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ES&H Manual
Chapter 6630 Respiratory Protection Program

Purpose
Jefferson Lab has established this comprehensive Respiratory Protection Program to ensure individuals, exposed to workplace air contaminants, are provided adequate respiratory protection. Using less harmful materials is the preferred methods for mitigating this type of hazard; however, when respirator protection is necessary the responsibilities and procedures included within this program are followed.

Jefferson Lab's Industrial Hygiene Department is responsible for the necessary and effective management of the Respiratory Protection Program. Specific procedures, required to be performed by trained individuals, can be found within the ES&H Manual Industrial Hygiene Supplement - Section 400 IH Aspects of Respiratory Protection. The program, taken in its entirety, effectively reduces, or eliminates, exposure to respiratory hazards.

This program satisfies applicable federal, state, and local requirements as outlined in ES&H Manual Chapter 2410 Appendix T1 Hazard Issues List.

Scope
Jefferson Lab uses the following resources to determine acceptable exposure limit standards: Respirators are required when engineering controls or material substitution cannot eliminate the air contamination hazard, or when an individual requests additional protection[1].

Only NIOSH approved respirators are issued for use at Jefferson Lab.


Table 1: Required Respiratory Protection Training by Job Classification

Training Course Qualified Respiratory Users
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Requirements

MED13*
SAF109
Air Purifying Respirator

MED13*
SAF200
Escape Pack Training

MED13*
SAF210
* Per ES&H Manual Chapter 6800 Appendix T1 Medical Monitoring


Appendices:

T1 Engineering Controls - Local and Portable Exhaust Systems
Whenever respiratory hazards cannot feasibly be mitigated by material substitution, engineering controls are the preferred method. ES&H Manual Chapter 6630 Appendix T1 Engineering Controls - Local and Portable Exhaust Systems provides how to determine if an engineering control is required; appropriate use parameters; and repair, maintenance, and inspection schedules.
T2 Respirator Use and Approval Requirements
Respirators are used at Jefferson Lab when material substitution or engineering controls are not adequate to mitigate air contaminants to an acceptable level. ES&H Manual Chapter 6630 Appendix T2 Respirator Use and Approval Requirements provides the process step used to determine if a respirator is required; if required how to determine the appropriate type; and how to obtain medical monitoring, training, and a fit test. Anyone may, at any time, request to use a respirator on a voluntary basis; however they must complete the process steps listed as if it were required, prior to use.

Respirator Use/Medical Approval Form
Responsibilities:

Management authority may be delegated to a task qualified Jefferson Lab employee at the discretion of the responsible manager.

Anyone at Jefferson Lab
  • Request an equipment/area hazard evaluation from Industrial Hygiene if you have concerns regarding air quality.
  • Utilize engineering controls as recommended/required to maintain air quality.
  • Perform process steps outlined within this program to obtain a respirator as required, or for voluntary use.
  • Obtain Occupational Medicine approval for respirator use, if required.
Qualified Respiratory Users
  • Complete and maintain appropriate medical monitoring (MED13) and training requirements as determined by work control documents:
    • SAF109 - Self Contained Breathing Apparatus Requirements (SCBA)
    • SAF200 - Air Purifying Respirators
    • SAF210 - Escape Pack Training
    • Annual refresher training required for all respiratory protection
  • Use assigned respirator in accordance with training and only for the function it was approved for.
  • Prior to respirator use, inspect the respirator in accordance with manufacturer's requirements.
  • Maintain the respirator according to manufacturer instructions, do not mix components from different manufacturers.
  • Return the respirator to Industrial Hygiene when no longer necessary.
Supervisors/Technical Representative (TR)/Sponsor
  • Only authorize Qualified Respiratory Workers for work requiring a respirator.
  • Assess air quality issues whenever evaluating or implementing new work procedures.
  • Request periodic air monitoring for processes which generate air contaminants and implement recommended mitigation.
Industrial Hygiene
  • Perform air monitoring evaluations when requested, or when identified.
  • Provide respirators/SCBAs equipment and training as required.
  • Review Jefferson Lab’s respirator protection program. Ensure it complies with OSHA requirements and DOE Worker Safety & Health Program
Document Control:
  • ISSUING AUTHORITY:   ES&H Division
    TECHNICAL POINT-OF-CONTACT:  Jennifer Williams
    APPROVAL DATE:   02/21/20
    REVIEW DATE:  02/21/21
    REVISION SUMMARY
    • Revision 1.7 – 02/21/20 – Periodic Review; updated Section 3.4 to include DOE WSH program requirements per CATS#STR-2019-10-06
    • Revision 1.6 – 12/05/18 – Updated Table 1 to reflect current laboratory operations
    • Revision 1.5 – 04/24/18 – Periodic Review; removed outdated TLV reference per CATS#STR-2017-12-01-03
    • Revision 1.4 – 03/09/17 – Periodic Review; updated responsibilities for Qualified Respiratory Users per TPOC
    • Periodic Review - 04/11/16 - No changes per TPOC.
    • Revision 1.3 - 04/08/15 - Periodic Review - minor edits with no substantive changes.
    • Revision 1.2 - 05/20/14 - Added Required Safety Training Table.
    • Revision 1.1 – 09/04/13 – Periodic Review – Clarified voluntary use of respirators for nuisance dust; removed SOTR from Responsibilities (JLab does not provide respirators to subcontractors; it is responsibility of subcontractors to determine requirements and provide protection for their employees) per JWilliams.
    • Revision 1.0 – 08/11/11 – Updated to reflect current laboratory operations.
[1] Anyone requesting to use a respirator, on a voluntary basis, must complete the process steps within this program as if it were required, up to and including supervisor and medical approval.

This document is controlled as an on-line file. It may be printed but the print copy is not a controlled document. It is the user's responsibility to ensure that the document is the same revision as the current on line file. .