OSHA Hazard Information Bulletins
Concerning Portable Breathing Air Compressors.
 OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletins - Table of Contents
- Information Date: 19850125
- Record Type: Hazard Information Bulletin
- Subject: Concerning Portable Breathing Air Compressors.
January 25, 1985
| MEMORANDUM FOR: |
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS |
| ATTN: |
ARAs for Technical Support |
| THRU: |
JOHN B. MILES
Director
Directorate of Field Operations |
| FROM: |
EDWARD J. BAIER
Director
Directorate of Technical Support |
| SUBJECT: |
Health Hazard Information Bulletin Concerning Portable
Breathing Air Compressors |
Recently, it has come to our attention that two respirator manufacturers are
marketing approved supplied air respirators (SAR) equipped with portable air
compressors as a source of air supply. These SARs are the Bullard "Free-air
Air Pump" and the Willson "Ambient Air Breathing Apparatus" (information
attached). They are used in many workplaces which do not have a compressed
air supply.
Some questions were raised by our field offices concerning whether these air
compressors would meet the requirements prescribed in the standard on
respirator protection, 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(2)(ii). Since these devices have
no air receiver to enable the respirator wearer to escape from a contaminated
atmosphere in the event of a compressor failure, nor do they have an alarm to
indicate compressor failure or overheating, or a high temperature alarm, they
do not meet the requirements prescribed in the standard. If a receiver were
installed in this type of compressor, the unit would lose its portability.
Under our current policy, supplied air respirators are not to be used in an
atmosphere which is immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) unless it
is equipped with a self-contained air supply for escape. If the use of these
SARs is limited to non-IDLH conditions, the requirements for an air receiver
and a compressor failure alarm may not be necessary, provided the wearer
carries an escape respirator in the event of a compressor failure. Since
these compressors are not oil lubricated, a high temperature alarm to
indicate overheating or the presence of high levels of carbon monoxide may
not be required.
In view of the fact that these SARS are operated in the positive-pressure
mode, the portable supplied air respirator system could provide a high level
of protection for employees engaged in operations such as asbestos removal or
spray painting with isocyanate-containing paints. Use of these units should
be encouraged despite the fact that they do not meet the requirements
described above.
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