airborne concentrations the availability of engineering controls and any past monitoring data additional exposure monitoring may be warranted programs or employees who identify new projects tasks or locations with potential hazardous atmospheres must contact hss for assessment documentation of this work area evaluation and exposure assessment will be compiled and retained by hss using a central database or other suitable format e.g memorandum 3.2 respirator selection cartridges and filters are selected to match the hazards of the work environment at dohmh disposable n95 respirators are typically sufficient for most routine work operations to protect against airborne diseases and from most particulates e.g soot mold some tasks require the use of a p100 respirator or negative air purifying respirators aprs with cartridges powered air purifying respirators paprs are available for employees at limited locations and programs during high risk procedures e.g public health labs and in reasonable accommodation cases when the employee cannot wear a filtering facepiece respirator selection for emergency use depends on anticipated tasks/functions and the potential airborne hazard associated with the emergency in most cases the respirator selected for emergency use is identical to those used for routine tasks i.e n95s at this time dohmh employees are not anticipated to perform emergency tasks under idlh immediately dangerous to life or health which would require the use of atmosphere-supplying respirators supply airline respirators or positive pressure-demand self contained january 29 2010 2

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breathing apparatus scba in the unlikely event that an employee is assigned to such a task the employee and affected program will be provided with information on the selection fitting use and care of that respirator 3.3 medical evaluation medical clearance prior to wearing a respirator whether for work or for fit testing each employee must be medically screened by a qualified physician or other licensed health care professional plhcp to determine his or her fitness to wear a respirator the process is described in detail in appendix k additional medical evaluations are required whenever one or more of the following events occur 1 the employee reports symptoms related to his or her ability to use a respirator 2 the plhcp respiratory protection program administrator or supervisor determines that a medical reevaluation is necessary 3 information from the respiratory protection program suggests a need for reevaluation 4 workplace conditions such as protective clothing temperature or level of work effort have significantly changed 3.4 respirator training 3.4.1 required use respirator users and their supervisors will receive training on the contents of the dohmh respiratory protection program and their responsibilities under it they will be trained on the proper selection and use as well as the limitations of the respirator training also covers how to ensure a proper fit before use and how to determine when a respirator is no longer providing the protection intended all respirator wearers should be trained in the use maintenance capabilities and limitations of respirators is initially upon assignment of personnel to tasks requiring the use of respirators retraining is given annually thereafter and only upon successful completion of the medical evaluation the training program will include the following 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 nature and degree of respiratory hazard respirator selection based on the hazard and respirator capabilities and limitations instruction on the procedures for inspection donning and removal checking the fit and seals and wearing of the respirator care of the respirator e.g need for cleaning maintenance storage and/or replacement use and limitations of respirator medical signs and symptoms associated with wearing respirators the location and availability of the written respiratory program an explanation of the user s responsibilities under the respirator protection program explanation of the medical evaluation required by osha and this written program respirator training will be properly documented by the program coordinator or rpa and will include the type and model of respirator for which the individual has been trained and fit tested 3.4.2 voluntary use of respirators when respirator use is not required but requested by the employee the employee must at a minimum be medically cleared to use a respirator and provided information in accordance with appendix d of 29 cfr 1910.134 mandatory information for employees using respirators when not required under the standard see attachment j the program coordinator or rpa shall ensure the respirator being used voluntarily has been appropriately selected based on the expected hazard and conditions of use annual fit january 29 2010 3

