Hazards Identified:
Lung and respirator conditions, dust, fumes

Hazard-Specific Personal Protective Equipment:
Dual element air purifying respirator

Hazard-Specific Training:
WHMIS, and a complete respirator program including fit testing and cartridge changing

Safe Work Practice:

Dual Element Air Purifying Respirators

Procedure for Placing Mask on Face

A respirator must be inspected before each use to insure that it is complete and in good operating condition.  Prior to donning the respirator, the wearer, must examine it to verify the following:

• That the rubber exhalation valve flap is firmly secured to the exhalation valve seat; that the flap and seat are clean and undamaged; that the valve is free to operate.
• That the proper air-purifying elements are properly inserted and attached to the respirator.
• That the plastic adapters are properly aligned so as not to interfere with visibility.  Align improperly positioned adapters by rotating them in the face piece.  Line up the letter “A” and “B” on the inside of the face piece and adapters for best position.

The respirator is designed to be worn so that the narrow, upper portion of the rubber facepiece covers the nose and wide lower portion of the rubber face piece is under the chin.

To Place Respirator with Cradle Headband Assembly on Face:

1. Remove protective eyewear (if worn).  Loosen the elastic straps.  Then grasp the front of the facepiece with one hand and the upper plastic strap (cradle suspension) with the other hand.  Position the respirator on the face so that the inside portion of the facepiece (containing the exhalation valve) is under the chin and the narrow portion of the facepiece is over the nose.
2. Place the plastic headband straps (cradle Suspension) on the head so the top plastic strap rests across the top of the head and the bottom plastic strap rests above the ears on the back of the head.  Then hook the bottom elastic headband straps behind the neck and below the ears.
3. Adjust the position of the face piece on the face for best fit and comfort.  If the elastic straps are too tight, remove the respirator from the face and loosen the straps.  The length of the elastic straps is adjustable.  Wiggle the elastic strap through the slot of the headband yoke to lengthen it.  Do this on the four slots of the headband yoke as necessary.  Replace the respirator on the face according to steps 1 and 2.
4. Adjust the face piece in position on the face for best fit or comfort.  Hold the respirator body with one hand.  With the other hand tighten the upper elastic straps on both sides by pulling in an upward direction away from the face piece (tighten just enough so the respirator is securely in place on the nose).

Regulations, Standards and References
WHMIS, MSDS, and Occupational Safety General Regulations

Air Purifying Respirators (Continued)

Caution – Do not Over Tighten

Tighten only enough to eliminate leakage.  Over tightening may cause distortion and cause distortion and cause dangerous leakage.  For a comfortable fit, the headband straps must be adjusted equally on both sides of the respirator.

1. Then, tighten the bottom elastic straps on both sides by pulling in the appropriate direction.  Tighten enough to secure the respirator under the chin.  NOTE:  For a comfortable fit the headband straps must be adjusted equally on both sides of the respirator.
2. To produce a comfortable tight seal, readjust the tightness of the upper straps and then the tightness of the bottom straps maintaining equal adjustments on both sides of the respirator.
3. To secure the elastic headband straps in place while wearing the respirator, slide the four (one on each side) small headband slides in an upward direction.
4. To verify face fit and check functioning of valves, before entering a contaminated area, the wearer must obtain a satisfactory face fit in both a positive and negative pressure test as described under Qualitative Fit Test Procedures.

To Place Respirator with Hook & Catch headband Assembly on Face

1. Loosen the elastic straps.  Position the respirator on the face so that the inside portion of the facepiece (containing the exhalation valve) is under the chin and the narrow portion of the facepiece is over the nose.
2. Using both hands, grasp the top elastic headband straps and fasten it around the head above the ears.  The hook the bottom elastic headband straps behind the neck and below the ears.
3. Adjust the position of the facepiece on the face for best fit and comfort.  If the elastic straps are too tight, remove the respirator from the face and loosen the straps.  The length of the elastic straps is adjustable.  Wiggle the elastic strap through the slot of the heandband yoke to lengthen it.  Do this on the four slots of the headband yoke as necessary.  Replace the respirator on the face according to steps 1 and 2.
4. Adjust the face piece in position on the face for best fit or comfort.  Hold the respirator body with one hand.  Tighten the upper elastic straps on both sides by pulling in an upward direction away from the face piece (tighten just enough so the respirator doesn’t slide down on the nose).

Air Purifying Respirators (Continued)

Caution – Do not Over Tighten

Tighten only enough to eliminate leakage.  Over tightening may cause distortion and cause dangerous leakage.  For a comfortable fit, the headband straps must be adjusted equally on both sides of the respirator.

1. Then, tighten the bottom elastic straps on both sides by pulling in the appropriate direction.  Tighten enough to secure the respirator under the chin.  NOTE:  For a comfortable fit the headband straps must be adjusted equally on both sides of the respirator.
2. To produce a comfortable tight seal, readjust the tightness of the upper straps and then the tightness of the bottom straps maintaining equal adjustments on both sides of the respirator
3. To secure the elastic headband straps in place while wearing the respirator, slide the four (one on each side) small headband slides in an upward direction.
4. To verify face fit and check functioning of valves, before entering a contaminated area, the wearer must obtain a satisfactory face fit in both a positive and negative pressure test as described under Qualitative Fit Test Procedures.

