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Respiratory Protection Respiratory Protection
Possible Solutions

Engineering and work practice controls are generally regarded as the most effective methods of controlling exposure to hazardous airborne substances. Respiratory equipment is designed to prevent or lessen the severity of injuries to workers when engineering the administrative controls are not feasible or effective in reducing exposures to acceptable levels. The following references provide possible solutions for respiratory hazards.
  • Respiratory Protection. OSHA eTool.
    • Respirator Change Schedules. Links to a series of pages that present possible approaches to developing these schedules.
    • The Advisor Genius
      • MultiVapor Beta Version 2.1.3. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Provides a program for calculating the estimated breakthrough time for a respirator cartridge's service life.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
  • Ventilation. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
  • Respirators. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Safety and Health Topic, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Provides a list of links to topics pertaining to respirators.
  • Findings of Survey Co-Developed by NIOSH Will Help Respirator Research, Recommendations. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (2002, March 22). Highlights survey findings to aid in developing new recommendations for the use of respirators in workplaces and designing new research projects to improve the effectiveness of respirators.
  • Controlling Exposures to Nitrous Oxide During Anesthetic Administration. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-100, (1994). Requests that safety and health officials, editors of appropriate journals, manufacturers of anesthetic equipment, union representatives, employers, and managers bring the recommendations in this alert to the attention of all workers who are at risk.
  • Emergency Response Resources. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Safety and Health Topic. Links to a range of respiratory topics aimed at protecting emergency response workers.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD). Includes a section of links directed to respiratory protection for the farming industry.
  • Legault, M. and P. Ayers. "Agricultural Respiratory Protective Equipment: Air-Purifying Respirators." National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD), Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, (2002, April). Addresses the selection and use, fit, advantages, and limitations of air-purifying respirators.
  • Cyr D.L. and S.B. Johnson. "Care of Respirators." National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD), University of Maine Cooperative Extension, (2006, September). Provides a summary of respirator maintenance and care procedures.
  • Dose H.J. and W. McLeod. "Respiratory Protection Needed for Many Farm Jobs." National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD), Michigan State University, Center for Michigan Agriculture Safety and Health, (2002, April). Addresses the need for farmers to match respiratory protective devices with the job.
  • Hetzel G.H. and J. Butler. "Respiratory Protection in Agriculture." National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, (2002, April). Includes guidelines for respirator selection.
  • Murphy D.J. and C.M. LaCross. "Farm Respiratory Protection." National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD), Pennsylvania State University, (2002, April). Provides steps to determine the kind of respirator needed, description of different respirators, and how to test and care for your respirator.
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Content Reviewed 07/12/2007
 
 

 
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