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testing is not required 3.5 annual respirator fit testing before an employee may be required to use any respirator with a negative or positive pressure tightfitting facepiece the employee must be fit tested with the same make model style and size of respirator that will be used fit testing must occur annually programs are responsible for arranging for fit tests with the program-level coordinator or hss an additional fit test is also necessary whenever a participating employee · · · · has significant dental surgery that alters the shape of his/her face sustains injury exhibits new facial scarring or has undergone any other medical procedure that alters the shape of his/her face has a weight change of greater than 10-15 pounds depending on body frame size or will be issued a respirator of another brand model or size than the one s/he was fit tested for previously annual fit testing is generally scheduled in conjunction with annual refresher training if employees are using disposable respirators then the fit tester will provide the employee with a selection of those stocked by dohmh if the employee is individually issued a respirator e.g half face respirators that employee is responsible for bringing the actual respirator and correct cartridges to the fit test upon successful completion of the fit test the program coordinator or rpa will document the fit test results in the dohmh central respirator fit test database employees receive a copy of fit test and training record and if the program has a designated program-level coordinator see 2.0 responsibilities for current designated staff the employee should provide a copy of the record to be maintained on file by each program in accordance with their recordkeeping policy 3.6 facepiece seal problems 3.6.1 facial hair per osha 1910.134g 1 i a individuals required to wear respirators with tight-fitting facepieces shall not have facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function or any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function in order to ensure proper fit of respirator protection employees must not have hair growth between the skin and the facepiece sealing surface such as stubble beard growth beard mustache or sideburns which crosses the respirator sealing surface during the fit test subsequent re-qualifications and during all respirator use for emergency respirator users or for intermittent use individuals not normally requiring respiratory protection for day-to-day functions may grow facial hair when the dohmh ics is activated individuals assigned to tasks requiring respiratory protection utilizing a face-to-facepiece seal employees must be cleanly shaven in the area of the face seal of the respirator individuals who cannot be clean shaven due to documented medical conditions or documented religious restrictions will be reviewed on a case by case basis january 29 2010 4

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3.6.2 glasses and eye/face protective devices proper fitting of a respiratory protective device facepiece for individuals wearing corrective eyeglasses or goggles may not be established if temple bars or straps extend through the sealing edge of the facepiece if eyeglasses goggles face shield or welding helmet must be worn with a respirator they must be worn so as not to adversely affect the seal of the facepiece if a fullfacepiece respirator is used special prescription glasses inserts should be provided by the program if needed 3.6.3 dentures/orthodontia missing teeth or the use of dentures bridges etc may cause respirator facepiece sealing problems by changing the shape of the wearer s face all dental devices normally used by the employee must be worn when wearing a respirator in order to obtain a proper seal between face and facepiece 3.7 surveillance of the work area the program coordinator or rpa will conduct periodic surveillance of the work areas which require the use of respirators to determine if any changes need to be made to properly protect the employees from a health hazard employees will be informed immediately if there any changes in exposure or if modification of existing control methods is required 3.8 conditions that warrant response employees shall immediately notify their supervisor program coordinator or rpa should any of the following conditions occur the employee detects an odor or taste associated with the contaminants involved i.e vapor or gas breakthrough or leakage of the facepiece or detects changes in breathing resistance the employee exhibits shortness of breath nausea cramps lack of coordination or other symptoms of exposure the employee needs to wash their face or respirator to prevent skin or eye irritation the employee needs to change cartridges or filters 4.0 respirator maintenance and care respirators shall be properly maintained and in working order respirators shall be serviced regularly the maintenance of respiratory protective devices involves a thorough visual inspection for cleanliness and defects i.e cracking rubber deterioration of straps defective exhalation and inhalation valves broken or cracked lenses etc 4.1 cleaning and disinfecting the rpa shall verify that the procedures specified in appendix b2 of 29cfr1910.134 attachment e are being followed procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer may also be used provided that such procedures are of equivalent effectiveness employees shall be adequately trained in the proper respirator care procedures each respirator user shall be provided with a respirator that is clean sanitary and in good working order filtering facepieces shall be discarded at the end of each workday or more often if visibly soiled or if the employees experiences difficulty breathing a sign that the filters are clogged paprs shall be cleaned and disinfected at the end of every day or more often if necessary to keep them in a sanitary condition dohmh does not permit the sharing of respirators the use of individually wrapped cleaning towelettes may be used as an interim cleaning method however these respirators must be thoroughly cleaned with warm soap and water at the end of each shift during which the respirators are worn january 29 2010 5

