The OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard requires training and medical evaluation for individuals who intend to wear respiratory protection. Medical approval to wear respiratory protection is required before training and fit-testing can occur.

Inhalation of hazardous substances is one of the main methods by which substances enter the body and respiratory tract. If an individual is exposed to an airborne concentration of a chemical or hazardous substance, over a long duration, adverse health risks increase which may lead to injury or death.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set maximum exposure standards for many airborne toxic materials. Environmental Health Services (EHS) at Colorado State University can assist in determining whether an employee’s exposure to hazardous substances/chemicals (gases, vapors, mists, fumes, and/or particulates, etc) with which he or she works will surpass the given standard and lead to adverse health effects.

If the permissible exposure limit is exceeded, the exposure must then be reduced to acceptable levels through the use of engineering and/or administrative controls.

Engineering controls include but are not limited to the following:

Administrative controls include employee training, use of standard operating procedures, and work scheduling to minimize the length of exposure.

Respirators and other personal protective equipment (PPE) may be used where engineering controls are not feasible or cannot reduce exposure to acceptable levels, or while engineering controls are being installed. The need for a respirator is dependent upon the type of operations and the nature and quantity of the materials in use and must be assessed on a case by case basis.

The use of respirators of any kind should be considered a last resort. EHS will work along with the department to find engineering controls and other alternative methods to reduce the exposure as much as possible before respiratory protection is recommended.

The use of any and all types of respirators at Colorado State University is subject to review and approval by EHS prior to use. No employee should wear a respirator unless they have been through EHS’s respiratory protection program.

The OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard regulates any use of respiratory protection. Employees who have received approval to wear and use a respirator by EHS, must be enrolled in the Respiratory Protection Program and have had the proper medical evaluation, training and fit testing.

***For more information on respirator protection training, fit testing and medical evaluation please click the below link.*** What steps must be taken prior to Respirator Training and Fit testing

What steps must be taken prior to Respirator Training and Fit testing

Before Respiratory Protection Training and fit testing begins the following steps MUST be taken.

• What respiratory hazards are you working with (identify the respiratory hazard)?
  • What does the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) say is required (what type of respiratory protection is recommended on the MSDS, if any?)
  • At what level is the hazard (how much of the hazard is present)?

After determining what respiratory hazard is present (gas, vapor, etc) (i.e. mercury vapor, asbestos, chlorine, hexane, carbon monoxide, etc) and at what level, the type of respirator required would need to be determined (Air Purifying respirator, Dust mask, Airline respirator, etc). Once this is determined the type of cartridge needed to “filter” the respiratory hazard out will need to be determined as well (assuming that an Air Purifying Respirator is needed which is a commonly used respirator and a respirator which must be fit tested).

Once this is determined and it is known that respiratory protection is needed the employee must:

• Go to one of CSU’s designated medical providers and have a medical evaluation and pulmonary function test (spirometry test) performed. (Prior to any respirator fit testing and training every individual must be seen by a qualified physician and be medically cleared to wear a respirator.)
  • Concentra Medical Center
    2620 E. Prospect Rd
    Suite 160
    Fort Collins, CO 80525
    Phone (970) 221-5811
    Mon-Fri 8:00 am – 6:00pm
    
    
  • Poudre Valley Hospital Occupational Health Services
    1330 Oakridge Drive
    Fort Collins, CO
    (970)-495-8450
    Mon-Fri, 7:00am - 6:00pm
    
    

    Request a “physician evaluation report” to evaluate you for “qualified to use a respirator” or “not qualified to use a respirator.”

  • Fill out the Medical Evaluation Questionnaire (section RF-16D) (attached) and take it to the physician who will perform the medical evaluation.
    

    ***You are not cleared to use a respirator until the documentation from the physician is presented to EHS and the physician has cleared you to do so.

    
    
  • Paperwork must be taken to EHS for record keeping.
    • If the employee passes the medical evaluation and is cleared to wear a respirator, they can then be trained and fit tested.
    • If the employee does not pass the medical evaluation and are NOT cleared to wear a respirator by an appropriate physician, they CANNOT wear a respirator nor be trained and fit tested. The physician will make this final determination and if an employee fails the medical evaluation and/or spirometry test, etc, the physician will not qualify them to wear a respirator due to that specific health risk.

If an employee is medically cleared to wear a respirator the employee can proceed to schedule fit testing and training.

• Training lasts ~1 hour and consists of a PowerPoint presentation and video. This is followed by a written test. After the training is complete the fit test using a Portacount (quantitative fit test machine and software) will be used to determine the appropriate type, model, make and size of respirator that particular employee needs.
• Once the correctly fitting respirator is found the model number and ordering information will be provided.

The respirator and other components can then be purchased and used in accordance with regulations.

If there are any other questions please notify Frank Gonzales at EHS 491-6745.

Respirator Selection Guide