PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-563
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 563
OCTOBER 1999
PS 563
55
PS 563
54
OCT 99
Respirators . . .
OH,
THERE
YOU
ARE.
JUST
THE PIECE
OF
EQUIPMENT
I WAS
LOOKING FOR.
hold
One, soldier!
THERE'S
SOME THINGS YOU
SHOULD
KNOW
BEFORE YOU TAKE ME
INTO A
HAZARDOUS
ENVIRONMENT
!
out which respirator is best for each
job. National Guard and Reserve units
fall under the Safety and Occupational
Health Office of their state.
u
Next, you need medical clearance
to wear a respirator. Certain medical
conditions, such as asthma, allergies,
or high blood pressure could prevent
you from being issued a respirator.
u
Then, you must be trained to use
the respirator. Your installation’s respi-
ratory protection (RP) specialist or in-
dustrial hygiene office will tell you why
the respirator is required, what it pro-
tects you from, how to tell if it fits
properly, and how to care for it. You
will also learn how to determine the
end of the service life of the cartridges
and canisters.
Fit Testing
Fit testing is required before using
any
respirator. During fit testing, your
installation’s respiratory protection
(RP) specialist will help you select the
most comfortable respirator for your
facial shape and features. You’ll fill out
a medical questionnaire. You’ll also
wear the respirator in a test atmosphere
and perform the required function tests.
These tests let you know if your respi-
rator fits or if it needs repair.
Be sure and let your supervisor or
RP specialist know if there is any prob-
lem. Better to be safe than sorry.
Fit testing and medical clearance are
not one-time affairs. Depending on
your unit’s particular hazard, the RP
specialist will schedule fit-testing and
medical clearance once or twice a year.
Maintaining the Mask
Before and after each use, check your
respirator for cracks, holes, nicks and
cuts. Work the buckles and feel the
rubber facepiece and elastic parts for
flexibility and signs of wear. If you
find any problems, turn in the mask to
your supervisor. Remember, wearing a
our health may depend on how well
your respirator filters out dangerous
particles produced by sanding, grind-
ing, welding, spot painting, brake and
clutch repair, and use of adhesives in
your workplace.
You can’t grab just any respirator
and go to work. Different respirators
are designed to protect you from dif-
ferent hazards. It’s important to know
which type of respirator you need for
each job.
Here’s how to get started:
u
First, get your local safety or in-
dustrial hygiene/preventive medicine
folks to identify and measure the haz-
ards in your work area. They’ll figure
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