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respirators shall be cleaned and disinfected at the following intervals respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee shall be cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition respirators issued to more than one employee shall be cleaned and disinfected before being worn by different individuals respirators maintained for emergency use shall be cleaned and disinfected after each use and respirators used in fit testing and training shall be cleaned and disinfected after each use 4.2 storage respirators shall be stored to protect against mechanical damage contamination dust sunlight extreme temperatures excessive moisture and damaging chemicals they shall be packed and stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve respirators shall not be stored on a workbench in a tool cabinet or toolbox amongst heavy tools grease and dirt respirators shall be stored in such a way as to protect it from contamination or damage e.g elastomeric in sealed plastic bag disposable respirators must be disposed of after each use except when used for protection from tb and when reused by the same healthcare worker in this case the respirator must be properly stored and inspected before reuse to ensure it maintains its structural and functional integrity and the filter material is not physically damaged or soiled emergency respirators shall be kept accessible to the work area stored in compartments or in covers that are clearly marked as containing emergency respirators and stored in accordance with any applicable manufacturer instructions 4.3 inspection repair all respirators used in nonemergency situations shall be inspected by the user before and after each use and during cleaning and disinfection to insure that all functioning parts are intact all respirators maintained for use in emergency situations shall be inspected at least monthly and in accordance with the manufacturer s recommendations and shall be checked for proper function before and after each use filtering facepiece respirators which are defective or have missing parts shall be discarded paprs shall be tagged as such and removed from use until repaired and reinspected respirators must be serviced only by personnel who have been adequately trained by qualified personnel and all records shall be maintained by the rpa the substitution of parts from a different brand or type of respirator invalidates the niosh approval of the device all respirator inspections must include a check of respirator function i.e visual inspection to identify any parts that may be missing distorted blocked loose deteriorated or might otherwise interfere with proper performance respirator inspections shall include checking the 1 2 tightness of the connections paprs condition of a facepiece b head straps c connecting tubes paprs d canisters filters or cartridges paprs 4.4 cartridge changes employees wearing paprs with p100 filters shall change the cartridges on their respirators when they first begin to experience difficulty breathing i.e resistance january 29 2010 6

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for employees wearing respirators with chemical cartridges a cartridge change schedule based on objective data or information to ensure that cartridges are changed before the end of their useful service life will be developed by the rpa the change schedule will consider the following factors · potential concentrations of contaminant in the worker breathing zone · frequency of use e.g is the respirator used continuously or intermittently throughout the shift · temperature humidity and air flow through the cartridge or canister · employees work rates · the presence of potentially interfering chemicals · worst case conditions are assumed to avoid breakthrough earlier than anticipated 4.5 identification of filters cartridges and canisters all filters cartridges and canisters used in the workplace shall be labeled and color-coded with the niosh approval label the label shall be legible and shall not be removed 5.0 recordkeeping records must be kept to maintain proper surveillance and control of the respiratory protection program this information will facilitate employee involvement in the respirator program assist the employer in auditing the adequacy of the program and provide a record for compliance determinations by osha the rpa shall be responsible for maintenance of central records required by this program 5.1 training records respirator training documentation will include the date and content of the training and the type make and model of respirator for which each employee has been trained all records shall be maintained for a minimum period of thirty 30 years following the individual s employment with dohmh 5.2 fit testing records fit testing records shall include a the name and employee reference number of the employee tested b the type of fit test performed c the specific make model style and size of the respirator tested d date of fit test and e pass/fail results of qualitative fit testing or fit factors obtained from quantitative fit-testing these records will be maintained at least until the next fit test is administered a copy will be given to the respirator user upon completion of the fit test 5.3 medical records copies of the medical clearance form will be maintained by the employees health program completed medical questionnaires and results of any physical examinations will be maintained in the confidential files of the plhcp in accordance with 29 cfr 1910.1020d i all medical records shall be maintained for at least the duration of employment plus 30 years 5.4 miscellaneous records records of respirator selection filter change schedules respirator assignment shall be maintained these records shall be maintained at least until they are replaced by subsequent records or workplace conditions change and no longer require their use january 29 2010 7