Qualitative Field Fit Test Procedures

To help verify that the respirator has been applied properly to the face, the following tests should be carried out successfully by the wearer in uncontaminated air each time the respirator is worn.  The tests are performed immediately before entering the contaminated area.  If any leakage is detected, the respirator must be adjusted on the face and the test repeated until there is no detectable leakage.  When performing these tests be careful not to move the respirator while it is on the face.

Negative Pressure field Face Fit Test

1. Close off the inlet openings to the air purifying elements by covering them with the palms of the hands or by temporarily sealing them with tape.  (The tape will be removed at the end of the test).  A thin flexible plastic film, like a plastic wrap, may also be used to cover the air inlets during the test.
2. Inhale so that the face piece collapses inward slightly (indicating that there is a negative pressure in the face piece) and hold the breath for about five to ten seconds.
3. Face fit is considered satisfactory if the facepiece remains in it slightly collapsed condition for the duration of the test and no inward leakage of air is detected.  The longer the respirator remains collapsed, the better the face fit.
4. Remove hands, tape or other temporary covering from air inlets without disturbing respirator on face.

Air Purifying Respirators (Continued)

Caution:

Strong cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting agents and many solvents can damage rubber and plastic respirator parts.  Do not leave solvents and strong cleaning and sanitizing agents in contact with rubber or plastic surfaces any more then necessary to loosen the accumulations.  Also, solvents may be highly flammable and toxic.  Suitable precautions to protect the person(s) handling them must be taken.

1. Step 2, above should be repeated if strong cleaning agents or solvents have been used for cleaning.
2. Rinse in clean, warm water (about 120 degrees Fahrenheit or 50 degrees Celsius), shake to remove excess weather and allow to dry away from direct heat or sunlight.
3. Examine entire respirator carefully.  Replace all damaged or missing parts with new Safety replacement parts.  Refer to manufacturers parts list.
4. Discard respirator if any uncorrectable defect is present and the respirator can not be repaired by installing new Safety replace parts.

• Cracks, tears, pits, decomposition, stiffening, swelling, and distortion or rubber.
• Distorted or badly worn plastic adapters.
• Rubber inhalation valve flap that is stiffened, decomposed, or contains cuts.
• Headband that is permanently stretched, stiffened, decomposed, frayed, or contains cuts.

Warning: It is very important the headband of the respirator be in good operating condition.  A defective headband may prevent proper sealing of the respirator face piece to the face.

• Plastic filter clip that is distorted, or cracked.
• Plastic exhalation valve flap that is stiffened, distorted, decomposed, or contains cuts.
• Exhalation valve cover that is distorted, or decomposed.

Warning: It is extremely important that the exhalation valve system of the respirator be in perfect operating condition.  A defective exhalation valve system may allow contaminated air to enter into the interior of the respirator and thus endanger the respirator wearer.

1. Install a pair of air-purifying elements in the respirator.  See instructions under Replacing Air-Purifying Elements.

Storage

1. Any air-purifying respirator must be stored in a sealed container when not in use.

Air Purifying Respirators (Continued)

Replacing Filters

The useful service life of a particular filter in a respirator will vary with the concentration and nature of the particulate, and the activity of the respirator wearer.

Caution: The filters should be replaced after each day of use, or sooner if inhalation becomes difficult due to plugging of the filter be retained parts.

The following instructions MUST BE carried out when installing or replacing filters:

1. Unscrew the plastic filter covers from the threaded plastic adapters of the respirator.
2. Remove the used filter elements from the plastic filter covers and discard them.  Contaminated filter elements should be disposed of in a safe manner consistent with good industrial hygiene particles.
3. Place a new filter element in each plastic filter cover so that the plan, non-printed surface of each filter faces the perforated dome-shaped top of the cover and the filter completely covers the inside between cover and adapter.
4. Screw the covers on the threaded adapters so that the entire edge of each filter elements is sealed between cover and adapter.

Replacing Prefilters

1. Remove the snap-type filter clips holding the prefilter on the cartridges.  Discard the used prefilter in a safe manner.  Retain filter clips.
2. Place new prefilter inside each plastic filter clip.  Be sure that the edge of each prefilter sits tightly against the rim of its filter clip.
3. Snap filter clips with new prefilter in place on to each cartridge.

Replacing Chemical Cartridges

Unscrew the used cartridges from the threaded cartridge holders (plastic adapters).  Discard in a safe manner:

1. Check the cartridge holders to make sure rubber gaskets are in place and properly positioned before inserting new cartridges.
2. Screw new cartridges into threaded cartridge holders (plastic adapters).  Hand tighten to be sure cartridges are sealed tightly against the rubber gaskets.