Respiratory Protection

You can now reserve your time for your annual fit test. Click the link below to reserve your time. You will need to enter your name, email, position, and supervisor.

Date available for May 23, 2023 .

UH OH DID YOU MISS OUT ON THE FIT TESTING DATE?

That is okay, contact EHS to schedule.

Image courtesy of OSHA.gov

Respiratory protection may be necessary when engineering controls cannot control airborne exposures. Information on this web page and in the Additional Resources link is intended to provide you with information to better understand respirator use, the respiratory protection program, and the requirements associated with their use.

OSHA 1910.134 identifies the following steps required in a Respiratory Protection Program.

Exposure Assessment
Written Program (See Additional Resources)
Respirator Selection
Medical Evaluation
Fit Testing
Training and Maintenance

Exposure Assessment

This step is utilized to recognize areas where respiratory protection may be necessary for the employee. EHS will work with the department Supervisor and/or Employee to complete a hazard evaluation to determine:

Exposure levels, and whether they’re acceptable or unacceptable,
Effective ways to control exposure,
Which types of respirators (if any) can help provide the right protection for your workers.

This assessment utilizes the concept of the hierarchy of controls to ensure the optimal protection of the employees. The list below summarizes the hierarchy in order of most protection.

Elimination/Substitution
Engineering Controls
Administrative Controls
Personal Protective Equipment

Respirator Selection

If the Exposure Assessment indicates the need for a respirator, EHS will work with the Supervisor and the Employee to select the appropriate respirator. Common types of respirators include:

Filtering facepiece respirator
Half-facepiece elastomeric respirator
Full facepiece elastomeric respirator
Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR)
Airline respirator
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)

Also, see Selection Guide for 3M Reusable Respirators.

Medical Evaluation

OSHA requires initial use medical evaluations and periodic re-evaluations for employees who must wear a respirator.

The following forms will need to be completed by you and your supervisor to submit to the PLHCP. The PLHCP will recommend whether follow-up medical examinations are required.

To be completed by Supervisor

Environmental Conditions Form UWSP.pdf

To be completed by Employee

Once completed, the employee will need to send the forms to Marshfield Clinic Occupational Health at Occhealth@marshfieldclinic.org or Fax to 715-389-7572

Fit Testing

Tight-fitting respirators can only provide expected protection if they fit correctly, so fit-testing each employee is critical.

There are two kinds of tests, and OSHA specifies which can be used depending on the respirator type.

A qualitative fit test (QLFT) is pass/fail and relies on the employee’s senses utilizing a testing agent.
A quantitative fit test (QNFT) uses an instrument to measure leakage around the face seal and produces a numerical result called a “fit factor.”

Once the medical evaluation is passed a fit test is initiated.

Call Marshfield Clinic at 877-962-2633 to schedule an appointment. The cost of the fit test is the responsibility of the department. Contact your supervisor for account information for billing.

Please review the following items to ensure a successful fit testing appointment:

Bring your respirator to the appointment.
Not eat, smoke, chew gum, or drink 15 minutes before testing.
Not have any facial hair that interferes with the seal of the respirator on the day of fit testing. More information on facial hair can be found here.

Training and Maintenance

All workers using respiratory equipment shall successfully complete the training prior to the use of a respirator. Additionally, training will be required annually for employees in the program.

The majority of the initial training is available utilizing our online training software. Additional hands-on training for proper usage and maintenance will be done in person. Proper donning and doffing of respirator is reviewed also at the fit testing. Annual refresher training will encompass both parts also.

The employee should follow the maintenance guidelines provided by the manufacturer. The guide below will provide information on general usage, maintenance, storage, and inspection of your respirator from 3M. The employee is responsible for following the guidelines provided.

Respirator Maintenance and Use Guidelines

Contact your Supervisor or EHS if you have training questions.

For more information you can also review the links in the Additional Resources and/or review the video below provided by OSHA on Respiratory Protection.

Voluntary Use Respirators

UWSP allows the voluntary use of only filtering facepiece respirators (N95). This may occur even where an exposure assessment shows that respirator use is not required.

The voluntary use of filtering facepiece respirators in work atmospheres that are not hazardous does not require the respirator wearer to be fit tested.

Employers are not required to pay for filtering facepiece respirators used voluntarily by employees. If UWSP determines that any voluntary respirator use is permissible, UWSP will provide the respirator user(s) with the information contained in the standard. Click the link below.

OSHA 1910.134 Appendix D