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6.0 program evaluation the respiratory protection program shall be evaluated on an annual basis as a minimum see attachment f program coordinators will work with the dohmh rpa to 1 consult with users to determine program acceptance and other factors such as fatigue brought on by respirator use and the interference of respiratory protection with job performance 2 conduct periodic inspections of respirator use to insure proper implementation of the program and to determine if respirators are being properly selected and correctly used 3 review the records of usage storage inspections and workplace and medical surveillance to determine the effectiveness of the program 7.0 attachments contact hss office for additional attachments not included here a list of acronyms b respirator use and selection c facepiece seal tests d qualitative and quantitative fit test information e respirator cleaning procedure f respirator program evaluation g osha respirator medical evaluation questionnaire see web link h dohmh fittest procedures j voluntary respirator use k medical clearance procedures january 29 2010 8

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attachment a list of acronyms ansi apf apr cfr idlh msha muc niosh osha papr pel plhcp ppe qlft qnft rpa american national standards institute assigned protection factor air purifying respirator code of federal regulations immediately dangerous to life and health mine safety and health administration maximum use concentration national institute for occupational safety and health occupational safety and health administration powered air purifying respirator permissible exposure limit physician or other licensed health care professional personal protective equipment qualitative fit test quantitative fit test respiratory program administrator january 29 2010 9

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attachment b use and selection of respiratory protective devices 1 respirator use a workers in areas known to have contaminant levels requiring the use of respiratory protection ie exceeding osha pels for the contaminant of concern or in which contaminant levels requiring the use of respiratory protection may be created without warning e.g emergency purposes such as hazardous material spill responses b workers performing operations documented to be health hazardous and those unavoidably required to be in the immediate vicinity where similar levels of contaminants are generated c workers in suspect areas or performing operations suspected of being health hazardous but for which adequate sampling data has not been obtained 2 respirator use for biohazards respirators for use in areas where biohazards are used or stored must be selected based on a review of the laboratory procedures protocols biohazardous agents proposed for use etc an industrial hygienist or qualified health and safety officer will conduct a risk assessment and determine the appropriate respiratory protection required 3 respirator selection selection of the proper respirators to be used in any work area or operation of the dohmh is made based on the determination that a real and/or potential exposure of employees to harmful concentrations of contaminants in the workplace atmosphere exists this evaluation will be performed prior to the start of any routine or non-routine tasks requiring respirators respiratory protective devices will be selected by a qualified industrial hygienist or health and safety officer using ansi z88.2 niosh certified equipment list and/or the niosh respirator selection decision logic as a guide the following items will be considered in the selection of respirators · · · · · · effectiveness of the device against the substance of concern estimated maximum concentration of the substance in the work area general environment open shop or confined space etc known limitations of the respiratory protective device comfort fit and worker acceptance other contaminants in the environment or potential for oxygen deficiency respiratory protection is authorized and issued for the following personnel non routine activities supervisors shall contact a qualified health and safety officer or industrial hygienist prior to nonroutine work which may expose workers to hazardous substances or oxygen deficient atmospheres examples of work which may require the use of respirators includes but are not limited to · · · · · · · · asbestos abatement activities abrasive blasting cutting or melting lead or stripping lead-based paints from surfaces welding or burning painting especially with epoxy or organic solvent coatings using solvents thinners or degreasers any work which generates large amounts of dust working in a confined space 10 january 29 2010

