Respirator Use Standard

RESPIRATOR USE STANDARD

Massey Services, Inc.

(to provide OSHA Compliance)

All employees are required to read and comply with the following standard in regards to respiratory protection.

It is the intent of Massey Services, Inc. to comply with the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard (OSHA) in a continuing effort to provide a healthy and safe workplace for all employees. Labels and MSDS’s of all materials that are used at Massey Services are available in each Service Center (large yellow binder marked: “LABEL/MSDS”). All employees using any material are provided with copies of and/or access to all labels and MSDS’s and are required to read them prior to use of any material. Training on each new material introduced into the program is provided.

The general policy to conform with OSHA standards is met by Massey Services

determining the following in regards to the use of Respiratory Protection Devices (RPD):

  1. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION WILL BE UTILIZED:
    1. WHEN THE LABEL OF A PESTICIDE BEING USED REQUIRES THE USE OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION DEVICE AND/OR
    2. WHEN THE CONCENTRATION OF A MATERIAL IN A CONFINED SPACE IS SUSPECTED OF EXCEEDING THE ACCEPTABLE CONCENTRATION FOR BREATHING SAFETY (TLV) AND/OR
    3. WHEN LACK OF OXYGEN REQUIRES AN AIR SUPPLY TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY WORK IN THE SPACE IN QUESTION AND/OR
    4. WHEN THE BREATHABLE AIR IN A CONFINED AREA COULD POTENTIALLY BE CONTAMINATED WITH BIO-CONTAMINANTS (BACTERIA, FUNGI, MICOPLASMA, ETC.) ASSOCIATED WITH RODENTS, BATS, BIRDS OR OTHER PESTS THAT COULD CAUSE DISEASE AS A RESULT OF BREATHING SAID CONTAMINANTS.
  2. MASSEY SERVICES, INC. WILL PROVIDE EACH EMPLOYEE WITH RPDS AS FOLLOWS:
    1. Half face respirators (issued to each employee) with black canisters/cartridges (organic vapors) with pre-filters that remove particulate material for use when working in the following conditions:
      1. Attics or crawl spaces with limited air flow
      2. Mixing and loading organic materials or particulate materials
      3. When application of pesticides exposes employees to organic vapor or particulate material (ie. Overhead application or when wind could blow material back at the applicator)
    2. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (assigned to the crew – minimum of two units per crew) when working in confined spaces with fumigants.
    3. Full Face respirators (assigned by the job) with black canisters and HEPA filters when working on removal of bird droppings, rodent droppings or bat droppings.
  3. MASSEY SERVICES PROVIDES EACH EMPLOYEE INITIAL AND ON-GOING CLASSES IN THE FITTING, CARE, MAINTENANCE AND USE OF THE RPD’S THEY ARE REQUIRED TO USE.

Massey Employees must comply with OSHA policies by:

  1. MAKING THEMSELVES AWARE OF THE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TYPE OF WORK THEY ARE PERFORMING.
  2. UTILIZING THE APPROPRIATE RPD AS REQUIRED BY INSTRUCTION, TRAINING OR THE LABEL OF THE MATERIALS BEING USED.
  3. PERFORMING A SEAL CHECK EACH TIME THE RPD IS DONNED AND PRIOR TO ENTERING AREA/SITUATION THAT REQUIRES ITS USE.
  4. MAINTAIN THE RPD ASSIGNED TO THEM PER THE INSTRUCTIONS THROUGH TRAINING CLASSES AND INSTRUCTIONS OF SUPERVISORS.

IT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL GENERAL MANAGERS AND/OR SERVICE MANAGERS TO PROVIDE INITIAL AND ON-GOING TRAINING IN THE USE AND CARE OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION DEVICES IN THEIR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY ACCORDING TO TRAINING PROVIDED TO THEM BY THE CORPORATE QUALITY ASSURANCE DEPARTMENT AND THIS STANDARD.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FOUND IN THIS PROGRAM:

  1. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION – WHEN REQUIRED, THE HAZARDS THAT REQUIRE THE USE OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
  2. CHOICE OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION DEVICES AS A PART OF COMPANY ISSUED PPE (PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT)
  3. PROPER FITTING OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION DEVICES
  4. PROPER CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION DEVICES
  5. STORAGE PRACTICES FOR RPDS
  6. ASSIGNMENT OF INDIVIDUAL RPD
  7. REGULAR TESTING OF THE FIT OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION DEVICES
  8. REGULAR INSPECTION OF RPDS BY SUPERVISORS AND EVALUATION OF REPLACEMENT/REPAIRS.
  9. REQUIREMENT OF A MEDICAL EXAM PRIOR TO USE OF RPDS (PRE-EMPLOYMENT

REQUIREMENT – INCLUDES PULMONARY ABILITY EVALUATION)

  1. REPLACEMENT OF SPENT CARTRIDGES AND REFILLING OF CYLINDERS

RESPIRATORY COMPLIANCE STANDARD PROGRAM DETAILS FOLLOW:

