| Steps |
Example |
1. Obtain the following information:
names of airborne contaminants
- concentrations of those contaminants (in parts per million)
- humidity in work area
- work rate
|
Steve is the owner of an autobody shop, where
the workers are exposed to paint vapors. The airborne chemical is Xylene. Steve determined
through sampling that the amount of Xylene in the air doesn't exceed 400 ppm. The local
weather conditions suggest an expected maximum of 55% relative humidity. Steve figures his painters
and other helpers have a moderate breathing rate — their work is not as vigorous as shoveling snow. |
| 2. Contact the manufacturer of the respirators you plan to use |
Steve went to the Advisor page called
"List of Manufacturers" where he located the address, fax number, and phone
number of SafetyFirst, the makers of BreathEZ respirators. He phoned SafetyFirst and
was directed to the Research Coordinator. |
3. Provide the manufacturer with the following information:
- name of the respirator model
- information from step 1
|
Steve explained to the coordinator that he had just purchased 5 new BreathEZ 450 Half Mask
Respirators. He explained the situation and gave the necessary data. The
coordinator said he would get back with Steve shortly. |
| 4. Request the cartridge service life as well as
the exact objective information they relied upon to project that service life. |
When the coordinator called back with an estimated cartridge life recommendation of 190
minutes, Steve asked him to fax a report indicating the exact procedures and objective
data that were used to derive the service life. |
| 5. Create a written change schedule for the cartridges |
Steve applied a safety factor to the manufacturer's suggested cartridge service life and had his
employees change their cartridges every two hours. He included the report from
SafetyFirst and his safety factor modification in his written respiratory protection program. |
Keep In Mind
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