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· · using formaldehyde to decontaminate a space bioaerosols selection evaluation a review of the real and/or potential exposures is made at least annually to determine if respiratory protection continues to be required and if so do the previously chosen respirators still provide adequate protection 4 types of respirators a air-purifying respirator these respirators remove air contaminants by filtering absorbing adsorbing or chemical reaction with the contaminants as they pass through the respirator canister or cartridge this respirator does not supply oxygen and therefore is to be used only where adequate oxygen 19.5 to 23.5 percent by volume is available these respirators cannot be used in idlh atmospheres air-purifying respirators can be classified as follows 1 particulate removing respirators which filter out dusts fibers fumes and mists these respirators may be single-use disposable respirators or respirators with replaceable filters note surgical masks do not provide protection against air contaminants they are never to be used in place of an air-purifying respirator 2 gas and vapor-removing respirators which remove specific individual contaminants or a combination of contaminants by absorption adsorption or by chemical reaction gas masks and chemical-cartridge respirators are examples of gas and vapor-removing respirators 3 combination particulate/gas and vapor-removing respirators which combine the respirator characteristics of both kinds of air-purifying respirators 4 a powered air-purifying respirator papr is an apr with a fan which blows air through the filter creating a positive pressure in the facepiece while it does not supply fresh air it does put less stress on the respiratory system b supplied-air respirators these respirators provide breathing air independent of the environment or when the contaminant is of such high concentration or toxicity that an air-purifying respirator is inadequate supplied air respirators also called air-line respirators are classified as follows 1 demand this respirator supplies air to the user on demand inhalation which creates a negative pressure within the facepiece leakage into the facepiece may occur if there is a poor seal between the respirator and the user s face 2 pressure-demand this respirator maintains a continuous positive pressure within the facepiece thus preventing leakage into the facepiece 3 continuous flow this respirator maintains a continuous flow of air through the facepiece and prevents leakage into the facepiece c self-contained breathing apparatus scba this type of respirator allows the user complete independence from a fixed source of air and offers the greatest degree of protection but is also the most complex training and practice in its use and maintenance is essential this type of device will be used in emergency situations only all scbas employ a full facepiece connected to a source of compressed-air or oxygen carried by the wearer january 29 2010 11

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closed-circuit re-breathing devices also contain a carbon dioxide-absorbing material scbas are divided into three basic types 1 demand or pressure-demand open-circuit systems supplied by compressed air or oxygen stored in a cylinder 2 self-generating closed-circuit devices 3 liquid or compressed oxygen or air closed-circuit demand or pressure-demand re-breathing devices 5 identification of respirator cartridges and gas mask canisters respirator cartridges and canisters are designed to protect against individual or a combination of potentially hazardous atmospheric contaminants and are specifically labeled and color coded to indicate the type and nature of protection they provide all cartridges and canisters must be niosh-approved do not mix respirator parts canister and cartridges should be manufactured for the specific respirator issued for example a 3m half or full face respirator must be used with a 3m cartridge or canister and may not be used with a cartridge or canister manufactured by msa respirator change out schedule there are number of ways to calculate how long chemical cartridges will last or how often to change them usually the respirator manufacturer or distributor provides some information knowledge of a person s level of physical activity on their job and the kind and amount of chemical found in the work area helps determine the change out schedule the less the physical activity and the lower the levels of chemical in the air the less frequently cartridges need to be changed typical dohmh job functions that involve respiratory hazards are expected to be short duration and be well below applicable federal state or local occupational exposure limits at a minimum respirator cartridges should be replaced annually during respirator fit testing all cartridges and canisters have expirations dates after which they should not be used unused cartridges can be discarded in normal refuse containers according to program policies 6 warning signs of respirator failure a particulate air-purifying when breathing difficulty is encountered with a filter respirator due to partial clogging with increased resistance the filters must be replaced disposable filter respirators must be discarded b gas or vapor air-purifying if when using a gas or vapor respirator chemical cartridge or canister any of the warning properties e.g odor taste eye irritation or respiratory irritation occur promptly leave the area and check the following · · · proper face seal damaged or missing respirator parts saturated or inappropriate cartridge or canister if no discrepancies are observed replace the cartridge or canister if any of the warning properties appear again the concentration of the contaminants may have exceeded the cartridge or canister design specification when this occurs an airline respirator or scba is required c service life of air-purifying respirator canisters and cartridges the canisters or cartridges of air-purifying respirators are intended to be used until filter resistance january 29 2010 12

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precludes further use or the chemical sorbent is expended as signified by a specific warning property e.g odor taste etc new canisters cartridges or filters shall always be provided when a respirator is reissued when in doubt about the previous use of the respirator obtain a replacement canister or cartridge d supplied air respirator when using an airlines respirator leave the area immediately when the compressor failure alarm is activated or if an air pressure drop is sensed when using an scba leave the area as soon as the air pressure alarm is activated january 29 2010 13

