NOTE
The
NIOSH Assigned Protection Factors (APFs) used in this Respirator
Selection Logic are based on the 1987 NIOSH Respirator
Decision Logic. These APFs are generally consistent with
current APFs being enforced by OSHA for respirator use.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute have
proposed APFs of 1000 for certain types of hoods and helmets
with powered air purification or supplied air where the manufacturer
can demonstrate adequate air flows to maintain positive pressure
inside the hood or helmet in normal working conditions. OSHA
has the authority to permit exceptions to the general APF
policy for certain workplace conditions and equipment. OSHA
has currently approved APFs of 1000 for specific hoods and
helmets devices for use in pharmaceutical and lead abrasive
blasting applications. Examples of OSHA approvals for higher
APFs can be found at:
Protection
factors for respirators used in pharmaceutical industry:
policy change 05/30/2002
External Link: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=24248
Interim interpertation concerning Type-CE respirators used in abrasive blasting that are manufactured by the E.D. Bullard Company, Models 77 and 88. 08/30/1995
External Link: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=21907 |
Contents
Foreword
The purpose of this Respirator Selection Logic (RSL) is to provide
guidance to respirator program administrators on respirator selection
that incorporates the changes necessitated by the revisions to the
respirator use and certification regulations and changes in the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) policy. This
RSL is not intended to be used for selection of respirators for protection
against infectious agents or for chemical, biological, radiological
or nuclear (CBRN) agents of terrorism. While respirators can provide
appropriate protection against these agents, the information necessary
to use the selection logic is generally not available for infectious
disease or bioterrorism agents (e.g., exposure limits, airborne concentration).
Similarly, CBRN terrorism events may involve chemicals that can quickly
degrade respirator materials or have extremely low toxic levels that
are difficult to measure.
In 1987, NIOSH published the NIOSH Respirator Decision Logic (RDL).
Since then the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
has promulgated a revision to their respirator use regulation (29CFR1910.134
published on January 8, 1998), and NIOSH has promulgated the revised
respirator certification standard (42CFR84 on June 8, 1995). In
addition, NIOSH has revised its carcinogen policy to recommend the
complete range of respirators as determined by this respirator selection
logic for those carcinogens with quantitative recommended exposure
limits (RELs). Thus, respirators can be consistently recommended
regardless of whether a substance is a carcinogen or not.
OSHA recently proposed a rule to establish assigned protection
factors (APFs) for various classes of respirators (68FR34036 published
on June 6, 2003). When the OSHA standard on APFs is finalized NIOSH
intends to consider revisions to this RSL. NIOSH will also modify
the certification program to assure that NIOSH certified respirators
will be capable of providing the level of protection determined
in the OSHA APF rulemaking. NIOSH also intends to periodically update
the RSL so that it reflects current OSHA requirements and NIOSH
policy.
Sincerely yours,
Acknowledgements
The NIOSH Respirator Policy Group served as the internal reviewers
for this document. Donald Campbell and Christopher Coffey made major
contributions to this document through their extensive review and
suggestions for revisions. NIOSH thanks Heinz Ahlers, Roland BerryAnn,
Frank Hearl, Richard Metzler, Teresa Seitz, Douglas Trout and Ralph
Zumwalde for their considerations and comments and Katie Musgrave
for preparation of the document. NIOSH would also like to thank the
external reviewers for their comments
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