  1. RESPIRATORY DEVICES WILL BE USED WHEN: OSHA requires that respirators must be supplied “when such equipment is necessary to protect the health of an employee”. This is determined by one of three things in your work at Massey Services:
    1. When the label of the material being used requires the use of a Respiratory Protection Device and/or
    2. When the concentration of a material in a confined space is suspected of exceeding the acceptable concentration for breathing safety and/or
    3. When lack of oxygen requires a supply of air in order to be able to safely work in the space in question.
  2. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION DEVICES AVAILABLE BY SERVICE TYPE
    1. Pest Prevention – half face with black cartridge (158–T–20) with filter (158-T-15) – complies with NIOSH/MSHA #TC-23C-336 and #TC-21C- 33B). Issued individually to all employees. Maintenance and cleaning the responsibility of assigned employee.
    2. Termite Protection – half face with black cartridge (158–T–20) with filter (158-T-15) – complies with NIOSH/MSHA #TC-23C-336 and #TC-21C- 33B). Issued individually to all employees. Maintenance and cleaning the responsibility of assigned employee.
    3. GreenUp – half face with black cartridge (158–T–20) with filter (158-T-15) – complies with NIOSH/MSHA #TC-21C-336 and #TC-23C-33B) . Issued individually to all employees. Maintenance and cleaning the responsibility of assigned employee.
    4. Fumigation – SCBA – Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus – MSMA or Scott Pak with 30-minute supplied air cylinder. Issued two per crew minimum. Each trained member of the crew will be issued a face mask that can be used according to requirements. Maintenance and cleaning of the facemask will be the responsibility of the employee to whom it is assigned. Massey Services, Inc. will supply all necessary parts and materials for proper maintenance.
    5. Bird, Bat and Rodent Cleanup – full face respirator with black cartridge and HEPA pre-filter. Issued as each job is performed. Maintenance and cleaning the responsibility of assigned employee.
  3. PROPER FITTING OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION DEVICES
    1. Full and half face respirators – per the video by US Safety titled: “Proper Respirator Fit Testing” AND instruction by supervisor.
    2. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus – per the instruction of the supervisor.
  4. CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF RESPIRATORY PROTECTION DEVICES
    1. Full and half face respirators – per the video by US Safety titled: “Proper Respirator Maintenance” AND instruction by supervisor. In Pest Prevention, Termite Protection and GreenUp, a one-gallon freezer zip lock baggie as manufactured by “Zip Lock” is used for half face respirator storage. Full Face respirators can be stored in 2-gallon freezer zip lock baggie as manufactured by “Zip Lock”. The respirator, in its bag is stored behind the seat of pest and termite vehicles. In vans for GreenUp, the area beneath the driver’s seat can be used for storage. Cartridges and pre-filters are to be stored in a separate zip-lock baggie with the respirator.
    2. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus –
      1. Face plates are to be cleaned per manufacturer’s instructions after every day’s use and the cylinders refilled before another day’s planned use.
      2. SCBA’s are to be stored in the carrying case they were purchased in, with the face plate stored in a 1-gallon freezer type zip lock baggie.
      3. Cylinders will be visually and hydro-tested per MSHA/NIOSH requirements and manufacturers recommendations. The visual test will be done at least annually and recorded in the file on that device by the supervisor.
  5. STORAGE OF RPD’S – See # 4. When not in use, the SCBA should be stored in the office in a clean, dry area away from pesticides and extremes of temperature.
  6. ASSIGNMENT OF RPD’S – See #2
  7. PROPER RESPIRATOR FIT TESTING
    1. Full and half face respirators –
      1. Per the video by US Safety titled “Proper Respirator Fit Testing”, to be performed by the supervisor.
      2. This must be done every time a new RPD is to be issued to an employee.
    2. SCBA’s – per manufacturer’s instructions and directions of supervisor.
  8. SUPERVISOR INSPECTION OF RPD’S.
    1. Full and half face respirators – to be inspected at least monthly for the following:
      1. The assigned RPD is on the vehicle from which the employee works in the proper storage container.
      2. Straps in good working condition (no cracks or missing straps). Cartridges and pre-filters – on the vehicle and in proper storage container. Should be “clean” and undamaged.
      3. Face of the RPD should be clean and have no cracks, holes or other signs of excess wear.
    2. SCBA’s – are to be thoroughly inspected by Service Manager, SPID or CO in Charge after each day’s use. Although the crew is responsible for the equipment the Service Manager, SPID or CO in Charge is to see that it is maintained EVERY DAY as follows:
      1. Stored properly in the protective carrying case
      2. Face mask clean and stored in its own bag when dry
      3. Cylinder full
      4. Warning gauge and system working properly
  9. MEDICAL EXAM – It is a requirement of all Massey employees during the hiring process to pass a physical that determines their ability to work when using a Respiratory Protective Device.
  10. REPLACEMENT OF SPENT CARTRIDGES/ REFILLING OF SCBA CYLINDERS
    1. The CARTRIDGE on full and half face respirators is to be replaced after eight hours of continual use OR as soon as breathing through the device becomes difficult OR when the user can detect the odor of materials being used when wearing the device.
    2. The PRE-FILTER is to be replaced whenever the cartridge is replaced OR when it appears to change color with particles being caught in it while working.
    3. SCBA’s – are to be filled after each use and prior to the next planned use. In addition, cylinders will be visually, and hydro tested according to current laws and regulations.
Saftey & Equipment Protocol – Respirator Use StandardDownload

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