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attachment c facepiece seal tests negative-pressure and positive-pressure sealing tests are to be used whenever the respirator is worn or adjusted to insure a proper facepiece-to-face seal of the respirator facepiece seal tests do not provide the employee with the required opportunity to wear the respirator in a test atmosphere qualitative and quantitative fit tests must be used for this purpose negative-pressure sealing test the wearer can perform this test unassisted whenever a respirator is donned the test consists of the following steps 1 closing off the inlets of the canister cartridges or filters by either covering with the palms placing a seal over the canister or cartridge inlets or by squeezing the breathing tubes to restrict the flow of air the design of the inlet opening of some cartridges cannot be effectively covered with the palm of the hand the test can be performed by covering the inlet opening of the cartridge with a thin latex or nitrile glove 2 inhaling gently so the facepiece collapses slightly 3 holding breath for ten seconds if the facepiece remains slightly collapsed and no inward leakage is detected the respirator fit is considered satisfactory this can only be used on respirators with tight-fitting facepieces positive-pressure sealing test this test is very much like the negative-pressure sealing test and can be performed unassisted each time the respirator is donned the positive-pressure sealing test consists of 1 closing off the exhalation valve and exhaling gently into the facepiece the fit is considered satisfactory if a slight positive pressure can be built up inside the facepiece without any evidence of outward leakage for some respirators this method requires that the wearer remove the exhalation valve cover and then carefully replace it after the test removing and replacing the exhalation valve cover often disturbs the respirator fit more than the negative-pressure test therefore this test should be used sparingly if it requires removing and replacing the valve cover this test is most effective for respirators whose valve covers have a single small port that can be covered by the palm of the hand january 29 2010 14

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attachment d qualitative qlft quantitative qnft fit testing i qualitative methods federal regulations 29 cfr 1910.1001 require qualitative fit tests of respirators and describe step-bystep procedures these tests check the subject s response to a chemical introduced outside the respirator facepiece they generally take little time and require no complicated or expensive equipment they include the isoamyl acetate vapor banana oil test saccharin solution aerosol test bitrextm solution test and the irritant smoke test a isoamyl acetate vapor test the chemical isoamyl acetate sometimes referred to as banana oil has a pleasant easily detectable odor and is used widely in checking respirator fit it gives the user the required opportunity to wear the respirator in a test atmosphere sensitivity check for qualitative fit testing to be effective persons tested must be able to detect the odor of isoamyl acetate banana oil at very low concentrations this ability can be evaluated by the following protocol 1 mix 1 cc of isoamyl acetate with 800 cc of distilled water in a 1-liter container and mix well wait 30 seconds and extract 0.5 cc of the solution and mix it with an additional 500 cc of distilled water in a bottle fill a separate bottle with 500 cc of distilled water to be used as a control blank 2 without indicating which bottle contains the isoamyl acetate have the employee shake each of the two bottles remove the lid and identify the bottle having the isoamyl acetate odor 3 if the employee detects the isoamyl acetate in the correct jar proceed with the following fit test protocol if no odor is perceived or if the employee chooses the incorrect jar prepare a stronger mixture by extracting 1 cc from the pure stock isoamyl acetate and mix with 500 cc of distilled water then prepare another control blank if the employee detects the odor in the correct jar proceed with the fit test protocol if no odor is perceived or if the person chooses the control blank proceed with the irritant smoke fit test protocol repetitive tests with different people preparing the solutions have indicated that a concentration of 1.5 parts per million can be consistently prepared and that the concentration in the vapor space will remain at 1.5 ppm for an entire day to achieve proper results bottles should be covered tightly and shaken before each use a low concentration test bottle should be made up daily isoamyl acetate fit test protocol 1 before beginning the test the employee should have successfully completed the isoamyl acetate sensitivity test listed above and completed the respirator selection process 2 to prevent olfactory fatigue the isoamyl acetate sensitivity test and the respirator selection process should be conducted in one room with the fit testing protocol conducted in a separate room 3 check the selected respirator to be certain that it is adequate for the task the employee will be performing and to insure that it is equipped with organic vapor cartridges that are properly installed 4 thoroughly explain the fit test procedures to the employee making sure that they completely understand the purpose of the exercises to be performed and the reason for the fit test 5 the employee should enter the test chamber where the isoamyl acetate fit testing media has been placed and the test concentration has been reached 6 the employee should then perform the exercises listed in table 1 while being exposed to the test atmosphere january 29 2010 15

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